Theory of : Universal Path to Positive Health 93

THEORY OF KARMA: UNIVERSAL PATH TO POSITIVE HEALTH Kalpna* and NovRattan Sharma**

ABSTRACT The extension of the age old and well established principle ‘As you sow, so you reap’is Karma. It is observed in everyday experience in that every action has a reaction and that every effect has a cause and vice versa. The present paper is an effort to understand the theory of karma and how understanding of karma can lead to ultimate happiness and positive health. The meaning of karma as commonly accepted is the activity, deed or work action or act. According to the theory of karma the life span of every living entity here and hereafter is determined by karma or deed and a pious life leads to contentment, happiness and positive health in the present life and rebirth in higher and better forms of existence. Bad actions lead to birth in lower forms of existence in life that are yet to come and unhappiness in present existence. Basically theory of karma implies a strong causal relationship. In this world nothing happens to a person that he does not for some reason or the other deserve. There are definite invisible cause(s) of the visible effect, not necessarily confined to the present life but may be traced to a proximate or remote past birth. The doctrine of Karma restores one’s faith in a stable, predictable and just world. Consequently, belief in Karma also facilitates the healing process for those who have experienced major in life. This natural process is immune to error understanding of which is essential to the universal path to positivehealth. Key Words: Karma Theory, Happiness, Positive Health. Karma is a law of ‘cause and effect’ and of ‘action and reaction’ which is believed to controls the fate of all living beings. This law functions on the basic principle that any act performed produces an equal and opposite reaction, which

* Research Scholar, Department of Psychology, MaharshiDayanand University, Rohtak * * Professor, Department of Psychology, MaharshiDayanand University, Rohtak

Journal of Indian Health Psychology 94 Kalpna and NovRattan Sharma directly influences our existence. Karmais synonymous to physical forces, such as, time and gravity, a universal principle which influences everyone. While the lawsof physics apply to the material objects interaction, the law of karma is applicable to all actions of living beings and also governs theirinter-relation. The law of karma states that any act done in life will creates a reaction whichin turn will produce a counter action. Thus, what is produced is this endless chain of actions and reactions which bind the living being to his good and bad deeds. This is the way karma works. It works within the realm of time and nobody is immune from it. If someone makes a mistake, he has to paythepenalty immediately, in ten years time period or in ten centuries time maybe, but the error must be paid for. The existence of such natural law is only felt when a bad life experience is encountered, followed by pain, suffering and grief. Many people feel that bad things only happen to them; however, it is a culmination of actions and events that has occurred at a particular time and place as a result of certain karmic force. There is no such phenomenon as accident or a coincidence in life. All entities create their own realities all along. Nature’s way to ensure that every being gets its chance to grow is karma. Karma also makesus realize the universal truth that¯we all are one- that can inferred from that whatever we do to others, will be experienced by the self. Following lines beautifully explains karma: Now as a man is like this or like that, according as he acts and according as he behaves, so will he be; a man of good acts will become good, a man of bad acts, bad; he becomes pure by pure deeds, bad by baddeeds; And here they say that a person consists of desires, and as is his desire, so is his will; and as is his will, so is his deed; and whatever deed he does, that he will reap —, 7th Century BC WHAT IS KARMA? The word ‘karma’ is derived from root ‘kri’ which means ‘to do, perform, cause or effect’. Executed deed, work, action and also the object and intent has been defined as karma. A good act creates good karma, as does good intent and a bad act or intent creates bad karma. Nature of karma theory is ethical. It is so because our intentions and actions are related to the reward, merit, punishment

