Karma and Gunas

Why are all not born equal? Why is it that some are born to rich parents, while others to those of limited resources? Why are some born genuises while others struggle with their 3R's? Why are some born and live healthy, while others are born disabled? Why some lose their health and wealth suddenly? Why some breath their last in deep sleep, while others struggle in anguish before departing?Did not God create everyone equal? Does not God love everyone equally? Does God care?

Why should we be "good" to ourselves and to others? Why should we work diligently and earn rightfully?

Why does transmigration happen? What is evolution? How is the human being related to other forms of life? What is all this variety in life forms? Is there some continuity in all this?These and many other myraid questions are answered by one 'theory' - Karma. I have put theory in single inverted commas because Eastern Sages, especially the Hindu Seers, are not in the habit of elaborately theorizing something - they mere state some spiritual laws, which may, at a later time be woven into "sutras" for providing a sequential order.Karma is about cause and effect. Good begets good, bad begets bad. Throughout a man's life Karma is accumulated and at the same time past Karma also unfolds. There are three types of Karma.

1. Prarabdha: The part of the karma of past lives that will be fructified in this lifetime.
2. Agami: That part of the karma of past (including the present moment of our lives) that will fructify in future
3. Sanchita: The sum total of past karma (technically, a super set of Prarabdha)

Karma, though, is not like the Newton's third law. So, if I pinch someone, may be a few of musquitoes will bite me overnight to even out the bad karma - not that the same person or someone else will have to pinch me back. Also, depending upon the gravity of the karma, good or bad, one may have to experience its results over many lifetimes - sometimes even go down the evolutionary plane and begin the upward journey from some form of animal or plant life.Karma is merely a spiritual law (like, for example, the civil law of the criminal law), it cannot act by itself. There needs to be a Judge, who will award the right result (good or bad) taking the person's overall state and circumstances into account. This Judge is called Ishwara. It is He who runs this multiverse, it is He who is the Lord-Master of all this. Beyond Ishwara is the Para Bhahman, the Absolute Sat-Chit-Ananda (Truth-Consciousness-Bliss).

In addition we have other questions. Why are people of different temperaments and psychology? To explain this, we have another spiritual law - the three Gunas.

Sattva Guna: One who is predominantly of the Sattva guna is calm, composed, of pure thoughts. Food that promotes development of Sattva guna is called the Sattvika Ahara - rice, vegetables, green leaves, fruits.

Rajo Guna: One who is predominantly dynamic, whats to own and achieve. Food that promotes Rajo guna is called Rajasica Ahara - meat, poultry.

Tamo Guna: One who is predominantly dull, lethargic or one who is evil and invites harm to his person or does extreme harm to others. Food that promotes Tamo guna is called Tamasica Ahara - beef, pork, stale food.

Karma and Gunas represent different levels of truth, the journey of the jiva atma (the individual soul) and the basis for morality. However, the ultimate goal of all existence - Nirvana - cannot be attained by merely performing good karma or developing sattva guna. To understand why this is so, we may take a few examples. Supposed someone did good karmas all his life (adult life, say for 3 decades) - then he should be eligible for as much (equivalent) result, he cannot be rewarded with eternal result for a limited effort. On the other hand, someone committed a grave crime, say a murder, will he be condemned to hell for eternity? The answer is No.More over, if you do good karma, you are earning some pleasant time for yourself. And if somone performs bad karma, he is inviting misery for a matching amount of time. But Nirvana (or Moksha), is by definition Sat-Chit-Ananda, that which never changes, that which ever is. So sat-karma and sattva-guna (predominantly) are the stepping stones for a man to begin to realize the true purpose of life.

It is for this reason that the Lord says in Gita that one should not expect the results of karma - just do your work and do not expect a result. That way one does not invite the bondage that results from our actions. Man has been endowed with free will by God. It is up to him. Everyone can carve out their future beginning today, now!