Have you ever wondered what makes karma (every action) 100% Karma? What is required to say that an action was fully done?
Consider a man, who is inflicting pain on another with a knife. Now, would you consider this action right or would you consider it wrong? It will depend upon the intention behind that action. In this case, if one is using the knife with the intention of harming somebody then it is wrong action. On the other hand if a surgeon is using a knife to operate upon a patient with the intention to cure him, then it is a right action. In another situation, if the surgery was actually unnecessary and the doctor is only amassing wealth through unfair practices, then in that case the action is wrong. Hence, the intention behind the visible action is all important. This throws light on an important missing link. Mental actions, in the form of thoughts and feelings, are the primary determinant of the quality of karma, than the outward physical action. The intention behind action determines whether the karma is appropriate. What may seem to be a terrible act to your eyes could possibly be backed by the purest intention. On the contrary, what may seem to be the most benevolent and kind act could be a crafted manifestation of a wicked intention.
The feeling that you bring into your actions also determines the quality of karma. Pure feelings of compassion, oneness and gratitude that arise from an attitude of surrender to the divine will, transform work into worship.
The Soul of Karma is embodied by these three aspects – love, understanding and pure feeling. Any act that is imbued with the feeling of love, wisdom, and pure virtuous intention is 100% karma. It arises from higher awareness. Action that arises from an awakened Soul of Karma brings completeness and fulfillment in your life.
Action arising from ignorance, lower intentions, devoid of love and compassion is soulless karma. It is reactive as it arises from the past conditioning of the mind. It does not give completeness. Far from being 100%, it entangles you and leads to sorrow or confusion.
One may feel that every action is actually a reaction to situation, but not all actions are reactions. Reactions are programmed responses to external or even internal stimuli. The subconscious mind has been designed to automate responses to certain stimuli. Since childhood, we observe and learn certain fixed responses. The subconscious mind is the storehouse of such fixed responses.
For example, do you need to think twice before pulling your hand away from fire? Do you actually think, “This fire can burn my hand; let me take my hand away”? No. It happens automatically without conscious thought. The subconscious mind is programmed to enact this response to the stimulus of fire. We’ve borrowed this behaviour through genes, through our upbringing from parents, our neighbourhood, through school and largely through the media.
You suddenly brake the car to a halt when an obstacle appears on the road. You catch hold of anything you can get your hands on to when you stumble. These are automatic reactions. It’s actually useful that your actions are automatic in these instances. It saves you the effort of consciously considering repetitive actions. This is indeed a blessing.
However, this blessing becomes a curse when it comes to programmed behaviour. For example, how is your response when you feel cornered in a group? Consider the compulsive need to withdraw from a scene where you sense insecurity or hostility. Consider the pleasure that is felt when the scene conforms to your liking. These deeply ingrained responses helplessly manifest; much against your conscious will.
When someone speaks harshly or swears at you, perhaps you may be compelled to swear at them in return. When someone praises you, you may feel gratified and comply with their needs. You may say, “The situation was such, so I got angry.” This is a reaction, because it is dependent on circumstances. Your behaviour with people is dependent on how they behave with you. You hand over the remote control of your life to people and situations. Most people lead life in this reactive way, by being a victim of their past conditioning.
Reactive living does not need higher awareness. You do not need awareness to follow the same beaten path every day. However, if you have to choose a new path, which is unknown, it needs awareness. Creative living requires higher awareness. Human evolution is all about moving from reactive living to creative living; it is about raising the level of consciousness. When you raise your level of consciousness, you begin to act less and less impulsively or compulsively. Your actions will become increasingly intuitive and creative.
An awakened response arises intuitively from pure consciousness. It does not arise from the storehouse of programmed responses. It is fresh and creative. Actions arising from pure consciousness are independent of prior mental conditioning. They are fresh and novel actions, free from past prejudices. They are imbued with the Soul of Karma. Develop the habit of questioning yourself in everyday situations. Ask yourself: “Am I reacting mechanically to this person, to this situation?” When you question yourself in this way, it creates an opportunity to respond creatively. With raised awareness, you become conscious of the space where you can choose your response.
When you practice being in the stillness of pure consciousness, your actions will arise from the freedom of choice of response. For example, if someone swears at you, you will choose an awakened response by either ignoring it or responding creatively. An awakened response is not constrained by fixed patterns of behaviour. The Soul of Karma awakens with rise in consciousness. Love, wisdom and pure feelings will drive your actions to attain completeness, making them 100% Karma.
Summary:
Mental actions, in the form of thoughts and feelings, are the primary determinant of the quality of karma, than the outward physical action. Any act that is imbued with the feeling of love, wisdom, and pure virtuous intention is 100% Karma. It arises from higher awareness. Action that arises from an awakened Soul of Karma brings completeness and fulfillment in your life.
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