Showing posts with label What is Free Will????. Show all posts
Showing posts with label What is Free Will????. Show all posts

September 25, 2019

What is Law of Karma Part I



http://download.dadabhagwan.org/books/English/PDF/karma.pdf

There are certain presumptions for understanding the Law of Karma and how it works.  Two most important of these are, believing in Law of Reincarnation and Secondly, believing that We are a Soul(carrying impressions from our past lifetimes) experiencing human life.  If you don't believe in reincarnation and journey of the soul, then this is not meant for you.

Even if you believe in these, there is lot of confusion about how law of karma works.  Many people think that our current actions create our karma.  Whereas, the book Science of Karma published by Dada Bhagwan Foundation clearly explains the secret behind Law of Karma which is so precise, perfect and absolutely fair and Just.  Courts of this world may acquit a person as non guilty, but if someone has wronged somebody even in thought, then Law of Karma will definitely bring such a guilty person to justice either in this lifetime itself or in the next Lifetime (when people may wonder why such a good person is suffering).

The Book explains in detail that the World is being operated by Scientific Circumstantial Evidences.  Yes, nothing is happening in a hap hazard way.  There is a Law of Cause and Effect, a Rule, behind each and every happening in our life and all around us.  Nothing is by chance.  Things are happening automatically in a precise and exact manner as it should.  There is no partiality, no preference.  Pure Justice.  The principle is same, what we give out, we get back.  We reap what we sow.  Majority of human beings discount the fact that thinking intensely about something is as good as actually doing it.  It creates a definite karma.  Karma is very subtle.  It is not just action, but actual thought and intention behind that action, that is karma.  

what we are undergoing in this lifetime is result of action we did in past lifetime.   We gave exam in last lifetime, in this lifetime we are seeing and undergoing the result of that exam.   And while facing this result, what we are thinking and opining deep within is the new Cause we are setting in motion for which we will  get result in this lifetime (effect of effect) or in next lifetime.   So if someone hits me, it is the result of past enmity this soul had with me  in a previous lifetime - fruition of manner in which that soul had wanted to hurt me and couldn't do for some reason.  Now when we met in this lifetime, perfect circumstantial evidences were created that fulfilled the pent up wish of this Soul. Now what we both are thinking about this hit will set a new karma, the fruit of which we will get in this lifetime(effect of effect) or the next.  My subtle thought would instantly create a new karma if I  wanted to hit back that person which I will, either in this lifetime itself or in the next.  

This is the principle of Cause(action) and Effect(Result).  Action is not what we do with our hands.  Action is what we think, how we judge, our belief behind any outward action.  This cause is our inner intention (bhav) behind any action.  Action is visible but intention behind that action is not.  It is this intention behind our each visible action that binds karma which brings out result in next life time.  What we see is result ( of past karma, i.e.,   the intention)  what we think while undergoing the result is New Karma(new cause set in motion).   And this is definitely in our hands.  

If all is predestined then we need not do anything? -- It definitely doesn't imply that if all is result of past intentions, then we should take in all in the name of  justice.  No way.  Simply because we do not remember our past intentions.  Do we?  Therefore,  we need to take all necessary steps to do a job, take all required precautions to accomplish that job without causing any hurt /loss to anyone - with pure intention.  If despite all this, things go wrong, then know deep within that its result of our past karma.  Do your best till the last moment and yet if you fail, apply the keys of this spiritual knowledge to pacify your heart that it was not meant to be.  This way it doesn't hurt.  Book gives a simple example.  You cannot cross a traffic light with your eyes closed.  Look around carefully, if all is safe then cross.  Now if something happens, then its your destiny as ordained by you in a previous lifetime.

What is Intention?  It is the thought/belief/opinion/judgement that goes behind our each action.  Intention is so very subtle, intangible.  None can see our intention.  Only we know it.  and sometimes even we are not aware of it.  Because we act fast, without even thinking.  For example when we see a beggar and give some money, we think we are helping the beggar.  But actually we are helping ourselves.  We give because it makes us feel good/ happy. We feel less guilty that we have so much.........Think deeply.   

