The impact of karma-phala, i.e. the results of our past actions, can be significantly varied when there is the benevolent grace of GOD; for example, a great tragedy due upon us could simply pass by as a bad-dream thereby limiting our suffering, however intense it may be, to the duration of dream space and time. An unexpected hindrance could prove to be a blessing in disguise. Unless we seek and value the mercy of GOD, we will never be able to understand and appreciate the power of GOD as the karma-phala-dāta, in making potential shifts in the context for our succour. Just think about all those difficult situations that you have faced and overcome so far! Surely, you can figure out how well things finally turned out.

There is a greater insight in this. Once we understand this, everything that happens to us is the well considered bestowal by the GOD. So we must have or develop a prasāda-bhuddi, the intellect to accept come what may. Veda provides number of techniques and tools to cultivate such capacity and we can grab a few.

Let us summarize. We are here to live and enjoy. If our enjoyment is from the object of desire, so be it, and let us keep seeing more and more objects of desire! Veda does not prohibit for us to be a ‘bhoktā’. Only by efforts, we can earn enjoyment and therefore we are always a ‘kartā’. We are free to follow this ‘pravritti-mārga’ and by adhering to dharmā , our efforts will lead to enjoyment.

However one life-time may not be long enough to reap and realize the rewards. So there is a life-after-life-after-life, and as Veda assures, we can make each one as enjoyable by accumulating ‘punyā ’. Since GOD is the dutiful book-keeper and merciful dispenser of our punyā and papā, we seek GOD’s mercy and march along the perpetual path of pravritti-mārga.

Sounds great, is it not! Or, are you sensing something not right?

(to be continued – Mee. Rajagopalan – 06/06/2017)