KARMA/ਕਾਰਜ

ABSTRACT

Karma contains the beginning and the end of all philosophical speculation.  It demonstrates a casual relationship between the Infinite and the finite. Karma is that Infinite Power which adjusts each effect to its originating cause. The Infinite Absolute Principle’s law is blind but its justice is even-handed. No individual and no group are better than the rest of the humanity.

ਕਰਮੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਸਚੁ ਹਾਥਿ ਤੁਮਾਰੈ ॥

ਵੇਪਰਵਾਹ ਅਖੁਟ ਭੰਡਾਰੈ ॥

ਤੂ ਦਇਆਲੁ ਕਿਰਪਾਲੁ ਸਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਆਪੇ ਮੇਲਿ ਮਿਲਾਇਦਾ ॥੧੪॥

Karam Dharam Such Haath Tumaarai. veparvāh akẖut bẖandārai.Ŧū ḏa▫i▫āl kirpāl saḏā parabẖ āpe mel milā▫iḏā. 

You hold deed or action/destiny/Grace and righteousness in Your hands. O Independent God, Your treasures are inexhaustible. You are forever kind and compassionate and You unite in Your Union. |-----Guru Nanak, Raag Maru Dakhni, AGGS, Page, 1034-5

ਜਬ ਕਛੁ ਨ ਸੀਓ ਤਬ ਕਿਆ ਕਰਤਾ ਕਵਨ ਕਰਮ ਕਰਿ ਆਇਆ ॥

ਅਪਨਾ ਖੇਲੁ ਆਪਿ ਕਰਿ ਦੇਖੈ ਠਾਕੁਰਿ ਰਚਨੁ ਰਚਾਇਆ ॥

Jab kacẖẖ na sī­o ṯab ki­ā karṯā kavan karam kar ā­i­ā. Apnā kẖėl āp kar ḏėkẖai ṯẖākur racẖan racẖā­i­ā.

When nothing existed, what deeds were being done? And what karma caused anyone to be born at all?  The Creator Itself set Its play in motion, and Itself beholds the created Creation.-----Guru Arjun, Raag Suhi, AGGS, Page, 748-14

                         -----------------------------------------------------------------

Karma is defined as:

(i)  Action or Deed.

(ii)  Fortune or destiny.

(iii)  Grace (ਕੰਮ, ਅਮਲ, ਕਰਨੀ, ਕਰਤੱਬ, ਕਰਤੱਵ, ਕਾਰਜ, ਕਿਰਿਆ, ਕਿਰਤ-ਕਮਾਈ, ਅਮਲਾਂ ਦਾ ਲੇਖਾ, ਚੰਗੇ ਭਾਗ, ਕਿਸਮਤ).

The Infinite, Single Absolute Principle is manifesting everywhere (Immanent) all the time (ਨਿਰੰਤਰ). All that has happened is happening or will happen in the future (Karma) is governed by one rule of existence, which is fair and even-handed. Guru Nanak in Raag Gauri ponder that everything is contained in Thy Name.

ਨਾ ਜਾਣਾ ਕਰਮ ਕੇਵਡ ਤੇਰੀ ਦਾਤਿ ॥

ਕਰਮੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਮ ਕੀ ਜਾਤਿ ॥

Nā jāṇā karam kevad ṯerī ḏāṯ. Karam ḏẖaram ṯere nām kī jāṯ.

I know not the extent of Thy Grace and Thy Blessings; Ritual actions, performance of duty and caste distinction lie in the devotion to Thy Name.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 154-2

ਹਮਰੀ ਜਾਤਿ ਪਤਿ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਉ ॥

ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਸਤ ਭਾਉ ॥

Hamrī jāṯ paṯ sacẖ nā▫o. Karam Dharam Sanjam Sat Bhaou.

The True Name is my social status and honor. The love of the Truth is my karma and righteousness - my faith and my actions, and my self-control.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 353-4

Karma directly demonstrates eternal expression of God’s Will.  Karma makes divinity of the Infinite comprehensible to the finite man. It sublimates the infinite justice of the eternal compassion. It is born through the law of cause and effect, acting under God’s divine guidance and mercy. Karma is neither good nor evil. It stands as the Will of the Eternal God.

Karma also denotes good deeds in the present and the Grace of God.