Vol. 13, No. 2, March, 2019 Theory of Karma: Universal Path to Positive Health 95 and demerit. Without ethical premise this theory would have been one of pure causal relation. Therefore, there would have been no difference of merit, reward, punishment and demerit depending on the actor’s intent. Karma theory having ethical element in it considers the intention and desire before and during action. Thus, the theory of karma encourages every person to seek a moral life and avoid immoral life. The concept of is also included in Karma theory. It suggests that re-birthcouldbeinadifferentrealm,theformdependsonthequalityand quantity of karma. Every living being’s soul recycles after death, taking the seeds of karmic impulses from the life completed into the next life. Except for those who have consciously broken this cycle and have reached the realm of , this cycle continues indefinitely. Positive Health Positive Healthis the scientific studyof healthassets. A healthassetis a factor that produces stronger health, over and above risk factors for disease. Positive Health works to discover which specific health assets produce longer, healthy life, and which health assets lower disease risk and health care costs. The goal is to strive for optimal health —beyond the mere absence of illness. Positive Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease orinfirmity.” Karma Theory’s Eastern Interpretation Karma for the first time came into being as a concept in , based on and . view karma as a law which is immutable that involves voluntary and involuntary acts as a part of a system of cause and effect that is not comprehendible to one bound by karma. Karma in Hinduism’s perspective explains causality through a system where rewarding effects are derived from past beneficial actions and harmful actions from past bad actions, creating a cycle of action and reactions throughout a soul’s cycle of births and rebirths. This causality is said to be applicable to the physical world and also to our thoughts, words, actions and also the instructions that we give to others. Hindus believe that our consciousness is governed by our . On the other hand in Jain theory, Karmais thought of a kind of pollution that taints our soul with different colors. It says that Karmas are invisible fine particles of matter present all around living beings, similar to air particles. Soul attracts karmas through activities performed by mind, body and speech. On the basis of karma a living entity undergoes transmigration and reincarnation in different existence stages. explains that inequalities, and pain are the evidence for the existence of karma. This theory attaches great emphasis to individual actions and eliminates dependence on supposed existence of divinegrace.

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Taking about Buddhist theory of karma, only ‘volitiona l action’ account for karma. Volition may be good or bad. Every volitional act has its effects. According to karma is the theory of cause and effect, of action and reaction. It is a natural law that has nothing to do with the idea of reward and punishment. If a good action produces good effects it is not considered a reward but a virtue of its own nature. The basic idea is that intentional actions are driven by disturbing our emotions, volition and craving which create impressions in the mind which in turn will ripen into a future result. Typology of Karma Hinduism theory of karma outlines four types of Karma. :the accumulated karma of previous lives, which is in our account and which has to be exhausted at some stage of life. :a part of Sanchita karma which is activated in your present life and influences the present life. Agami karma:karma that arises out of your current lifeactivities, consequences of which will be experienced in the coming life. :karma whose consequences are experiences in any case in this very life. According to Jain theory of karma there are eight types of karma which can be broadly defined as Destructive or Non-destructive. Destructive karma: affect the soul by impeding its attributes. These are as follows: • Perception obscuringkarma • Knowledge obscuringkarma • Obstacles creatingkarma • Deludingkarma Vol. 13, No. 2, March, 2019 Theory of Karma: Universal Path to Positive Health 97

Non-destructive karma: These are responsible for the re-born soul’s physical and mental circumstances. These are as follows: • Body determiningkarma • Life span determiningkarma • Status determiningkarma • Feeling determiningkarma According to Buddhism karma is of fourtypes: Reproductive karma: explains conditions that influence the future birth. This karma produces mental and material aggregates at the moment of conception. The sex, body and base and features of a person are determined by thiskarma. Supportive karma: Assists the action of the reproductive karma in one‘s lifetime. Obstructive karma: which tends to weaken, interrupt the functioning of reproductive karma. Destructive karma: it obstructs the functioning of reproductive karma. Personality Types in Eastern Perspective of Theory Of Karma Hinduism , integrated and syntheised the essence of , and for several classification of personality (Jain, Sharma &Yadava, 2012). Conceptualizingpersonallyas¯Trigunatmika, implies that nature of a person can either be Sattvic, Rajasicor Tamasic. Psychologica l interpretation of these three gunas can be considered as fundamental components of mind (Jain, Sharma &Yadava, 2006) or as three aspects of temperament and personality (Boss, 1966). Human personality as it pursues the course oflife with emphasis on one or the other of the three main activates of human mind, such as, thinking, feeling and willing, determine the life path of a person. Gita also describes two classes of human kind,Godlike and demon-like. Truthful, non-violent compassionate, gentle, modest selfless beings are said to

