Shakun
conducts Bhagwad Gita classes and aims at spreading religious
awareness and Gita gyaan through her website, www.dalsabzi.com
— an obviously Indianised version of the "chicken soup
for the soul" series. She explains how the concept of
karma is pertinent in the modern world. "There are two
schools of thought followed by believers. The first doesn’t
believe in free will. I subscribe to the second, which means
that I allow room for the possibility that our actions, and
hence, our destiny, lies in our hands to an extent."
Shakun is of the firm belief that destiny is greatly affected
by actions, prayers and deeds. "The results of your
karma can be categorised into three groups," says
Shakun, who simplifies the definitions by means of metaphors.
"The first is time bound, like a passing virus,"
Shakun explains, adding that in this case, problems would last
over a certain period of time and then disappear almost
miraculously once that duration has passed. This can be seen
in cases where relations that have been strained over lengths
of time, suddenly improve.
Shakun compares the second type of results that one’s karam
may result in, to a "bacterial infection." In
this case, she says, "just as medication would offer
relief for an infection, so also would prayers or good deeds
help ease the pain or problems a person is experiencing at the
time."
The third case is more serious, and can be compared to a
serious illness; no amount of prayer may be able to tip the
scales in one’s favour. But, Shakun insists, "As it
is impossible make out which of these three categories one’s
circumstances fall into while experiencing them, one can hope
to find relief for the effects of their past karma, through
prayers and good deeds through their lives." Shakun
adds, "In retrospect however, one can place almost
every experience they have had in life into one of these three
categories."
Karma
for a businessperson: According to Shakun, Hinduism is liberal
— it allows for shades of grey, rather than viewing things
as black or white. It allows room for actions that are
required in order to achieve one’s dharma without being
judged too harshly for it.
Although Shakun is very clear on the fact that bribing
officials or "stealing" in any manner, way or
form creates bad karma, she explains that every circumstance
is different. "It would be wrong for a boy to steal
food even if he was starving, but his circumstances and the
fact that he was acting on his survival instinct, may result
in him being judged less harshly for that crime, when compared
to a person who steals out of greed."
Karma
for a partner: When one person
in a relationship commits a "crime", the
other person may also have to account for the misdeed. Shakun
explains, "In olden times, when women were not allowed
to work, and had no way to contribute to the collective income
of the household, or may not have had any say in what their
husband did for a living, women would have been less
accountable for their husband’s deeds."
However, Shakun feels that the dharma of the modern woman has
changed, and despite this, when a woman makes demands for
jewellery or contributes to her husband’s greed, then, such
a woman would definitely be judged as a partner in whatever
crimes her husband commits in order to get her the lifestyle
she wants.
Karma
for the criminal lawyer: Shakun feels that some criminal
lawyers are performing their dharma by defending even the
guilty, and hence would not be accountable for that act.
"It is then the dharma of the prosecuting attorney to
present the argument."
Karma
in affairs of the heart: According to the Gita, it is the
intention behind one’s deeds that separates the good from
the bad. Shakun says that it important to be true to oneself
and to strive to keep from hurting anyone. "If genuine
love is the driving force behind the break-up of a
relationship or marriage, the party responsible would only
accrue bad karma if he or she has acted in a way to cause
deliberate harm and hurt to others, without a thought for
anyone but himself or herself."
"If, however, a person is in a loveless marriage and
finds himself/herself unable to control his/her feelings for
another person, then it is better to release the spouse from
the bonds of such a sad situation," Shakun explains,
cautiously adding, "But each case is relative and
every set of circumstances is different. So, the only person
who can really tell what the intention was behind any deed,
and therefore, distinguish between good and bad deeds, is the
person who commits them. Their heart is the best judge."
Read:
The law of Karma applies to all
To
read what other personalities have to say about karma, click:
http://www.mid-day.com/yourlife/2006/september/143674.htm
