coming out of karmic bondage
The karma you are experiencing now is Prarabdha Karma. It is like an arrow that has been shot from the bow – no force can stop it from hitting its target. This karma has started bearing fruit. You have to experience this or “taste” the fruits of your past actions. If the karma is positive, it is called good karma and the fruit will be sweet and tasty. If the karma is negative, it is called bad karma and the fruit will be bitter or even toxic. With the exception of Divine Grace altering our paths, we cannot avoid the experience of our own karma. However, there are ways in which we can handle it better.
1- Accept responsibility.
The first step towards healing yourself from bad karma is to take full and absolute responsibility for where you are in life. Yes, life may seem unfair at times, it may appear that forces beyond your control are dictating your life and that you are helpless in face of everything around you. Yet, despite this, you and only you are responsible for your life and your karma; not anyone or anything outside of you is responsible for it. Even if you do not understand the ways of the Universe, place your trust that it is doing the right thing. Acceptance alone sets into motion the healing process and puts you in a better position to deal with your karma. As you progress on the spiritual path towards Self-realization, you will recognize your ability to influence your own life events.
2- Know that you do not need to resign to your karma.
Everything in your life is in accordance with the law of karma. Every action of the past has already created a result in the form of karma, and it is unfolding in your life right now. But even though the consequences have already been pre-determined in accordance with the causes, it does not mean that your life is pre-determined. Self-effort in dealing with karma plays a critical role in shaping your life. You can deal with the karmic cards you are dealt with more gracefully and even turn your apparent bad karma to your advantage.
3- Stop accumulating new (negative) karma.
If you find yourself in a deep hole which you want to get out of, you need to stop digging the hole deeper. As long as you are existing in the day-to-day realities of modern life, you cannot avoid performing actions. And your actions will have karmic consequences. Then, how is it possible for you to not accrue any further karma, good or bad? The only way you can do it is by detaching yourself from the desire for the action, from the action, and from the outcome or results of the action. Offer the deed that you do to the Supreme Lord, to the Universe, to your higher Self. Do what you need to, but don’t identify yourself as the doer, and with the doership. By consistently detaching yourself from your actions and their outcomes, you are setting yourself free from any further karma.
4- Strike at the root cause of bad karma.
If you can take full responsibility for your karma, you will also realize that you are the creator of your own karma. The bad karma you may be experiencing has its roots deep inside of you, in your past conduct. These are the obstacles or enemies residing within you, that are creating negative karmas. If you can acknowledge this, you are already on your way to deal with negative karma. By willful intentions and actions, you can destroy your inner enemies.
5- Eliminate situations and relationships that sustain negative cycles.
As you go about your life, you may find yourself in situations or relationships that are negative and cyclical. These cycles must be broken or they will continue to contribute to your life negatively. You may have hesitated to walk away from such situations or relationships because either you did not recognize them as such or you feel obligated to not walk away. Unemotionally and peacefully evaluate what is working for you and what is not, and after attempting to resolve the situation, you may need to walk away from what is not serving you. You need not have a conflict in your heart about this. Only when you are able to serve your Self can you help others, so take care of your Self.
6- Seek forgiveness and forgive others.
Do you carry ill-will or anger towards anyone? Is that anger because you feel the other person has wronged you? As long as you harbor negative feelings towards anyone or anything, you continue to attract negative karma and energies in an endless loop. To break this cycle you must let go of your own anger and hatred, you will find yourself more at peace within yourself.
Sometimes, you may find that you hold anger towards yourself. It is even more important to be kind towards yourself, and forgive yourself, and treat yourself with love.
It is also possible that you may have wronged others knowingly or unknowingly in this lifetime or past ones. In your heart, seek forgiveness from those people and their souls. Sincerely and heartfully ask for forgiveness. By seeking forgiveness and forgiving, you are cutting off the karmic shackles and freeing yourself from the bonds that tie you to the cycle of life and rebirth.
Maintain a positive attitude towards everything and everyone in your life. Do good and be good to yourself and others.