Journal of Indian Health Psychology 98 Kalpna and NovRattan Sharma be godlike or having a divine mind. On the other hand, arrogant, selfish, being harsh towards others, lust and anger are demoniac mind type. Jainism Due to variations in matter, passion and the immediate consequences,interaction between individuals can be grouped into six types (Jain, Sharma &Yadava, 2012): 1. Black: ruthless, destructive and relentless 2. Blue/Indigo: greedy and indolent with some patience 3. Grey: indiscriminate andjealous 4. Yellow: are good butcareless 5. Red: tolerant, non-violent but selfish and whimsical 6. White: Pure, considerable,compassionate Buddhism Concepts of Five Aggregates (Jain, Sharma &Yadava, 2012) that make up human being have been given which are: • Appearance • Feelings andemotions • Perception • MentalImpression • Cognition andconsciousness. Individuals’ personality can be reflected in according to predominance of one of these five aggregates. Karma and Positive Health Since no human being can escape the law of karma it leaves us with anxiety, especially when we know that we cannot live without performing actions and our actions would result in consequences for our future. Solutions suggested by Hinduism theory of Karma ‘Vaishnanism and Sivaism’ the two dominant traditions of Hinduism opine that the consequences of our actions can be reversed through the grace and intervention of god. Vaishnanism: happiness comes only after the experience of one’s true self. As per this view, an individual’s soul is a servant of God and ignorance and attachment makes a man the slave of his senses and mind, as a consequence his connection with God and true nature of himself is forgotten. At some stage in his existence after going through several lives (cycle of births and deaths) one

Vol. 13, No. 2, March, 2019 Theory of Karma: Universal Path to Positive Health 99 experiences despondency and non-attachment after that one becomes a seeker of salvation (). He therefore yearns for permanent liberation from the travails of his earthly existence through following means: • Janna yoga:first step of self- realization that there is more than what we see and what we know about ourselves. The purpose of this is to know who we are and what to do to achievesalvation. • : means performing our obligatory religious, social, moral, personal and professional duties with a certain attitude in which the desire for the fruit of action isabsent. • yoga:practice of intense devotion to God. Person is fit for the yoga of devotion when stability in karma is achieved after years ofpractice. • Sarangathi:it is complete unconditional self-surrender to God, where there is no desire other than the desire forliberation. Sivaism: the highest lord of the universe is Siva, who is eternal. It says that through three bonds- egoism, karma and delusions- souls are bound to nature. Because of these bonds the soul undergoes cycle of births and deaths till it is liberated. Different solutions in Sivaism for liberation are:Ø Scripture knowledge • Practice of rituals and • Practice of yoga andmeditation • The main emphasis of sivaism is on liberation of soul by realize Siva element in our soul through initiation into the path by guru, performance of certain rituals indispassionate. Solutions suggested by Jain theory of Karma Jain theory of karma suggests that if we condemn knowledge, condemn enlightened people, being lazy, showing displeasure in learning, disrespecting knowledge, condemning , not respecting virtues, finding faults in others, deep attachment and hatred, being overexcited, irritable, furious, greedy, obstructing others from doing penance, service and making fun of others, it results in accumulation of karma, which leads to our suffering and unhappiness in future. Jain theory suggests that bad karma can be shed off by: • Worshippingknowledge, • Respecting to theteachers, • Respecting for books, studying religious books with humility, developing knowledge, respectingsadhus,

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• Work for peace, we should pray, should go to the spiritual teachers and perform austerity everyday, • Share knowledge, helping and encouraging others to do penance and service, • Living honest and righteous life without passion and rendering selflessservice. Suggestions suggested by Buddhist theory of Karma: Buddhist theory suggests tens actions which lead to a happy life which are following: • Generosity • Morality • Meditation • Reverence • Service • Transference ofmerit • Rejoicing in othersmerit • Hearing the doctrine of religion • ExpoundingDoctrine • Straightening of one’s ownviews. Buddhist theory also suggests that evil actions accumulates bad karma and leads to our sufferings and unhappiness in life. Buddhism emphasizes that not knowing things as they truly are, accumulates karma. Ignorance and craving are the two main causes of karma. Empirical Evidences Stated in its fullest detail, the theory of Karma is a complete doctrine of psychological functioning and positive health, including human thinking, motivation and action. However, the theory is open to diverse interpretations. Often the popular understanding of the doctrine is liable to be at variance with the tenets of the main doctrine as enunciated in Indian thought.People selectively pick interpretations which appear functional to them. They are prone to resort to this doctrine when facing a major life crisis as it provides convincing explanations for misfortune. Karma theory is intellectually intelligible, morally satisfying and socially acceptable. There is a vast scholarly commentary on the theory of Karma examining the way it is understood by the suffering individual and its linkages with the process of healing. Studies conducted in hospitals on patientsreceiving treatment for different physical ailments have shown a moderate to low relationship between

