How to apply teachings of karma in your life

The COVID-19 pandemic has made us reflect on the effects of our actions. With restrictions on movement and limited entertainment options, we are introspecting more.

The concept of karma, although rooted in Hindu philosophy, is found in many faiths and schools of social thought. People inherently find themselves believing in the tenet of ‘do good and good shall happen to you’.

Karma literally means action and commonly refers to the consequences of one’s actions. But in essence, karma is about intention. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna places importance on the intention driving one’s actions. He states that if one’s actions are only motivated by a desire for the fruits, they will be miserable because they will constantly be anxious about the results.

Our understanding of karma can be consciously applied to our behaviour and actions in all aspects of life. Being mindful of our actions gives us more control over our future.

Here’s how you can apply the concept of karma in your daily life:

1. Focus on intention

Rebuking someone may seem like a wrong thing to do, but what is the intention behind the action? Is it to make yourself feel superior by pulling another down, or is it to guide them in the right direction? Actions like nagging one’s parents for regular walks and watching their diet or criticising a co-worker about an attribute, may seem rude, but the intention reflects concern. When the intention is right, the people at the receiving end will see it and have immense gratitude. This is also apparent in teacher-student, master-disciple, or mentor-mentee relationships, and even among friends. Those who care for you are brutally honest with you.

2. Choose the fruit that matters

Every action creates two fruits – the main fruit and the subordinate one. In music, the main fruit is mastery of an instrument, and the subordinate is winning competitions, fame or money. Even if the musician does not get the subordinate fruits, they still have the main fruit of being a master at what they do. According to the philosophy of karma, we should continue doing good work regardless of external rewards. When you consider the joy of working as its own reward, you will never feel dejected.

3. Try not to judge

The philosophy of karma and findings of modern psychology agree that most of how we feel is self-generated. Let’s take an example of three neighbours – Kabir, Sudhir and Ranbir. Over the years, Kabir becomes the most successful of the three in terms of wealth and career. Sudhir believes that such riches can only be amassed through dishonesty and considers Kabir a bad person. Ranbir, on the other hand, has no such notions and feels happy for Kabir’s success. The things we see are empty of meaning. It is we who imbue them with meaning and perspective. 

According to karma, the best way to experience life is coming across things without judging them. When we do this, we retain better control over how we feel and can prevent external triggers that affect our behaviour and mental peace.