Essence of the Dhammapada by Eknath Easwaran

Author:Eknath Easwaran
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nilgiri Press
Published: 2013-05-22T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

Traveling Light

On the night of his enlightenment the Buddha made the profound discovery that nothing happens by chance – not because events are predestined, but because every act, every word, every thought is connected by cause and effect. What we do, say, and even think has consequences. Words and thoughts are included, for they cause things to happen. What we say and think has consequences for the world around us, for they condition how we act.

This is what Hinduism and Buddhism call the law of karma. Karma means something done, whether as cause or as effect. Actions in harmony with dharma bring good karma and add to health and happiness. Selfish actions, at odds with dharma, bring unfavorable karma and pain. Instead of trapping us in a fatalistic snare, this gives us freedom. Because we alone have brought ourselves into this state, we ourselves, by working hard, can reach the supreme state which is nirvana.

In order to cross the river of life, we have to undergo all the necessary spiritual disciplines, but it is equally important to undo our unfavorable karma. There is a very close correspondence between the pace at which we are able to work out our karma and the pace at which we make progress on the spiritual path. Nirvana comes when all the karma has been worked out, not before. When all the debts of karma have been paid, it means that our mind is still. Then all the fetters of karma have at last been released, and we are not capable of accumulating more karma.

The Buddha does have compassion, infinite compassion, but he knows that we will not be able to make the journey to nirvana if we are not heroes: if we don’t take a good look at our situation in order to meet our personal karma and overcome it. No one is condemned to a life of misery. Little by little we can lighten the load of our karma. That is the important point. It is not fate, it is not the stars, it is we ourselves who are in control of our own lives.

We begin by reducing our cargo. Long-distance hikers know they have to reduce what they carry to the minimum. It is the same with spiritual travelers. How can we make progress towards nirvana if we are adding more and more to the burden we carry on our backs? So the Buddha gives us the secret in a pithy verse: don’t add to your karma by striking at others. It will only bring you suffering and prevent any progress on the spiritual path.

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