Vol. 13, No. 2, March, 2019 Theory of Karma: Universal Path to Positive Health 101 beliefs in the doctrine of Karma and psychological recovery of the patients. A series of studies conducted by Dalal and his colleagues (Agrawal&Dalal, 1993) have found that patients were actively involved in construing meaning and appraising the causes of their health problems. The specific causes to which these hospital patients attributed their problems were God’s will and their past life karma. It is the result of all actions of past, present and future, hence, making an individual responsible for his own life and pain and joy. Studies by Anand (2005) showed that belief in Karma positively correlates with the psychological recovery of thepatients. Taking a field sample, Priya (2004) studied earthquake survivors in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India, and found that people attributed their tragedy to forces beyond their control. The survivors believed that their suffering were dependent on the nature and intensity of wrong karmas of their past and present lives. Priya further observed that the participants’ belief in Karma resulted in hope and positive construal that facilitated the healing process. They also believed that the miseries would get reduced followed by right karmas. To put it in one of the participantswords: “Grief is there and it will subside only with time, but our Karma is in our hands which is the only truth or the wayout”. Controversies related to Karma Theory Whether karma always implies destiny and its implications on ? This can be outlined as follows: a) Apersonwhocommitsanyunjustactlikerape,murdercanclaimallhis bad acts were a product of karma, he is devoid of free will, he cannot make a choice, and he is an agent of karma. So the questions arises that are all crimes and bad actions due to free will or because of karmicforce? b) Shouldapersonwhosuffersfromcrime,unjustactseekjustice? Orone should blame oneself for bad karma over past lives and assume that unjust suffering isfate? The explanation for the questions raised above can be like this: The theory of karma includesboth the actionsand the intent behind that action. Not only is one affected by past karma but one also creates new karma whenever one acts with intent either good or bad. If the intent and the act can be proven beyond reasonable doubt, new karma can be proven and the process of justice can proceed against this new karma. Then the actor who commits the unjust act must be considered as the moral agent of this newkarma . Second explanationcould be that life formsnot only receive and reap the consequences of their past karma but they are the means to initiate, evaluate, judge and give and deliver consequences of karma to others. Moreover karma is theory that explains some evil notall . Journal of Indian Health Psychology 102 Kalpna and NovRattan Sharma

CONCLUSION Following main points can be inferred on the basis of above discussion: • As the individual evolves, examines his progress across a gap in his understanding at some point in time, karma is needed to experience and to fill in the gaps in the understanding of the experience. It isthelack of understanding of all perspectives that must be changed so that awareness is gained. • Interpretation of karma theory we have considered above suggests that doing activities like being selfless, helping others, praying, knowledge of scripture, detachment, respecting to others, generosity etc. help us lead to a noble and happy life in this existence and this will also give rise to good karma for future lives aswell. • Interpretation of karma theories in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism suggests that devotional and unconditional service to the god will bring the ultimate freedom from karmic entanglement as its pure nature transcendental. • It provides us with the ability to differentiate right from wrong or good from bad. Practicing devotional service of almighty as the super soul in our heart gives us the wisdom of the right choices. All of us can at some time or the other listen to the voice of conscience. Whenever we start doingsomething wrong, the voice from inside warns us. Devotional service of God makes this inner voice stronger. Thus determination to do right and avoid wrong saves us from doing further badkarma. • There are certain reactions destined to come to us from the past but devotional and unconditional service gives us the strength to tolerate the suffering and misery. Hence, whatever our past karma may be, this process of devotional service is the best path to the ultimate happiness in this life and for salvation of soul from the cycle of births anddeaths. Employing the theory of Karma as an explanation for the happenings and events in our life is a dynamic process. As the situation changes, different aspects of the theory may be construed for explanations. Significant others also participate in the construal process of karmic explanations. The efficacy of theory of karma in healing would depend on how deep-rootedisone’s faith in it. Reiterating these Karmic explanations is like engaging in auto- suggestions, giving yourself assurance and upholding a positive viewpoint in difficult times. It grants the believers feeling of control over their future course of destiny. Once purification of our mind of self-grasping and delusions is done, as a result everything experienced will be pure. Then there would not be even slightest trace of suffering, or problems. This is how we can find true happiness in life and at the same time have a positive health. Vol. 13, No. 2, March, 2019 Theory of Karma: Universal Path to Positive Health 103

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