The Secret of Karma
A Philosophical Reflection on Destiny, Free Will, and Grace
1. The Essence of Karma
In the field of existence, the unchanging Purusha (Self) reflects upon the ever-changing Prakriti (Nature). When this reflection identifies with body and mind, action begins, and that is Karma. When the same action happens without identification, it becomes Akarma (non-binding action).
Bhagavad Gita 4.18
“He who sees action in inaction and inaction in action is the true sage.”
2. The Threefold Karma
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Kriyaman | Present actions performed now |
| Sanchit | Stored karmic seeds from the past |
| Prarabdha | Those past karmas now giving fruit |
3. How Karma Operates
Each action has two parts:
- Phala-ansha (Result aspect) – the visible or invisible result.
- Sanskara-ansha (Impression aspect) – the subtle habit that shapes your nature.
4. The Role of Prarabdha
Prarabdha determines the setting of life, body, family, situations, and tendencies.
It shapes the Buddhi (intellect) partially, not absolutely. It defines what comes to you, not how you respond.
5. Free Will and Kriyaman Karma
Your response to Prarabdha is a manifestation of your free will.
That present response is Kriyaman Karma, the seed that will shape your future Sanchit.
Prarabdha = Circumstance
Kriyaman = Response
Sanchit = Stored result of responses
6. When Prarabdha Blocks Viveka
Dense Prarabdha can veil the light of discernment (Viveka).
The mind becomes tamasic, reactive, and unreflective.
In such lives, one mainly exhausts karma rather than refines it.
But the obscuration is never everlasting; the light of the Lord within always shines beneath.
7. The Return of Viveka
When the fog thins through suffering, satsang, or latent merit, the inner flame of awareness reignites.
Grace (Ishvara’s Anugraha) becomes the bridge that no karma can block.
Bhagavad Gita 7.14
“This divine Maya of Mine is difficult to cross; but those who take refuge in Me, cross over it easily.”
8. The Interplay of Destiny, Effort, and Grace
| State | Controlled by | Potential for Viveka |
|---|---|---|
| Tamasic Prarabdha | Heavy karma | Dormant |
| Rajasic Prarabdha | Mixed karma | Flickering |
| Sattvic Prarabdha | Refined karma | Active |
| Grace beyond karma | Ishvara | Self-luminous |
Karma rules the field, not the sky. Grace opens the sky, and awareness lets you fly.
9. The Final Balance
Prarabdha defines what comes to you.
Free will defines what you become through it.
Grace reveals what you always were.
Conclusion
The secret of Karma lies in transforming identification. When identification with body, mind ends, the same flow of Prarabdha continues, but the Jiva becomes a Sākshi (witness). Then karma no longer binds, life becomes spontaneous, luminous, and free.
“He who sees inaction in action is truly wise.”
