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D.S. BAYA 'ŚREYAS'
SAMBODHI
agency to its intention. That is where we go wrong. When we hold an interme diary responsible for our pleasure or pain that he becomes an agent for, we develop a feeling of liking or dislike for him. We reward him for none of his merit or we punish him for none of his fault. The merit or fault is always our own.
This is one truth that truly states the essence of 'Karma Theory', which if properly understood and appreciated may save us from many a trouble and misery. Most of the times we make the mistake of taking the agents as the principals and consider them as our friends and foes when they become the means of our pleasurable and painful experiences. If we develop the right perspective and take the agents as such, we can lead a truly happy temporal life as well as achieve spiritual benefits at the same time. Doctrine Of Karma As The Basis Of Harmony And Contentment -
Discontent is an outcome of a feeling that we are not getting our due. This · feeling strengthens when we hold someone else as the dispenser of pleasurable
goods or that of torturous punishments. The feeling is reinforced every time we are deprived of some goodies and think that we haven't got our due or when we go through an unpleasant experience and feel that we have been unduly punished for no fault of ours. This feeling persists as long as we continue to think that: someone else is responsible for our pleasure or pain.
Again, when something untoward happens to us and we consider someone responsible for it, a feeling of animosity towards that person cannot remain without creeping in, in spite of our best efforts to the contrary. This feeling of animosity is contagious and transfers itself to the other person as well. It generates a vicious cycle of hatred and enmity that can only end in more misery. On the other side when we have a pleasurable experience, we look at the person or agency responsible for giving us that pleasure as our benefactor and develop affection and attachment for it. This attachment gives rise to new expectations to which only an exceptional few may rise. When the expectations are not fulfilled the attachment changes to aversion and we get into another vicious cycle of disaffection.
Karmavāda also helps us in overcoming pramāda or negligence or sloth, which is one of the most potent causes of worldly lack of prosperity and that of karmic influx. Negligence keeps us from doing our duty, either temporal or spiritual, and results in worldly penury and spiritual bankruptcy.
Karmavāda also keeps us from many a sinful deeds when we think in terms
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