What is the way out of karma?
As long as we live, there is no escape from karma, because to live is to have desires, and we certainly can't fulfill all our desires in one lifetime. But it is in your hands to drastically reduce the effects of karma - by awakening your consciousness. By understanding the true nature of karma, and how it works, we can find a way out.
Sri Ramakrishna tells a beautiful story which will give you intellectual clarity on the subject. Of course, no one can give you existential, experiential clarity on karma as it really is that clarity comes only with enlightenment. And when you are enlightened, you cannot express it!
Coming to the story on karma:
Our state is similar to that of a cow tied to a post with a long rope. Inside that perimeter, it can sit, stand, feed, do whatever it pleases. The same with us! It is true that karma creates certain bondage, gives our life certain direction, forces us to act in certain ways. We have a limited amount of freedom; the rest is in the hands of Existence. But Ramakrishna also adds, if we use our freedom intelligently, it is possible that Existence will extend our rope, or even free us completely. You can choose whether to remain in bondage or work towards being set free.
Karma is closely related to Dharma.
Dharma is another much-misunderstood word. Dharma is usually interpreted as 'duty', but that is totally wrong. That is also a social, moralistic interpretation. The closest translation of dharma is 'true nature'. For example, it is the dharma (nature) of fire to burn. Similarly, it is the dharma of water to be wet. If water tries to burn, something unnatural is happening.
As long as you act according to your dharma, you cannot attract karma. In simple words, be natural. Function according to your true nature.
Seems easy doesn't it? But it is not so for us because of all our conditioning!
This is the toughest thing to do - because we cannot identify what our true nature is! In life, we take on the character and desires of everybody around us and finally we can't recognize which is truly ours and which is borrowed.
It's like this: let us say, you need to buy a television. When you go to the supermarket, you find someone else buying a washing machine, another person buying a refrigerator, another buying a music system. And you are tempted to acquire all these things as well! Without realizing, you take on the desires of all the people around you. In one life, you try to fulfill the desires of hundreds of people. These desires are not natural to you; they are acquired desires. So naturally, they attract karma.
All karma arises from ignorance; from ignorance of your true nature.
In terms of spirituality, karma is determined by the dominant quality of your life.
Spirituality is nothing but the science of awakening your consciousness, of realizing your true nature. When your whole life is directed towards awakening your consciousness, you will naturally not fall into the trap of ignorance. With clarity and awareness, you can identify which are your true desires, which is your true nature.
This becomes especially significant at the moment of Death.
In fact, in yoga, in Zen, all meditation is nothing but a preparation for the moment of death. If you are in a state of consciousness at the time of death, you will enter into your next life also in a conscious way, not in ignorance. When you enter into life with awareness, you ensure that you live your life in awareness, creating as little karma as possible.
This is true.
I speak to you from the authority of my own experience.
I speak to you from the explosion of awareness that has happened inside me.
Someday, you will know it yourself.
Awaken your consciousness, and you are taking the first step that will ultimately free you from karma.
WHAT IS YOUR MANTRA?
A POWER BEYOND WORDS
WHAT IS YOUR MANTRA? A POWER BEYOND WORDS