This intention is in our hands, our free will.  This intention creates our destiny.  'Why' we do something.  Our strong beliefs.  The label we give to certain actions .........  All our actions are aimed at helping ourselves only.  Even when we are doing service to others, we do it because it makes us feel good.  Isn't????  If we just do the charity and stay indifferent then its Okay (you will not create a new karma).  New karma is created the moment we mentally take credit for this service.   understand that what we are spending today is due to our strong intention to give set in motion in last lifetime.  Have you heard of those stories where family complained that the father gave away so much in charity without any reason.  Well what he did in this lifetime is call he made in his previous lifetime but couldn't do so for some reason.  He is doing it now.  

For example two persons may be giving 100 dollars in charity One, with the intention of getting praise while other person may be giving the same amount but intention is just to help quietly and move on.  For same actions our intentions could be  different.  Result would definitely be different.

I understand Law of Cause and Effect in this way.  That there is something like a A Universal Super Computer that is automatically recording each and every intention (cause which will bring effect in future lifetime) we set in motion through our deep imbedded intentions behind every action we are being made to do today (effect of causes set in motion in previous lifetime).  It notes down my intense opinions and view points about everything this I encounter.  In other words, the way I am judging others. ( No wonder we are told not to judge others lest we be judged. ). Then in next lifetime it places a person with related persons, in one place, experiencing their judgements about each other until one understands how wrong they were.........

In their previous lifetime both thought how wonderful it is to use one's position to make easy money.  So in this lifetime, both will get chance to make easy money.   One person may take bribe and feel good about it while the other is taking(as a result of his past intention) but internally repenting about not being able to correct himself.  Effect/result of different new intention is different.  This is where our free will comes in.  The one feeling good would be getting bribe again but we all know what is the result of such an action when caught.  While the person repenting will not  find himself in such a tricky situation again.  Nature will keep him away from this kind of life because he has set a new karma of positive life.


Natural Laws are perfect and Just.  Whatever happens is Justice.  Since we do not remember our past, we often feel injustice.  But it is not so, Because law of cause n effect takes note of each and every subtle conversation going within us.  None is controlling these Natural laws. Its working, just the way Law of gravitation is working.   If we understand this Law, we can use it to our own advantage. Here, its been referred to as  Scientific Circumstantial Evidences.  At appropriate time, all evidences come together and an event happens.  Humans take credit for it which is a total blunder.  We are mere one instrument in grand scheme of things.  but we can make an important change.  We have power to change our future.  We are also part of this nature, made up of energy.  We have advantage of intellectual faculty which other species like anima ls do not have.  They understand love, are smart but their intelligence level is not as high as human.   Our thoughts are so very powerful.  If only we could correct ourselves, the moment we linger longer on a negative thought.  But are we so mindful all the time.  

A human can think and check and control his thoughts and intention.  But off late we see many humans stopping to use their intellect and sense of discrimination and going on sense less killing and other crimes.  Their behaviour goes down to animal level.  They could escape from  courts of this world but natural laws ensure that they pay for their wrong doing.  Payment is heavier if crime was done willfully and without remorse.  Little less if it was not   done willfully and happened accidently.  But payment is heavy for sure..   As per this book these are sticky karma you cannot escape even if you are in different body garment now.  This is a very deep science and cannot be explained properly in few lines.  In all the above discussions my view is simple...no argument...no disputation with views of others here.....I AM OK, YOU ARE OK.


