________________
32
KARMA - THE MECHANISM
SUTRAS
at all accumulate 'good' karma. It only attaches us to more boredom, rigidity and negative emotions (resentment) against the 'bad' guys who seem to have all the fun.
We need to fundamentally understand why we are performing 'good' actions. We need to realize that exploring higher dimensions of consciousness is infinitely more exciting, vibrant and rewarding than any 'bad' - i.e. selfishly motivated - action governed by greed, anger, deception, pride, carelessness, obsession or laziness could ever be. Only with this inspiration deeply rooted in our emotions will our 'positive activities produce the freedom from karmic attachments we yearn for - i.e. the freedom from persistently recurring uncomfortable, dissatisfying and frustrating situations and emotions.
We need to discard the misleading idea that 'good' actions necessarily have to be in harmony with commonly accepted views of society. Mahatma Gandhi's life is an excellent example that positive action can be highly creative, adventurous, exciting, powerful, daring and much more, yet he certainly upset all established opinions and disrupted much of the prevalent social consensus of his time. To seriously go for higher dimensions of our life takes far more courage, steadfastness and strength than the pursuit of the accepted, egoistic goals of a society which essentially are only geared towards preserving its current stagnant status-quo.
Since every action inevitably attracts karma that may possibly bind us, the question comes to mind whether we might not be better off to refrain from any activity - no matter if positive or negative.
From the perspective of the all-comprehensive underlying reality - nischaya-naya - this certainly is true. All activity attracts karma, may cause karmic bonds and thus obscure the radiant inner nature of our consciousness.
Yet from the practical perspective of daily life - vyavahara naya - the classification of action in positive ('good') and negative ('bad') proves of great help for our inner growth. The classification offers an orien
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org