Karma, a term often misunderstood, refers to the actions we perform in our lives, including our body, speech, and mind. It can be seen as an echo of the past or a future. Common acts like work, good deeds, and charity also define karma. Revered Dadashri, who has attained self-knowledge, explains that these acts are fruits of karma bound in one’s previous life, meaning that what we see externally in our current life are the fruits of one’s inner intents from their past life. The cycle of birth and death is attributed to Karma, which results from past experiences of pain and pleasure. After gaining knowledge of Self, one can engage in normal activities and experience a blissful state without binding any karma, leading to full enlightenment. The key reasons for charging Karma are the inner intent behind the action and ignorance of the Self. We are our own Karmic projection, responsible for everything we encounter in our lives. While some people try to change this projection, it is only to a limited extent. Only after attaining the true knowledge of Self can one become independent. To use this knowledge to achieve goals, one can purify or unwind negative imprints of Karma before they come into fruition. Additionally, one can continue doing normal activities without binding new Karmas and experience the blissful state of the Self. There is no easy and practical way to liberate oneself from karmic bondages from endless past lives. However, understanding the importance of Karma and its consequences is crucial for personal growth and enlightenment.
