07 03 lesson-01
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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
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 don’t 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 don’t 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 don’t incurreaction.