Question：What is Karma?
Yogmata：Karma essentially governs our lives. Karma precisely means “all actions carried out by our mind and body as a result of our past lives and our memories from the past”. Now, I will discuss more in detail about Karma.
Karma is generally known as “gou” in Japanese. It is a term used to represent all human actions which is essentially repercussions of all the accumulated memories from the many lives lived in the past.
The creation of the universe was manifested by God and then the Stars, Sun and the Earth were born. And then on Earth, mountains were born and plant life such as grass, trees, etc. were created. Furthermore, humans were created by God’s will. Humans are great souls who exist at a distance from God, the higher consciousness.
Due to humans, thinking, feeling and performing an act, memories are created which results in the formation of Karma. Thus, “Karma” is very important. It is true that every living entity has sensory capabilities but the biggest difference between animals and humans is that humans have a mind, buddhi (a consciousness to understand), knowledge and wisdom. Humans have the ability to think, forget, decide, act and →examine. What we did and as well as what we are going to do in the future are all called “Karma”.
There are several kind of causes that instigate “Karma”. These causations come into our lives as experiences of “Karma”.
Within these causes, there is Samskara, the seed of one’s memory of all previous lives that serves to help bring about birth. Prarabdha, the phenomena triggered in the future and present lives, based on one’s memory from their previous lives. And there is Bhoga, the Karma that is currently experienced right now which is derived from the Karma of past memories. All of the actions we are doing now are also going to be carved into our memory. Our lives are ever so affected by many past Karma and furthermore by our forthcoming actions, new Karma is going to be built up as well.
Of course, Karma does not completely decide the course of our lives. Based on how you approach in the way you think and do things daily, you develop new Karma and are able to make a connection to the next result.
For example, based on your Samskara, even if you had no good fortune in getting married, if you develop a Karma of your wish to get married to be realized, it will come true. That is the rule of fate, the rule of Karma.
If one’s Prarabdha is strong, it will manifest in one’s present life or be the Karmic cause of what might happen in the future. Currently, if you are suffering greatly or feeling very joyful, that is the manifestation of the past memory of your Prarabdha.
From a persimmon, another persimmon is created. A banana will be born as a banana again. No persimmon is born from a banana. We humans are also much the same. Based on each person’s unique Karma, the fruit of Karma is manifested.
To know the rule of Karma is the first step towards your freedom.