ਇਆਣੀ ਬਾਲੀ ਕਿਆ ਕਰੇ ਜਾ ਧਨ ਕੰਤ ਨ ਭਾਵੈ ॥

ਕਰਣ ਪਲਾਹ ਕਰੇ ਬਹੁਤੇਰੇ ਸਾ ਧਨ ਮਹਲੁ ਨ ਪਾਵੈ ॥

ਵਿਣੁ ਕਰਮਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਨਾਹੀ ਜੇ ਬਹੁਤੇਰਾ ਧਾਵੈ ॥

I▫āṇī bālī ki▫ā kare jā ḏẖan kanṯ na bẖāvai. Karaṇ palāh kare bahuṯere sā ḏẖan mahal na pāvai. Vin Karma Kich Paaee-aa Naahee Jay Bahutayra Dhavai.

What can the silly young bride (soul) do, if she is not pleasing to her Husband God? She may plead and implore so many times, but still, such a bride shall not obtain the Mansion of the God's Presence. Without good deeds, nothing is obtained, although one may run around frantically.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Tilang, AGGS, Page, 722-9

ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵੇ ਸਾਤਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਦੂਜੀ ਨਾਹੀ ਜਾਇ ॥

ਜੇ ਬਹੁਤੇਰਾ ਲੋਚੀਐ ਵਿਣੁ ਕਰਮੈ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾਇ ॥

Bin saṯgur seve sāṯ na āvī ḏūjī nāhī jā▫e. Jay Bauhtayra Lochee-ai Vin Karmai Na Paaee-aa Jaaey.

Without serving the True Guru, peace is not obtained, and the sense of duality does not depart. No matter how much one may wish, without good actions or Guru’s Grace, God is -----Guru Amar Das, Gujri Ki Vaar, AGGS, Page, 516-2

Thus Karma is a great teacher. It teaches man patience, confidence and self-reliance.  One can also learn restraint, responsibility, and love for the others through Karma. It also holds lessons on forgiveness, compassion, and renunciation of selfish life.

The manifested universe and karma run in cycles with God’s Will.

ਤੁਧੁ ਆਪੇ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋਈ ਵਰਤੈ ਜੀ ਤੂੰ ਆਪੇ ਕਰਹਿ ਸੁ ਹੋਈ ॥

ਤੁਧੁ ਆਪੇ ਸ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਸਭ ਉਪਾਈ ਜੀ ਤੁਧੁ ਆਪੇ ਸਿਰਜਿ ਸਭ ਗੋਈ ॥

ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ਕਰਤੇ ਕੇ ਜੀ ਜੋ ਸਭਸੈ ਕਾ ਜਾਣੋਈ ॥੫॥੧॥

Ŧuḏẖ āpe bẖāvai so▫ī varṯai jī ṯūʼn āpe karahi so ho▫ī. Tudh Aapay Srisatt Sabh Oupaayee Ji, Tudh Aapay Siraj Sabh Go-ee. Ŧuḏẖ āpe bẖāvai so▫ī varṯai jī ṯūʼn āpe karahi so ho▫ī.

Everything happens according to God’s Will. You Yourself accomplish all that occurs By Yourself, You created the Universe and having done so will destroy all of it. Servant Nanak sings the Glorious Praises of the Dear Creator, the Knower of all. -----Guru Ram Das, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 11-13 and 348-16

Both Karmas and cycles are independent of time. After the cause is set up, the effect may be experienced instantly, or postponed indefinitely awaiting an opportunity to appear in action. This potentiality permits a cause to rest undisturbed in the eternal until environment enables it to be followed by its effect, confirms that man has free will.  Thus he is the master of his own destiny.  Before him lie the opportunities for eternally creating new causes by which he may guide and control his future. Karma is the Will of the Infinite.  One cannot be convinced of it.  It is incapable of being analyzed by those with finite understandings. The fact is that Karma takes note of both the moral and the emotional causes.  Then with the same unerring wisdom, God adjusts its effects accordingly, even though it is not transparent to a lay person.

The Laws of Karma are simple, but unchanging and impartial. These are:

1. One’s traits, styles, personalities, merits and demerits are the result of his conscious thinking or unknown to us.

ਓਸੁ ਸੀਲੁ ਨ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਸਦਾ ਝੂਠੁ ਬੋਲੈ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਕਰਮ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥

ਜਿਸੁ ਪੂਰਬਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਭਤਾਰੁ ॥

Oas Seel Na Sanjam Sadaa Jhooth Bolai Manmukh Karam Khuaar Jis pūrab hovai likẖi▫ā ṯis saṯgur milai bẖaṯār.

