Karma: Action of Three Types

5 Common Questions People Ask About Karma:

• Most want to know what is right versus wrong for them, what kind of action should they do.

• What is karma?

• What are bad actions?

• What are forbidden types of behavior?

• What is good karma?

What does the Bhagavad Gita say about Karma?

The subject is action. Before I delve deeper, let us turn to the Bhagavad Gita. Wisdom, the doer, and action are of three types. Action that is not inspired by jealousy or greed, that is done with non-attachment, is the type that is going to give you peace and contentment. Often people do their karma with attachment to attain the fruits of such karma.

A common question is how is it possible to do anything with detachment?

It seems only natural that to enjoy the outcome of the action we are prompted to perform such action in the first place. If I am hungry, it is only normal that to fulfill my hunger I am going to intake food. Eating food to pacify your hunger, that is okay.

Attachment is when you begin to specify the type and variety of food you believe you require to fulfill your need. That binds one.

Krishna instructs Arjuna on the karmas of three types.

• First, that is sātvika, the one done in the mode of goodness

• Second, rājasī, performed in the mode of passion

• Third, tāmasī, the one done in the mode of ignorance

With the sātvika type, one gains liberation and inner peace, with rājasī, one feels pleasure and becomes attached, and with tāmasī, one experiences the downfall of the body, mind, and soul.

This is the fundamental nature of the three modes of material nature. The first one liberates, the next ties and the third one causes decline. You may also want to read about the law of karma.

Hare Krishna. Swami

Editorial Note

Karma is a global belief that says we get what we deserve depending on our thoughts and deeds.

Some people think that we can generate good karma. What the Bhagavad Gita says about karma is that every action we take has an impact or result, and we then suffer or enjoy the repercussions of our efforts.

Physical, mental, and psychic activities are among the three types of karma. People who are plagued by misfortune frequently blame it on poor luck. However, the scriptures state that our destiny is the sum of our previous choices.

We must be prepared to cope with the repercussions of our actions. That is the Law of Karma in action.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the different types of karma?

The different types of karma are,

• Prarabdha, matured karma

• Sanchita, stored karma

• Agami, forthcoming karma

• Vartamana, present karma

Read more on these different types of karma.

How to optimize karma to celebrate this life and the next? What types of karma should I do every day?

There are different types of karma we can do, but gratitude is one of the most powerful methods of celebrating life.

When we are appreciative, every day becomes a reason to rejoice. There is something profound, deeper, better, and bigger within and around you. 

It is worthy of your time and attention, and it is worth celebrating life knowing types of karma.

What are the signs of good karma? How to boost your karma and generate happiness?

Everything we do has an effect, and the energy we share with others will be returned to us.

While you may not be able to control everything you do, think about the goals behind the steps you’re taking to increase your good karma. Concentrating on your goals and building a connection with the world within and around you are two signs of karma.

With serenity as you and nobility, you win naturally and effortlessly and attract good karma. 

Everyone has four 'wives' or four types of karma we are born with. What are they?

Everyone has four wives, which are,

The youngest is known as sampatti, which means wealth.

The third wife is referred to as sambandhi, or family.

The second is called sharira, which means body.

The first wife is known as karma or actions. 

Your karmas follow you across several incarnations. There is no way out.

That is what karma entails. It is what we do that affects what we receive. These four wives are also known as four types of karma.

Are all types of karma/deeds recorded in our karmic account? What is a karmic account?

Nature cannot give you what you have not earned just like it cannot take away from you what is rightfully parked in your karmic account.

It is impartial. You need to deposit before you can withdraw.

What you do with your life, your actions are entirely your own responsibility. Each individual has a separate karmic account, it is immaculately maintained, there are no mistakes there. If you give someone grief because that is what they give you, it does not cancel out your transaction. 

All we have to do is enjoy the karmic fruit.

I get angry very easily, and this has a direct effect on my relationships. What type of karma and daily habits should I adopt to tame my anger?

Think of anger as an onion for a moment.

The outermost layer is anger (krodha). Next is frustration (kuntha) and inconvenience (kashta). 

Beneath the second layer, you’ll find hurt (aghata). After hurt is the expectation (Asha). Peel off expectation and you’ll discover a sense of entitlement (adhikara). 

Just after entitlement is the layer of attachment (anuraga). Go further and you’ll find ignorance (agyanta). This onion, nurtured in the manure of wrong ideas (avidya) and tilled by self-centeredness (svartha), grows in the soil of ego (ahamkara). As long as even one layer of this onion is present, it’s enough to fill the room with a strong smell and make you cry. 

You can chop, slice, or dice it, the smell remains. Cook it in love, forgiveness, and patience, and it improves like the good karma you get, becoming edible and even delicious. Or, get rid of it entirely. Because the onion of rage, in its raw form, is pungent and lachrymal.

Similarly, try adopting patience and understanding before you push yourself with rage and anger. You will automatically attract good karma and good energy.