In this Yuga, there are no punishments for bad thoughts. However, a continuous stream of bad thoughts will make a strong impression in you (vasana), which will harm you at a later point in time, if not immediately. How ever good thoughts will always result in good results.
KARMA/ SUFFERING
Why is that nobody ask for sufferings?
That is because it is sufferings!
It is said that the past karmas get burnt by chanting the Lord’s Name. Whatever happens in this birth is because of past karmas and is called ‘prarabdha’. Does prarabdha change by regular chanting or merely prepares the ground for the prarabdha of next birth?
Everything in this world happens according to Prarabhda only. If one does not chant the divine Name of the Lord, the Lord will not interfere with his life. If he does chant the Name of God continuously, the Lord makes his life favorable to him.
For instance, if a person possesses qualities like wealth, power, beauty etc. by virtue of his prarabdha, then, by chanting the Nama, the Lord ensures that he does not get a ‘head-weight’. If a person is already poor and leads a life in penury owning to his prarabdha, by chanting the Nama, the Lord keeps him away from bad thoughts and deeds like stealing, gambling, alcohol, suicide and so on.
If one’s Bhakti is intense, the grace of the Lord has the power to change one’s Prarabdha too. That, however, calls for strong devotion.
As per Karma theory the purpose of our Birth as human being is to expose our past Deeds or Misdeeds. Pains and sufferings of this worldly life is directly linked to our previous generation. Why was God so cruel and unkind even to great souls like Ramana Maharishi, Yogi Ram Surat Kumar, Vethathiri Maharishi, etc by inflicting them with dreaded terminal diseases despite their spiritual contributions towards humanity? Does the present Deeds cannot cleanse your past Misdeeds?
The case of mahatmas are totally different from the lot of normal people. In the words of Bhagavan Yogiramsuratkumar Maharaj, ‘Such afflictions are for bringing in a cosmic balance’. A Jnani does not identify himself with the body. In the words of Sri Ramana Maharshi the body is seen as a burden. God considers these Jnanis as his very Self. In any case God is never cruel to anyone as he is love embodied. Considering all these, it is clear that if at all any affliction is taken by Jnanis it is actually for the benefit of the entire existence.
I believe karma and everything that relate to it such us reincarnation. As far as I know most people prefer to die in peaceful way. I have a question about people who die in accident like car crash, plane crash or any horrible tragedy. Does this happen because of what they did in the past like they are prisoner of the past so they deserve to die like that or is it God’s will?
It is God who designed and who is implementing the Karma Theory. Whatever happens in the world happens only according to karma, be they good or bad. God does not usually interfere in this system of working. Very rarely, He interferes in the case of extremely faithful devotees, and to prove that He is above all the Karmas and is not bound by them. Even if a person dies by way of an accident or a tragedy, it is because of their Karma only.
Swamiji, Please explain why karma is carried from one birth to another? Why if someone does a wrong thing he is not been punished immediately. For any suffering all say it is due to past karma. Is it correct?
If God punishes immediately, you would say why can’t he give him time and chance to correct what he has done! It is due to infinite patience and compassion of the Lord that he gives us chance after chance to attain his feet. So if you turn to Him and chant Maha mantra now, Nama does all the purification instead of ‘purification by punishment’
If someone is continuously sad, does that have anything to do with his previous birth?
Sadness is only a state of mind.
What does our destiny depend on?
Our destiny depends on our own deeds.
We know that after death we take new birth according to our karmas. I would like to you know which act of karma determines the gender – male or female?
The attitude is what determines the gender.
If a man knows that he being under a suffering or joy for this specific Karma he has done in the past, he would take that as a lesson and would start leading a life free from evils. Why are we (normal people) not provided with that power?
Civil, criminal and social laws dictate that certain actions are right and certain actions are wrong. For every wrong act, a punishment is ruled, and the nature and severity of the punishment differs based on the nature of the crime. Hence it is enough if the Government spreads awareness among the public about the laws. Imagine what would happen if the Government decided that all the citizens be taken to the prisons to see the punishments that are being undergone there.
The already confused man would panic and lose his morale. One’s self confidence will touch such an abyss that he will be scared to do anything at all, based on his visual experience!
So, cognizance of something is entirely different from experiencing or visually witnessing it.
God gave us the Shastras through the Mahatmas that help us decide what is right and what is wrong, just like the laws of the land in our example. It is for us to believe in them and follow them.
In the world, every moment, we witness that there is suffering on one hand and joy on the other. What more lesson do we need on the Karma Theory?