Mortal has neither modesty nor self-discipline; the self-willed constantly tells lies, and is ruined by the bad karma of evil deeds. She who has such pre-ordained destiny, obtains the True Guru has her Husband.-----Guru Amar Das,Vaar Suhi Sloka Nal, AGGS, Page, 786-12

2. Every effect has a cause and every effect, in turn, becomes a cause for the next step.

ਕਰਮੀ ਆਪੋ ਆਪਣੀ ਆਪੇ ਪਛੁਤਾਣੀ ॥

ਅਜਰਾਈਲੁ ਫਰੇਸਤਾ ਤਿਲ ਪੀੜੇ ਘਾਣੀ ॥੨੭॥

Karmee Aapo AapNee Aapay PachhutaNee. Ajrā▫īl faresṯā ṯil pīṛe gẖāṇī. 

But they shall come to regret their actions -- they create their own karma. Azrael, the Angel of Death, shall crush them like sesame seeds in the oil-press.-----Guru Arjun, Raag Gauri Ki Var, AGGS, Page, 315-4

3. We reap as we sow.

ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿ ਬਹੁ ਭਰਮਿਆ ॥

ਕਿਰਤ ਰੇਖ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਮਿਆ ॥

Mā▫i▫ā mohi baho bẖarmi▫ā.Kirat Raykh Kar Karmiaa.

One wanders in attachment to Maya. Mortal acts in accordance with the karma of his past actions.-----Guru Arjun, Raag Basant, AGGS, Page, 1193-2

4. Action and reaction are equal and opposite.

ਜੀਅ ਜੰਤ ਜਹਾ ਜਹਾ ਲਗੁ ਕਰਮ ਕੇ ਬਸਿ ਜਾਇ ॥

ਕਾਲ ਫਾਸ ਅਬਧ ਲਾਗੇ ਕਛੁ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਉਪਾਇ ॥੩॥

Jia Jant Jahaa Jahaa Lag Karam Kay Bas Jaaey Kāl fās abaḏẖ lāge kacẖẖ na cẖalai upā▫e. 

Wherever the beings and creatures are, they are born according to the karma of their past actions. The noose of death is unforgiving, and it shall catch them; it cannot be warded off. -----Ravidas, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 486-8

One has to live through his own individual Karma:

A. Karma that overlaps from the past lives, to be reaped when occasion demands.

ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਕਤ ਨਰਕ ਮਹਿ ਜਮਿ ਬਧ  ਦੁਖ ਸਹੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ॥

ਪਇਐ ਕਿਰਤਿ ਕਮਾਵਦੇ ਜਿਵ ਰਾਖਹਿ ਤਿਵੈ ਰਹੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ॥

Nānak sākaṯ narak mėh jam baḏẖe ḏukẖ sahaʼnniĥ. Paeiaa Kirat Kamaavday Jiv Raakheh Tivai Rehinn.

O Nanak, the faithless cynics are bound and gagged by the Messenger of Death, and suffer agony in hell. Mortals act according to the karma of the actions they committed before; as the God keeps them, so do they live.-----Guru Amar Das, Raag Bilawal, AGGS, Page, 854-9

B. Karma that we reap now is the result of the past actions life.

ਕਰਮ ਧਰਤੀ ਸਰੀਰੁ ਜੁਗ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਜੋ ਬੋਵੈ ਸੋ ਖਾਤਿ ॥

ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤ ਸੋਹਹਿ ਦਰਵਾਰੇ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਸਦਾ ਭਵਾਤਿ ॥੫॥੧॥੪॥

Karam Dhartee Sareer Joug Antar Jo Bovai So Khaat. Kaho Nānak bẖagaṯ sohėh ḏarvāre manmukẖ saḏā bẖavāṯ. 

The body is the field of karma in this age; whatever you plant, you shall harvest. Says Nanak, the devotees look beautiful in the Court of the God; the self-willed  wander forever in reincarnation. -----Guru Arjun, Siri Raag, AGGS, Page, 78-5

C. Karma that we are now making or building will bear fruit in the future.

ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਰੇ ਜਿਸੁ ਆਪਣੀ ਧੁਰਿ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰਮੁ ਕਰੇਇ ॥

ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੇ ਜਨ ਉਬਰੇ ਜੋ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਰਣਿ ਪਰੇ ॥੨॥

Kirpa Karay Jis Aapnee Dhur Poora Karam Karey. Jan Nānak se jan ubre jo saṯgur saraṇ pare. 

