International Journal of Management and Social Sciences Research (IJMSSR) ISSN: 2319-4421 Volume 2, No. 7, July 2013 i-Xplore International Research Journal Consortium www.irjcjournals.org 1 Theories of Karma - A Comprehensive Survey Prativa Shree, Yoga Faculty, Dept. of Sanskrit, Utlkal University, Vani Vihar INTRODUCTION Karma is the basic pattern of ones individuality and of the knowledge which one experiences in life. It is an action, which is performed by the intellect, the thought and the senses in order to enjoy the fruits of the material world. Karma is also an action of the unmanifest dimension of life. In philosophical terms, karma means the primal seed of desire, which guides the destiny, thought, action and behavior of every individual. Each and every action of creation is governed by the law of karma. Law of Karma is the root cause of all afflictions which are to be experienced in the present and future births, because every individual has to undergo the effects of Krama. So long as the afflictions are there they keep on giving experiences in the present and future births. Karmas cause Kleshas and Kleshas give rise to fresh karma. With the fresh karmas one accumulates fresh Samskaras and then those Samskaras again strengthen the cause of afflictions. Psychologists regarded that past impressions are recorded in brain in form of memory, which is a microscopic film of Karmashaya beyond Monomaya-kosa. Karmashaya consists of Sanchita, Prarabdha and Kriyamana Karma. It is a subtle body, which transmigrates with the astral body at death and takes new body accordingly. The doctrine of karma is one of the most profound contributions by India Philosophy in the field of metaphysics, ethics and humanity’s relation to the Universe. Generating the force of dynamism in the Universe it provides the most rational explanation of the vicious circle of reincarnation. It is symbolized as a rope of many strands, holding the self in the bondage of suffering out of ignorance. The strands of the rope of Karma are actions, thoughts, desires and the latent tendencies of personality underlying in the depths of subconscious mind in form of past impressions. The effect of these constitution aspects of karma is to keep the mind in a state of constant agitation and outward directedness in search of appeasement. In fact mind becomes a whirlpool of fantasies and oscillations. NATURE OF KARMA Karma is defined as ‘impressions being carried forward’, ‘the law of cause and effect’ or ‘the seed of desire’. In fact, the Karmic process is the maturing of the afflictions from the latent form to the active form and then to the burned out form. Hence the process of karma is linked with afflictions, the action which is observed from the latent form to the burned out form. Afflictions are the force behind the fruition of life tree imprinting the impressions on the screen of consciousness. In Yoga Sutra it is emphasized that so long as the root of Karmashaya is there; it ripens and gives forth to birth, class, span of life and experience. KINDS OF KARMA There are different categories of Karma according to different systems of Indian Philosophy, Ethics & other branches of knowledge. The concept of karma has its value not only in spiritual area of life but also in social and ethical world. Generally karma means activity. But it involves both psycho-physiological activities which are caused by the eternal impulse of consciousness residing in the personality. KARMA YOGA Attributes of Karma Yoga  Efficiency  Equanimity  Absence of Expectation  Egolessness  Renunciation of Limited Desires  Conversion of Negative in to Positive  Duty or Dharma Karma Yoga means performing action with meditative awareness from moment to moment. Not only must the actions be performed consciously, but also one’s attitude towards the actions must also be observed. The physical karmas are being performed by everybody. The physical actions, the physical karmas are motivated by a desire for self-satisfaction or gain, whereas the motto of karma yoga is give, give, give and not take, take, take. The attitude and awareness related to an external action changes the outlook towards an action and the vision broadens. Application of different theories of Karma and ways preached to transcend the law of Karma: The fundamental contribution of Buddhism states that Karma is the inseparable entity of the doer which determines the ethical character of his action. Desire or Trisna is the source of all karmic activity i.e. good, bad or