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Reincarnation, or the doctrine of return, teaches that we are repeatedly born into another physical body after a period of rest in the astral realm. As long as we have attachments and desires that can only be fulfilled in the physical world we will be drawn back into physical incarnation. The causes (karmas) generated by our thoughts, speech and actions in one life are unlikely to manifest their results and consequences in that single lifetime. Much of our accumulated karma can only be exhausted through re-birth into this material world. This movement from the physical to the astral realms and back again continues over vast stretches of time, until the Soul finally neutralises its karmic desires and attachments and becomes satisfied in manifesting its true nature – a state of consciousness which is not dependent upon, nor conditioned, by the world of manifestation. In India it is often said that it takes a million years of evolution and incarnation for the soul to arrive at the point where it becomes fully Self-Realised. Although the term Karma has been used in the western world for well over a hundred years it is not always used with a proper understanding of its meaning. The word comes from the Sanskrit verb-root Kri, meaning to ‘act’, to ‘do’ or to ‘make’. Karma is the principle of causation, and also refers to the accumulation of causative actions which create influential mental and emotional conditionings in the mental field and the body. The thoughts we think and the actions we perform determine our experiences. Our individual karmas are stored within our subtle Causal body. At the appropriate time these karmas come to fruition and manifest as experiences within the mind and body. The physical correspondences of our karmas are the planets which symbolically map out certain types of karma when viewed in the horoscope calculated for the time of birth. There are different levels of karma which can be classified into three groups. The first is known as Sanchita (lit. ’ heaped together’) karma: Our Sanchita karmas are the accumulated karmas generated by activities performed in previous lives….the sum total of all our past actions most of which are not specifically active in this incarnation. This is because during any particular incarnation favourable conditions will exist for only a small number of our accumulated karmas to manifest. Next we have Prarabdha karma. Our Prarabdha karmas are those portions of Sanchita karmas which are ready to be experienced in our present lifetime. They represents the current effects of past actions which appear as fate. We do not experience all of our Sanchita karma at once, only the portion which has ‘become ripe’ for experiencing. This basic destiny pattern is not easily altered and is therefore often considered ‘fated’. Prarabdha karma is the karma which is shown most clearly in our birth chart. In theory any karma can be modified or eliminated, although in practice few people are willing to understand their karmic patterns and take the necessary steps to rid themselves of their karmic burdens. Finally there is Kriyamana karma: Kriyaman karmas are our current karmas (influenced by the forces of our Sanchita and Prarabdha karmas) which we are creating for ourselves in this very life-time, the effects of which we will have to face at a later time. It consists of the total potential effect created by our current actions. Included under the heading of Kriyaman karma is Agama karma, which means ‘approaching’ or ‘contemplated’ karma - new actions that are contemplated as a result of our capacity to envision future actions. If we choose to implement them they become Kriyaman karmas. A popular saying is that for success you must plan your work (Agama karma) and work your plan (Kriyaman karma). Our past karmas can only be overcome and transformation once our Kriyamana and Agama karmas are such that they neutralise the Sanchita and its current materialising Prarabdha karmas. The quantity and quality of effort required to alter previous karmas depends on the intensity of the Prarabdha karma. Three Levels of Prarabdha Karma In Vedic astrology the Prarabdha karmas which effects us in any one lifetime are recognised as having three levels or degrees of intensity. These are: Dridha (‘Fixed’) karmas, which give fixed results because they are so difficult to challenge or change. Fixed karmas appear in a horoscope when three or more astrological factors relating to the same area of life give the same or similar indications. The greater the number of indications, the more fixed the karma and the more difficult it is to change. Next we have Dridha-Adridha (‘fixed/non-fixed’) karmas. These occur whenever several chart factors relating to a particular area give similar indications. These karmas can be changed through the use of will power, though some effort or determination is likely to be required. Adridha (‘non-fixed’) karmas are those karmas which give non-fixed results because they are easily altered. Adridha karmas usually have no more than one chart factor active in relation to a particular area of life. Negative Adridra karma is easily overcome by exercising a little determination and common sense. In dealing with the negative features of any of these three grades of karma it may be useful to use appropriate gem-stones, mantras, behaviour modifications, affirmations or spiritual techniques such as meditation and visualisation. The great sages and spiritual masters of India, as well as the Vedic scriptures from which Jyotish emerged, all assert that our true identity is that of individualised Spirit – pure Consciousness – and that until we rediscover our true identity we continue to experience various degrees of embodiment in the realms of Nature. As long as we remain embodied and engaged in these realms awareness of our true identity continues to be limited and incomplete. To remedy this situation various spiritual paths and practices have been expounded. When we adopt the spiritual path most suited to our temperament and understanding, we begin to free ourselves from the conditioning and attracting powers of Nature. We also learn how to neutralise our karma in order to liberate our full spiritual awareness. This is the true function of all spiritual teachings and enlightenment traditions. [Adapted from the Correspondence Course on Vedic Astrology.] |
| Vedic Astrology Essays By Richard Fish - Encountering Astrology - Fate and Freewill - - Origins of Vedic Astrology - The Cosmic Dragon - |