Karma

‘Karma’ means one's action. An individual is characterised by the ‘Karma’ performed by him or her. It is ‘Karma’ which make a man great or small, noble or criminal.

Man has found it very difficult to exactly classify what action is right and what is wrong. Definition of right and wrong keeps on changing. Within the same period of history, different cultures and different religious come up with different definitions and classifications.

Even within the same religion, people of different generations will have different view of right and wrong and even if one does not consider the external situation at all but looks within, one finds that his own understanding fluctuates a great deal.

In 'Balyam', one’s understanding of right and wrong was on one level, in 'Koumaram'it changes, in 'Grahasthyam' it has changed yet again. Finally, one has a totally different outlook during 'Vanaprastham'. This is like reading the same book at different stages in life. At every stage, the perspective changes.

Lord Shiva has explained the Law of Karma in a lucid manner by defining three specific types of Karma:

Sukarma (Good or Positive Actions) – Action performed for the benefit of others—without any selfish motive--by which happiness and joy is experienced by both--the Giver and the Receiver.

Vikarma (Vicious or Negative Actions) - Actions performed in the state of body-consciousness and based on vices and therefore, cause unhappiness and sorrow to the individual and the receiver.

Akarma ( neutral Actions) —Actions which are performed in soul-consciousness—which produce neutral effects. They neither do good nor bad.

Try to increase your Sukarmas, shun Vikarmas and manage your Akarmas. Most of the people, though they dont do Vikarmas, tend to spend lot of time and energy on doing Akarmas. Hence the need for managing Akarmas.

In short, be selfless and do good.

Let that be the motto for this month beginning today