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> I will appreciate if someone could tell me if mans karmas are decided
by
> his actions( of his own will) or by Predestination. If it is
predestined
> that I should commit a sin, then where is the scope for me to 'do' good
to
> redeem my self.
Actions have consequences but the actor does not control the
consequences. There is always uncertainty at every moment of our life.
The Karma theory is just to console the person facing the uncertainty to
understand that one of the possibilities for the unexpected result could
be "poorva karma." The karma theory helps the believers in two ways:
First it compels the actor to prepare for some unexpected results due to
past actions. Second, more importantly it attempts to convince the actor
that the results of future actions are influenced by actions of today!
Both these statements are just postulates and there can be no proof
because it is very easy to construct counter examples! Actions of all
actors of the world take place simultaneously and/or interact with each
other. It is very difficult to isolate the person or action that is
responsible for the result.
In conclusion, I will argue that actions are decided by the actor
but results are uncertain for any action at any moment of time. For some
actions, such uncertainties are small, for others they are large! If a
person steals once, he may or may not be caught. But if a person
continues to steal then the chance that he is likely to be caught becomes
greater and greater. The thief creates his (her) destiny for punishment.
The worst punishment for the thief is the pain and fear suffered whether
he (she) is caught or punished! The scope for doing good is for the good
feeling in the heart! Let me give this beautiful quotation by Maurice
Maeterlinck (1862-1949)to illustrate this point - "An act of goodness is
of itself an act of happiness. No reward coming after the event can
compare with the sweet reward that went with it."
Karma theory in Hindu Religion has lots of resemblance to modern
economic theory. According to Karma theory, "good" and "bad" can be
accumulated and a net balance can be maintained. If the net balance is
positive (more "good" and less "bad") then the person is rewarded with
good deeds. If the net balance becomes negative, the person is punished
with bad deeds. Karma theory assumes more than one life, and an
individual can choose to make sacrifices in the present life to gain
better life during next birth! When a person lives a sinful life, then
he is likely to get an inferior life during the next birth. The economic
theory rationalizes the personal "saving" and "borrowing" behavior of the
public. Those who save have to make sacrifices during the current time
in order to live comfortably during another time. Those who borrow money
also accept the outcome from such actions!
It is quite reasonable for someone to ask the validity of karma
theory. Who keeps the account of 'good' and 'bad?' There are several
explanations for those inter generational accounts and transactions! Let
me try to explain my viewpoint on karma theory. I believe that there are
no external judges! Time is a human concept and in "pure religion,"
there is no time! Once we include time, we all experience birth and
death at every instant! Our behavior can't be predicted for the next
moment. We do remember what we did yesterday. We do recognize that
whatever we experience today is influenced by what we did before! Karma
theory implies that what we do today has strong influence on what is
going to happen tomorrow! If we clean our house today it will have a
cleaner look than otherwise. Also, a dirty house today will be dirtier
tomorrow!
Karma theory, like the modern economic theory, rationalizes the
human behavior in a nutshell. Individual behavior is influenced by
personal beliefs and values. Personal behavior is influenced by the
environment that includes family, friends, teachers, religion and
government. Those are exposed to "ideal" environment have ideal values.
Since, environment differs by location and time, behavior and values also
differ. Religion has strong authority on personal beliefs and values.
When our actions do not agree with our personal convictions, we resent
our actions. Such resentments indicate that a "sin" is committed. A
"Sin" is a personal judgement of one's actions! No other person will be
able to judge others' actions! When I recognize that I have committed a
sin, I am awarding punishment to my self!
External punishments for sins are neither necessary nor feasible!
On some occasions, we feel "good" about our action. On some other
occasions, we feel "bad" about our action. Feeling "good" about an
action is the "reward" and "bad" about an action is the "punishment."
Several references to "good," "bad," "sin," "reward," and "punishment"
can be found in the Upanishads. The brihadaranyaka Upanishad states that
the actions of the human beings decide the outcome. The doer of good
becomes good. The doer of evil becomes evil. One becomes virtuous by
virtuous action and sinful by sinful action. As is his desire so is his
will, as his will so is the deed, he does, and whatever deed he does,
that he will reap. Ultimately, being A Brahman, he goes to A Brahman!
Society has its own values and it is influenced by the political
and religious leaders of the community. The society persuades the
government to promulgate appropriate laws to protect those values. When
a law is violated, a crime is committed and punishments are awarded by
the courts. Punishment to a crime is decided externally by the Police
and/or by the courts. Punishments by external judgements have
encountered numerous failures! Some criminals have escaped punishments
and some innocent persons have accorded punishments! Sin is a violation
of one or more of personal values and is recognized only by the sinner.
A crime on the other hand is a violation of a law, it may or may not be
acknowledged by either by the sinner or by the judge! Acceptance of a
sin is the punishment and acceptance of a crime doesn't necessarily lead
to punishment.
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