https://download.dadabhagwan.org/books/English/PDF/karma.pdf

Vandana Ritik Mulchandani
Noida

July 30, 2014

Process of Divine Apology


अज्ञान दशा में बहुत सी लोहे की बेडि़याँ पड़ जाती हैं! मन क्या कहता है कि मुझे समाधान करावो। ‘व्यवस्थित’ है, ऐसा कह दें तो मन को समाधान हो जाता है। और सामनेवाले के लिए खराब विचार आया इसलिए मन को शुद्ध करो, सामनेवाले से क्षमा माँग लो।  (Aptasutra # 1595)

In the ignorant (absence of self-realization) state, many ‘shackles of iron’ are bound. The mind asks for closure.  If you tell the mind ‘it is vyavasthit [scientific circumstantial  evidence]’, the mind will be pacified. And if you have a negative thought about someone, cleanse the mind by asking the other person for forgiveness. (Aptasutra # 1595)
We definitely bind karma when we are cause of hurt to someone.   Knowing this, I don't want to be cause of hurt to anyone. 

Therefore, in morning itself before I start my day, I set intention of not hurting or causing hurt or participate in any hurtful gossip towards any being, living or dead, in any way. Earlier I used to apologize to Supreme Power but off late, in my mind, in presence of Supreme Light, I apologise soul to soul to the person, to whom I might have caused hurt in any way, i.e., either through my Speech, action or even thoughts. I also seek strength so as not to repeat the mistake again. 

PS: I don't seek pardon face to face simply because I feel that the person might become offensive and also may be I am still conscious about maintaining my self respect. However, I have noticed positive change in attitude of people I have mentally apologised to....even my 'enemies' have come and hugged me on their own after I have sent them mental apologies.

As per Dada Bhagwan Foundation, we bind karma in state of ignorance, as a mistake.  This happens because we think of ourselves as our 'name' and 'body'.  We forget that we are pure soul, separate from body.  We are only knowers and seers.  We are not running the show of the world.  All our body functions are taking place on their own.  Similarly air, water, sun, earth and space are also not in our control.  Mistakenly we think we are "our name and our role only and nothing else'.   In this state when we cause hurt to someone whether knowingly or unknowingly, it binds karma.  However, if we recall that we are pure soul and then recognise/accept our mistake, repent for it and promise never to repeat it again, it sets us free from this bondage.


Pratikraman (Divine apology) - The Dada Bhagwan Foundation teaches 3 steps process for seeking soul to soul Divine Apology, from the person who has been offended, in presence of Supreme Divine Self (Dada Bhagwan) wherein one does"


Alochana : Heartfelt inner confession of one's mistakes

                 I Confess my mistakes (recall the mistakes you committed with this person);

Pratikraman: Process of apology coupled with remorse for any wrong doing

                 I apologise and ask for forgiveness for these mistakes;  

Pratyakhyam: Sincere Pledge to never repeat the mistakes

                 I firmly resolve never to repeat these mistakes.  Dearest Dada Bhagwan (the pure Self within), grant me the absolute energy not to repeat these mistakes.



Wise have told us to stay in the state of 'awareness'.  Just 'witness' and 'know' what Vandana (substitute it with your name) is doing.  Because 'I' am the 'witness', the 'Knower' wearing the body garment named as Vandana. 

Swami Bhoomanada Tirtha says that  When I sleep the world sleeps for me ( in actual,  world is always there even when I am sleeping) but the 'I' in me that recognises the world has chosen to shut it off during sleep.  After some time, the 'I' in me decides to wake up and again see the world.  We are mistaken when we think that we wake up with the sound of alarm in the morning.  No. No. No.  There is some divine supreme presence within us that chose to wake up at the sound of alarm.  Therefore this 'I' is very powerful.  It sees changes in its body garment from infant to old age.  Caught up in the external worldly drama around, the 'I' forgets its true state (of being pure, powerful, divine SELF).  It mistakenly thinks of itself as Vandana (the body name) whereas it is INFINITE.

