The Science of the Rishis: The Spiritual and Material Discoveries of the Ancient Sages of India by Vanamali

Author:Vanamali
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Tags: Religion/Hinduism
ISBN: 9781620553879
Publisher: Inner Traditions/Bear & Company
Published: 2015-01-29T18:30:00+00:00

Sarvatjnaaya Namaha!

Salutations to the All-Knower!

7

Karma

The Science of Action

We owe a lot to the Indians who taught us how to count without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.

ALBERT EINSTEIN

It is already becoming clearer that a chapter which has a Western beginning will have to have an Indian ending if it’s not to end in the self-destruction of the human race. At this supremely dangerous moment in history, the only way of salvation for mankind is the Indian way.

DR. ARNOLD TOYNBEE, BRITISH HISTORIAN

We have dealt with two great paths or yogas of Hinduism—jnana and bhakti—wisdom and devotion. Now we have to take up another of the great paths known as karma. Hinduism is the only religion that teaches us that we are totally responsible for our lives. We cannot blame God or our parents or our friends or anyone else for our problems. The law of karma is one of the foundation stones of the Sanatana Dharma and it declares categorically that our own actions are what shape our destinies. The relationship between cause and effect, which takes place between physical objects and persons, reflects a natural law that is not limited to physical reality. Everybody and everything in the physical world is part of that universal law, which we as limited human beings are not able to perceive.

We can control our actions but we cannot control the results of our actions; they are governed by the law of karma. According to this law, we receive from the world what we give to it. To put it simply, the person who hates others will keep receiving hate; the person who feels love for others will keep getting love in return. The law of karma is pretty straightforward. As we think or desire, so we shall get and become. So it is very important that we desire the right things. More than our actual actions, it is our intentions that create our future. Every intention, every desire leaves an imperceptible mark on our mind that slowly builds our future. So it is absurd to blame God for anything that happens to us. We have only ourselves to blame or praise. If we hurt others, we are actually hurting ourselves even though we may not know it. “Do to others what you would have them do to you” is a basic dictum of all religions. “As we sow, so we shall reap.” This is an implacable law of Nature.

When we act, we should examine our motivation to see if it is pure or tainted with selfishness. The desire or motive with which we do an action has to be fulfilled. The fruit of that desire will come bouncing back to us one day. If some actions do not bring their results in this life, then one has to take another life in order to enjoy the benefits or be punished for the bad. Like all laws of Nature, the law of karma cannot be diverted or bypassed. This is why the Hindus believe in reincarnation, which is actually based on this scientific law of Nature.

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