Karma refers to the law of cause and effect - that every action will have a reaction. When we act selfishly or unethically, we become eligible for punishment in the form of negative reactions. However, if we act according to religious instructions and please God, we will not fear reactions.
The lesson discusses how one can remain engaged in normal activities like work or study while being Krishna conscious. It states that we do not need to abandon our positions, but should chant Hare Krishna and dedicate our work to Krishna's service. When we offer our work to Krishna with devotion, it becomes free from reactions.
A story is told of a boy who painted on a wall and avoided
1 of 3
Download to read offline
More Related Content
07 03 lesson-01
1. STANDARD
VII
CHAPTER 03
WHOM TO WORK FOR
Do your own duty nicely and bother not about results
Lesson-01
WHAT IS KARMA AND WHAT IS REACTION?
Everyone has to act some way or the other. Nobodycan
be inactive for all time. He has to either do something,
speak something or think something. But when we do any
activity out of selfishness or any activity not supportedby
religion (unethicalor immoral activity), we become
eligible for punishment. Just like, when we do something
against law of government, we become criminal and thus
sent to jail for punishment. This is called reaction to our
activity (or karma). Simply stated law of karma means
everyone enjoys or suffers according to his own actions.
If we are lawful, we dont have to fear a policeman.
Similarly, if we act according to instructions of God as
given in Gita, we become freed and fearless of all sorts of
reactions.
2. TO BE KRISHNA CONSCIOUS, DO I HAVE TO GIVE UP MY
CURRENT ACTIVITIES LIKE STUDYING, GOING TO
SCHOOL OR EARNING MONEY?
Arjuna asks how can I simultaneouslybe a spiritual man
and fight? Srila Prabhupadwas once asked how we can be
in Krishna consciousnesswhile simultaneously be
working in a factory.
Lord Caitanya (Who is incarnation of Krishna in this age)
has said that we do not need to change our position. We
simply have to chant Hare Krishna and serve spiritual
teacher. Srila Prabhupadasaid: If you are typist, type for
Krishna. If you are painter, paint for Krishna.
So Krishna consciousness does not mean giving up work
but rather offering our work in the service of Krishna.
HOW CAN THE SAME WORK WHEN OFFERED TO
KRISHNA BECOME REACTION-FREE?
When we do same action underthe authorityand for the
pleasure of the authoritywe dont get reaction but we are
rather benefited by that. If a person shoots whimsically he
is hanged but if he does it on behalf of government he is
given medal of honour(param veer cakra). Following
story will make it clear.
3. Paint the wall for Krishna
There was a houseowner who once caught a boy spray
painting on his wall. He warned the boy, "Do it again and
I will break your bones." Two friends saw it. One of them
said, "I will paint on the wall and he will say nothing. I
bet." The other guy challenges. This boy goes and paints
on the wall. The owner comes and sees and pats the back
of the boy and gives him a gift also. Other boy surprised
and asks how did you do that? First boy replies: Nothing.
I just painted on the wall that Painting on this wall is not
allowed by order".
MORAL: So when we act for pleasing Krishna, we dont
incurreaction.