When we seek divine apology, we see this soul state in ourselves as well as in the other beings.  Like Shirdi Saibaba advised 'Remove this wall of division between You and ME. We are one and the same'.  In ignorance we think we are separate and end up hurting each other.  However, when light of the true Knowledge falls on us, the veil of ignorance is lifted and the so called 'enemy' appears 'flawless'.  There are many things happening behind the scenes which we need to understand.  And this understanding comes from within.  When we stop, become still and focus on that presence which animates our body.  When we centre on it for sometime, all confusion ends and we get answers and solutions to all our problems.  All is crystal clear.

This clarity requires grace of supreme Self.  This grace will not come to us, if we hold grudges and resentment against fellow beings (because this means we consider others as separate from us).  The process of 'Pratikraman'(divine apology) as described above makes it possible.  We need to seek apologies for hurting someone and also for hurt caused to us by others.  Easiest part is that we need not go and apologise to the person directly.  We may perform this 'service to self' in our own inner 'temple'.

Vandana Ritik Mulchandani
Noida


July 23, 2014

Why are we different from each other?


You explain one thing to ten people but  on inquiry you realise that some of them got it exactly your way while some got it half and a few got opposite or nothing at all. 

This happens because of the difference in the levels of intellect in each individual.  Intellect may be defined as our capacity to understand, assimilate and, if required, use knowledge at the appropriate time.  Our academic learning polishes and refines our intellect but it is certainly not the source of intellect.  We are born with our intellect.  But then, What is the source of our intellect?

As per Brahmakumaris,( the Indian Spiritual Organisation) intellect or intelligence is one of the three faculties of the Soul – the life force - running our body vehicle.  The other two faculties are Mind and Samskars (Impressions) left on our soul by all our experiences.  For example,  when a child puts finger in hot water, it leaves an impression of hot water causing burn so the child will avoid touching hot things in later life.  This is a small impression.  Can you imagine bigger and almost permanent impressions left by our intense Love or abhorrence of any person, place or a thing.  It becomes a strong impression and carries forward life after life till we correct it ourselves.

Now the body garment may change but the soul remains the same and with every birth brings with it the sum total of all the impressions carried forward from previous lifetimes.  You see a child of three years dancing like an expert.  This is very strong impression of one of the earlier lifetimes.  In each lifetime, the soul adds on more impressions and reaches different levels of its own growth. Of course human being cannot remember simply because remembering will cause so much confusion and problems.

In each lifetime, we start from where we left in previous life.   This explains the spiritual reason behind different levels of brain power in each person.

Our souls are on different levels of growth irrespective of age of our body. One person understands even a complicated logic while the other cannot understand even the simple logic, irrespective of body age.  This happens because they are on different levels of soul development and therefore you cannot expect a student of class II to understand books of class V.  The intellect level too works on these lines. 

Therefore, Common sense cannot be on exact level for all. It too differs.

In The Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna advised that each individual has to act righteously i.e., act as per his/her own commonsense, choose the best option (as per their intellect) and leave the results in the hands of Lord (the source that is running show of the world). We are not to judge. People get results as per their own efforts. Doing something is in our hands but how it is going to turn out is in hands of All That Is that knows all your past present and future and gives results accordingly.

Once we understand how we have reached our present state, we realize that we cannot do much about our past but with this knowledge we can now choose to create a better future. 
As per Dada Bhagwan, all visible actions are result of your impressions brought forward from previous lives.  Therefore understand that the real work is undergoing internally.  Now we can use this information, think positively, on purpose, and create positive impressions.  More intensely we pursue this, much better the results would be. 

This is the reasons we have to realize how powerful our own thoughts are.  Till now we  let these thoughts flow, uninterrupted, on their own.  But hence forth we exercise our freewill and choose (deliberately) to check and correct our thoughts.  Feel and think positive about everything. 

This is called living in total awareness.  This is path of Self Realisation i.e.,  Knowing myself,  my true nature.  When we know who we are, we experience our oneness with our SOURCE.

