Karma is such a loosely used word today. If we stub our toe, we say, “oh my karma”. If we face a misfortune, we cry, “Oh my karma!” So is Karma our punishment? With the world talking so much about Cultural Appropriation of Yoga and yogic terms, it’s important we understand this staple yet powerful term, Karma!
So what is karma?
We hear many analogies where karma is compared to a boomerang – what goes around comes around! But can we look at karma as a force of nature, just like gravity? Our actions set a force in motion and our desires or intentions fuel its direction. Pure intentions lead to pleasant experiences. Intentions rooted in greed and anger create a disturbance and anxiety in us.
Everything about our existence is a verb. As mortals born in human incarnation, we cannot escape from action. So every cause will produce an effect. We will experience joy or sorrow, we will experience pain and pleasure, gain and loss. And we will oscillate between this duality.
But through our ignorance, if we mistake karma to be a punishment , we actually refuse to take responsibility for our own actions. And negating the existence of karma is equally ignorant. I remember someone who would get sensitive on the mention of karma and assert that her situation and destiny has absolutely nothing to do with her past actions. “Things happen and it’s not my fault.” Her denial taught me a wonderful lesson on karma. Of course we are in control of our destiny. It’s not a powerless position but rather something which empowers us. Through the right awareness of my actions and my thoughts, I have the ability to change my destiny.
Sometimes what we may see as bad karma or punishment is actually God’s way of sharpening us and allowing us to harness our inner strength. True, our actions will result in a reaction. But why label anything as good or bad? Why not look at it purely as a learning experience to gain from. The road may get bumpy, but my lessons will be valuable and will guarantee my growth.
And so when I look at karma, I see myself experimenting with life and its lessons. Through my awareness, I will choose the actions that will lead me towards my growth. Karma and its awareness are the key to conscious evolution. Because there is no awareness of dharma or righteousness if there is no awareness of karma.
Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, “It is the intention behind your action/karma that matters”. Everything based on desire will lead to attachments. And attachments have a way of pulling us into a vicious cycle. But if we cannot escape action, can we escape desire?
Lord Krishna advises us lovingly, that if we offer all our actions to the divine, we begin to free ourselves from desire and attachments. It actually frees us from the anxieties of expectations and outcomes.
Karma is our teacher who will eventually lead us to growth and liberation. And all you need is a generous helping of awareness to go along with your karma.
Oh my Karma!