A Guide To Karma and Dharma

1
A Guide To Karma And Dharma Karma simply depicts
"action." It recognizes the metaphysical notion
that for every action, there is a reverberating
reaction. The reaction may take place immediately
or after some time. It says in Bhagavad Gita
chapter 3 verses 35, "It is better to perform
one's prescribed duties even it has some faults
in it, rather than performing someone else's duty
perfectly." The karmic reactions developed by
the Indian philosophy are believed to operate at
all times. That says most about the universal
belief that that goes around comes around. The
actions you do now will bring reactions, whether
good or bad, and whether now or later.

• Karma relates to actions that form the string of
  cause and effect. From this chain, three kinds of
  karma have been developed
• Past karma this has to do with karma accumulated
  from the past. All actions from the past are
  gathered and may affect the person in the current
  life cycle. This means the karma runs from the
  past into the present.
• Present karma this explains the current
  condition. It includes everything that is
  presently happening which cannot be changed or
  avoided. These reactions may result from past
  actions, so to change them, one has to make an
  opposite reaction to change the karma in the
  nearest future.

2

• Future karma future karma implies the reactions
  to the present actions. Thus, all present
  actions will accumulate to what bring
  corresponding reactions in the future. Future
  karma solely depends on the present actions and
  can be designed by choice.
• What brings about karma is your actions
  controlled by your dharma. Dharma is recognized
  as morality or duty. It is your
  consciousness of righteousness and your position
  between right and wrong. You must understand
  that what is good and bad differs from person to
  person. Each person possesses dharma that is
  reliant on four principles.
• Rita-Dharma This is a connection to the universe
  and higher forces of nature. Essentially, one
  small event connects to the universe.
• Varna-Dharma This embraces the idea of societal
  duties and responsibilities of each person.
• Ashram-Dharma This relates to the changes in
  duties and responsibilities that are determined
  by age. For instance, what each person will do
  rests on the stages in their lifespan.
• Sva-Dharma This has to do with the inner
  existence of each person, his ego and mind. It
  says whatever a person does is a result of his
  thoughts, ego, and inner world.
• All these four principles of morality tend to
  validate the idea that every person is
  individually connected to the universe. His
  actions and inactions are his alone and connected
  to his choices, age, past and present
  situations, and general lifestyle. This,
  therefore, means their dharma determines a
  person's actions. Their present actions will come
  back as karma, which in turn influences their
  choices again.
• Since karma operates in cycles, it, therefore,
  means you are bound to experience the
  consequences of your past actions in the present
  or future. This is what the yogic philosophy
  regard as samsara. However, the philosophy also
  includes that you can be freed from this
  consequence cycle. You can achieve this goal
  through yoga, particularly the Yamas and
  Niyamas, with moral codes, observances, and
  meditation.