We realise that there is no outside source running our life, we ourselves have created this life and invited our so called family and friends into it and vice versa.  Source is same.  In actual we are responsible. Our internal actions are controlling our results.

This is spiritual law.  Understand it properly and utilize it effectively.   It will never fail you.


Vandana Ritik Mulchandani
Noida




July 18, 2014

The Science of Karma

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The book 'Science of Karma, ' published by Dada Bhagwan Foundation, states that in the Cause & Effect Cycle, the Effect is result of Cause set by us in motion.  Therefore whatever happens in our life is our own individual responsibility.  This Cause or Seed is our inner intention behind any Action. Action is visible but intention behind that action is not. It is this intention which brings out results. 

This intention is in our hands, our free will. This intention creates our destiny. For example two persons may be giving 100 dollars in charity - one with the intention of getting good publicity/ praise while other person may be giving the same amount but intention is just to help quietly and move on. For same actions our intentions could be different. Therefore results too would be different.  The first one will get mention is some newspaper while the other will be helped when he needs it ( not necessarily by the same person he helped).  But effect will always be there.

One person may take bribe and feel good about it however, the other person is taking bribe but internally repenting about not being able to correct himself. The first one will have to pay back in future because he is sowing seeds for negative result  while the other person is setting up a good intention which will ultimately make him a better human one day.  If these two reincarnate, in the next lifetime, the first one will have to pay back in someway for taking money where not required.  He will pay and feel cheated (he caused this suffering to other and had rejoiced) while the other person will not be accepting any undue payment(he had set an intention of not taking bribe).  This all is happening internally but world will say for the first 'poor fellow had to pay unnecessarily even when it was not required' for the second person response would be 'this man won't take what doesnot belong to him'.   

Have you not wondered when you see, a good man is suffering despite doing all good while a wicked man is successful and not getting caught.  This law explains behind the scene causes/reasons for this. However nature catches with wrong without fail.  So while good man  has an option to bear the effect by taking all his sufferings with internal knowledge of why it is happening. He may take all necessary action to stop his suffering which will stop the moment his account is settled.  But If he cribs and complaints, he will be caught in whirlpool of suffering.  Ancient Indian saints have therefore advised mankind to take all events in life with equanimity because of this reason.  

No body else is doing anything to you.  You are reaping result of your own actions.  Since you are ignorant about working of this law you feel cheated.  But once this law is clear you can check and control your inner working for a better future.

Effect of different intentions is different. This is where our free will comes in. 

Our intellect is supposed to be used, to discriminate between right and wrong and take necessary appropriate action. Because law of cause n effect takes note of it. None is controlling it. We ourselves are controlling it. In fact we are one of the controlling elements in entire scene. So many things are required for any event to take place. We are just one instrument who can make an important change. We have power to change our future. We are also part of this nature, made up of energy. We have advantage of intellectual faculty which other species like animals do not have. They understand love, are smart but their intelligence level is not as high as human. 

A human can think and control his thoughts and intentions. But off late we see many humans have stopped using their intellect and sense of discrimination.  They are going on sense less killing and other crimes. Their behaviour goes down to animal level. They could escape from courts of this world(because of their past accumulated good causes)  but natural laws ensure that they pay for their wrong doing either in this lifetime (if this accumulation is big) or in the next lifetime(then they will wonder what wrong did I do since they cannot remember what they did in previous lifetime). 

Payment is heavier if crime was done willfully and without remorse. Little less if it was not done willfully and happened accidentally. But payment is heavy for sure.. If you keep your hand on hot coals unknowingly does your hand not burn.  

As per this book, intense feelings of Anger, Hatred, Pride and Greed towards any person or thing will definitely bring a result in the next lifetime.  In current lifetime you are settling old scores with your present family, friends, neighbors, even strangers due to effects set by you  in motion in previous lifetimes.  No body meets you accidentally.  Everything around you is due to a reason.  Since you do not remember you remain ignorant.  Strong emotions form  'sticky karma' which you cannot escape even if you are in different body garment now. Look around for sticky karmic entanglements with your own family members.  You cannot escape them.  

