In article <ghenE5K4An.3As@netcom.com>, saibaba@ccs.neu.edu says... > >Namaste, >I some times wonder at the action-result theory.(KARMA theory or >Newtons third law of motion).
I wonder if you feel these two are synonymous; they aren't.
The problem I face is on the question >"does the result lead to action or does action lead to result(s)(but
always >plural)?".(snip)
Why always plural? If you are going to postulate the existence
of an
original discreet action, is it not possible that each such act
has
its discreet result?
I couldn't >figureout >which one does lead to which and which is which.
The Gita says that this is almost impossible. In many cases it
is
impossible. >Here is an example:- >Birth itself is a result(of the divine act(result of KAMA? ) that
takes
place in the >laboratory called bed room:-)),then we get milk as a result of
crying(action), >but we cry(becomes result here) becuase of hunger(action? or result?)
and >so on. >So how far is KARMA theory relevant.
This is why it is almost impossible to understand action. We
know
that there are five factors of action (doer, place, the
instruments
involved, the endeavor, and the ultimate fate (daiva), or God.
Most
of these, like everything else, are ultimately beyond our full
comprehension. We are perceiving a very limited picture, yet we
want
to make absolute conclusions based upon it. This isn't very
sanguine. For ordinary people, it's better and easier not to
lose
sleep over such things, and to trust the authority and
discretion
of the sastras and the acaryas, and simply do what they bid us.
But
because of widespread demoniac association, this isn't regarded
as a
very good proposal in modern society. > >Please don't beat me to death for asking such questions.
Why should I? That you ask such questions marks you as a
bona-fide
member of the human race. Most people go through life at face
value,
without such thoughfulness, but that is an animal existence.
Inquiry
into absolute Truth is the unique potential of our species.
This
is why the Vedanta-sutra begins with the aphorism:
"athato brahma-jijnasa" ("Now, here, one should be inquisitive
about
Brahman, the absolute Truth.") Congratulations, your an
intelligent
human being asking life's important and essential questions. I