But a being, which God has blessed with Its Mercy from the very beginning, does perfect deeds, and accumulates good karma. O servant Nanak, those humble beings alone are saved, who enter the Sanctuary of the True Guru. -----Guru Arjun Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 959-6

D. Karma sown in the past of this life and reaped in the present, imparts lessons that remain with us. We must improve from this experience.

ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇ ਸੁਣਿ ਸਭਨਾ ਨੋ ਕਰਿ ਦਾਨੁ ॥

ਜਨਮ ਕਰਮ ਮਲੁ ਉਤਰੈ ਮਨ ਤੇ ਜਾਇ ਗੁਮਾਨੁ ॥

Har kā nām ḏẖi¬ā¬ė suṇ sabẖnā no kar ḏān, Janam karam mal uṯrai man ṯė jā¬ė gumān.

Meditate and listen upon the Name of the Eternal God, and urge everyone to do the same. In this way, the filth of lifetimes of karma shall be removed, and egotistical pride shall vanish from our minds.-----Guru Arjun, Raag Majh, AGGS, Page, 135-19

Bhagat Namdev poses a question about Karma in Ramkali mode, at the beginning of creation:

ਮਾਇ ਨ ਹੋਤੀ ਬਾਪੁ ਨ ਹੋਤਾ ਕਰਮੁ ਨ ਹੋਤੀ ਕਾਇਆ ॥

ਹਮ ਨਹੀ ਹੋਤੇ ਤੁਮ ਨਹੀ ਹੋਤੇ ਕਵਨੁ ਕਹਾਂ ਤੇ ਆਇਆ  ॥

ਸਾਸਤੁ ਨ ਹੋਤਾ ਬੇਦੁ ਨ ਹੋਤਾ ਕਰਮੁ ਕਹਾਂ ਤੇ ਆਇਆ ॥

Maaey Na Hotee Baap Na Hota Karam Na Hotee Kaa-eaa, Ham Nahee Hotay Tum Nahee Hotay Kavan Kahaan Tay Aa-eaa, Saasat Na Hota Bayd Na Hota Karam Kahaan Tay Aa-eaa.

When there was no mother, father, our actions or even the human body and no one existed then where was this human being?   How was he born? When there were neither Shaastras nor Vedas, where did destiny come from?-----Namdev, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 973

Every opportunity, which is now taken advantage of, will bring us a greater one in the future.  Each opportunity that we ignore will bring us future limitations or obstacles in our lives. An individual may strive and exert himself to the utmost of his ability and judgment, yet the circumstances he cannot foresee or cannot control can often bring his plans crashing to the ground. The successes of the material world are nothing but experiences of the evolving consciousness.  We must learn from them before we leave them behind, so can grow in the eternal wisdom.  All the power of the spiritual wisdom derives from conscious or unconscious cooperation with The Absolute Principle. 

Conclusion:

Thus Karma is a great teacher. It teaches us patience, confidence, self-reliance, restraint, and responsibility.  Karma can also guide us in our love for the others as well as in forgiveness, compassion, and renunciation of selfish life. Nobody has all the answers. Knowing that you do not know everything is far wiser than thinking that you know a lot when you really don’t.  Phony expertise is neurotic. It is better not to indulge in pretending.  It is better to say;” I do not know”, and accept this state.

ਜਿਸੁ ਕਰਮੁ ਖੁਲਿਆ ਤਿਸੁ ਲਹਿਆ ਪੜਦਾ ਜਿਨਿ ਗੁਰ ਪਹਿ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਸੁਭਾਇ ॥

ਗੁਰਿ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੁ ਅਵਖਧੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੀਨਾ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੰਕਟ ਜੋਨਿ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥੫॥੨॥

Jis Karam Khuliaa Tis Lahiaa Parhdha Jin Gur Peh Maniaa Subhaaey. Gur manṯar avkẖaḏẖ nām ḏīnā jan Nānak sankat jon na pā▫e. 

Who ever has good destiny, the curtain of illusion is lifted, and such are those who obey the Master with devotional love. One who is blessed with the medicine of the Guru’s spell, the Name of the God, O servant Nanak, does not suffer the agonies of reincarnation. -----Guru Arjun, Raag Maru, AGGS, Page, 1001-19