These explanations had a bid impact on me.  This is a very deep science and cannot be explained properly in few lines. In all the above discussions my view is simple...no argument...no disputation with views of others .....I AM OK, YOU ARE OK.

Vandana Ritik Mulchandani
Noida

February 4, 2011

Understanding Free Will??


I don’t know what is God’s Will, its all mystery to me. I do not have enough developed faculties to understand His ways. Only He knows all. Sometimes I feel God wants me to be happy no matter what the situation is. Like a wise parent, God wants me to learn and he gives me his free hand but I have to function within my limits. Now what are my limits? The moment we try to find answers to such queries, we are said to be acting from our ‘ego’ . Wise have advised us to let go off EGO. When ‘E..goes’ than ‘HE’ comes. Paramahansa Yogananda has said that our Will Power is the God within us.

Sadguru Saibaba, my Ascendant Master, has clearly advised his devotees not to take ‘doership’ in their hands. God almighty is the ‘Doer’. Man suffers because he takes doership on himself and thus creates pain and suffering for himself. To over come this defect, all the Masters have time and again advised us to surrender to the Will of God. SaiBaba called it ‘sarvasva sharanagati’ i.e., constant remembrance of Lord’s name.

We have to carry on with our worldly duties but inwardly we must always be aware of who we really are ( Soul ) and offer all our thoughts & deeds to our chosen Guru/God with firm belief that I am a mere instrument, HE is the DOER. Detach yourself from your physical body and watch the show of this world without creating any feeling or emotion. Our inner state must be at peace even when the world is going topsy and turvy.

This way no karma is created. Man suffers because he lives in body consciousness and is thus always thinking of himself as body and identifies himself with the name of his body whereas body, name and the ruler of the body all are separate. In such a state of ignorance, when a man takes doership in his hands and takes credit or discredit of any of his actions, he creates karma. This happens because he thinks himself as body forgetting his true nature (that he is a pure and eternal soul). Such a man has to come back again on earth to reap the seeds of karma he sowed in his previous lifetime in the state of body consciousness.

I have come to understand that man lives in bondage when he is in human body. He is not completely free. He has certain limitations. He can transcend his limits when living in this body he uses his free will to remember constantly 24X7 that he is not this body but much more and is always aware that he is Soul in reality. This makes his ‘bhav’ (intentions) pure and no further karmic seed is sown.

I believe, I am accountable for my inner intentions (bhav) for carrying out any action. I believe that God is always taking into account ‘why’ I am doing something rather than ‘what’ I am doing. And if I am constantly thinking of my true nature, my intentions would always be pure. It is my freewill to choose from which level I want to operate – Soul or Body. If former is chosen than I am working as per God’s free will and the results would be God’s responsibility and thus result would be in my own highest and best interest. However, if I choose to operate from later state, than I create karma and become accountable for my deeds – good or bad – and have to pay for it myself. How can God intervene in the later case because I never thought of him before start of that action.

It is a fact that when we choose to operate from state of soul consciousness than we have to strictly exercise the principle of Shraddha(Firm faith) and Saburi(patience) advised by SaiBaba. Simply because God’s timing cannot always be same as Man’s expected timing. Man has to accept the result as Will of God and is ultimately for his own good.

SaiBaba has advised his devotees to carry on with their worldly duties wisely but always remember HIM and think of HIM. By this he was not referring to his human body and physical form. Baba said that barring your body and name what is left is me. Meditate(think) on that state of being alive(Self) which is present in each and every creation of this Universe. Man was given his freewill to do just this. Once a man does this, the God(knowledge) is revealed to him and he becomes Master himself who then goes out to help others still living in the state of ignorance for innumerable lifetimes.


Vandana Ritik
New Delhi