Friday, 24 January 2014

Action and its Fruit

Am back with thoughts related to 2.47, the much talked about and often misinterpreted Gita shloka.

Well to warm up, karma in general is action.

Action always has a reaction. And there are multiple possibilities.

We throw a dice and there are 6 possible outcomes!!!

That is a quick outcome, but sometimes outcomes are in future..as much as in next birth!!!

Karma theory is about you reap what you sow

Hindus believe in karma's being related to soul and not just the body ! So we have Karma's accumalated from past

Karma types : based on timing
  • Sanchit : Accumalated from the past , over janma's , good and bad karma
  • Prarabdh: those that have fructified 
  • Agami : yet to happen
  • Kriyami : happening now, at this moment!




And Karma types with a different perspective

1. Nitya Karmas (everyday )

2. Naimittika Karmas (occassional)

3. Kaamya Karmas (towards artha & kama within dharma)

4. Nishiddha Karmas(forbidden )

5. Prayaschitta karmas . (Repentence )



Karma is action and will have a reaction or fruit is certain, just when and what is not known.


Every action of ours/ Karma has a 4 fold impact

1. The result

2. The impact on our character

3. The impression / vasna it leaves on our mind

4. The impact on others in the world

Karam Yoga is a lot more than just action

It is action

1. Done to the best of our ability
2. With no attachment to result
3. For the good of society
4. Dedicated to God


Take an example of a surgeon , operating to save a life. He/she will do what he can best do and takes no responsiblity of outcome. But a karam yogi surgeon will do that but will also not take the credit for the positive outcome and will dedicate his action as service to lord.

Or a tutor while teaching if he gives his best and then advertises that his students get A* , is he a karam yogi???


Every action can have multiple outcomes. To simplify, largely in 4 categories ...

  • What we expect
  • Better than what we expect
  • Worse than what we expect
  • Completely unexpected


Example we want to cross the road to catch a bus

1. We do exactly that

2. We cross and get a ride from a friend

3. Before you cross someone distracts you and you see the bus go. So we miss the bus & no taxi coming as well..

4. We get hit while crossing the road...or lightning strikes...or you get a call and the need to go ends


Now coming to making choices for action. Inaction is not a choice ( doing nothing is an action of sitting around!!)


The letters of ACTION include

  • I CAN 
  • as well as I CANT 
  • and I NO ACT???!!!!
  • as well as A TIC ON


Self effort is of highest importance. Heard about "God helps those who help themselves!!" and "Its mind over the matter "


The choice for action is key.

Now coming to the shloka...it has 4 elements

1. Your right (Responsibility / choice/ competency ) is to work only

2. You have no control over / choice of  /  plan for the fruits

3. The fruits of action should not be the motivation for you to act. Do not try to be the author of your fruits of action

4. Also do not let your attachment be to inaction , duty is to act but only to act not be distracted to inaction.


(Suggest you also read olds post related to the topic)

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