Karma

कर्म
Karma – a simple translation would be work, or action. However, in our scriptures, a wider meaning is given. Provocation, instigation or instinct for starting any action, emotions such as involvement and attachment which are exhibited during actions and the resultant reactions to the results of actions are all included.

There are three categories of karma:
1) Samchita Karma – karma from past births. They lie dormant,latent.
2) Aagaami Karma - works done in the present birth. They fructify in future births
3) Praarabdha Karma - actions set to play in the present birth based on earlier karmas.

When Praarabdha is worked out, the soul goes the abode of death with Yama, taking along records of other two karmas. Chitragupta (a significant name) reads the records and selects some from both and prepares a new Praarabdha list . The soul is tossed back into the world in a new birth. The unused Aagaami is merged into the remnant Samchita.

A black-box is an instrument in cockpits of aeroplanes. It keeps record of sounds made/heard in the cockpit during flights. A soul had its own in-built black-box wherein the record of all karmas is registered. The soul’s black box records as well as plays. Here the Samchita remains untouched. New actions get recorded as aagaami. Praarabhdha begins playing giving rise to new actions. The goal is to cease recording Aagaami Karma and allow Praarabdha to work out. Over many births, the Samchita is exhausted. No material left for a new Praarabdha. You have a white-box – Mukti - Liberation.

(How to stop Aagaami Karma and how to deal with Praarabdha will be taken up later.) *

NOTE' While on visit to Thailand, the guide (a lady ) asked Narad Mam why he has come alone leaving his wife behind. He replied he is a confirmed bachelor . OH, that is your karma, the guide commented with a deep sigh.
Note:
* Any work has to be done with involvement and attention for successful completion. Perform all work as offering to god. AVOID ATTACHMENT TO THE WORK. AVOID ATTACHMENT TO THE FRUIT OF THE WORK.

A MAN ON THE STREET IS KNOCKED DOWN ON THE STREET. Rush and assist the man. Dont curse the man who knocked him down or feel the the man fallen deserved it. Never sit on judgement. LEAVE JUDGEMENT TO GOD. Assist and walk away. Thus your record of KARMA is not filled in.

* Work done with expectations is karma. Recorded. Unselfish work is no karma. Not recorded.