Karma literally, and simply translates to action. But what does karma mean? As it's interpreted, it is the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences. But, does karma mean, each and every action of ours is tabbed and then somebody evaluates and decides what consequences we'll face?
Perhaps, a simple answer for a rational, 21st-century person is "NO". No one's keeping a tab of your action. Phew, one less thing to worry about in this digital day and age when our privacy is constantly infringed. But karma isn't a conscience, conduct, or contract.
While it coincides in its meaning with Newton's third law of motion - that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, karma - in the physical world - is much more sophisticated.
To understand karma, one must also understand kriya. Both the words mean action or to act. Karma is a cyclical action - where what we have acted on in the past may come back to impact us today, however, a kriya is an act in this moment.
For example, I'm typing this post now - this is my kriya. But, the essence of this post - the content comes from my past learnings. Something that I may have read consciously in the past few days towards this post or something that I was told through a story about karma by my grandmother. Something, perhaps, that she was told by her grandmother, and that shaped her into what she became to tell me that story.
Had that story not existed, you wouldn't be reading this post. And, now that you read it, you interpret its meaning and articulate it and assimilate it and fit it into your understanding in the role that you're playing now - a leader, a boss, a friend, a husband, or whatever! You may label this as something that made you ponder, or something that was unwisely complicated and useless, or something that was futile, or whatever you may interpret. And, in each role that you play, you will make a judgment about me. Without knowing who actually has written this post (Is it Shantesh? Is it Prasanna? Or somebody else) you pass a judgment silently (maybe vocally). You will make it mean differently based on how you have been shaped by several instances to come into this role. The residual effect of this interpretation that is caused in this role of yours is your karma.
Kriya on one side can be termed as a direct action while karma can be termed as a cyclical or a perpetual or a residual effect to an action. While both kriya and karma are actions, karma is a complex web that is difficult to comprehend. The prior is easy to comprehend, while the latter seems mythical - or easier when made into a mythical thing. But, karma - while is action, it's not an action. While karma seems unreal, yet it's real. It's, therefore, easier for one to get trapped into their own karma.
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