The document discusses the concept of karma and reincarnation across various religious texts and traditions. It states that past actions determine one's situation in the current life, and current actions will determine the next life. The material world is described as a place for souls to work through karma by experiencing different bodies and conditions under the modes of nature. Living entities are bound by their actions, which are performed according to conditioning by the modes of nature.

1. Why do bad things happen to good people – The Law of Karma

2. "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." - Bible: Matthew (5:18) "Put not off from day to day and from cycle to cycle, is the belief that ye will succeed in obtaining the mysteries when ye return to the world in another cycle." - Jesus Christ in the Gnostic Gospels: Pistis Sophia "All souls are subject to revolution… but men do not know the ways of the Holy One… They are ignorant of the way they have been judged in all time, before they came into this world and when they have quitted it." - Zohar (Kabbalah) "Every soul... comes into the world strengthened by the victories or weakened by the defeats of its' previous life. Its' place in this world as a vessel appointed to honor or dishonor, is determined by its' previous merits or demerits. Its' work in this world determines its' place in the world which is to follow this." - Origen "In other worlds I lingered through the length of many nights; And God alone can ever know how great the sorrow of soul I saw - In Brooksvalin, where souls are subject to the cosmic cause of judgment." - Scandinavian "Song of Olaf Ostensen“ "We never made for any mortal before thee immortality… Every soul shall taste of death! We will test them with evil and good, as a trial; & unto us shall they return again and again" - Koran "The individual self, augmented by its' aspirations, sense contact, visual impressions and delusion, assumes successive forms in accordance with it's actions… So it is that we live in accordance with our deep, driving desire. It is this desire at the time of death that determines what our next life is to be. We will come back to Earth to work out the satisfaction of that desire." - Svetasvtara Upanishad

3. Krishna is Sat - Cit - Ananda Jiva – The spirit soul is also Sat – cit – Ananda Then why are we suffering ?? Full of knowledge Eternal Blissful

4. 5. Karma (Activity) Five Major Topics in Bhagavad-Gita 1. ISVARA (GOD) 2.Jiva (Living Entity) 3. Prakriti (Material Nature) 4.Kala (Time)

5. Prakriti – The Material Nature Consists of millions of universes A fraction of the total creation Material nature is “dukhalayam ashashvatam” B.G…. Spiritual world is “Vaikuntha” (free of misery, dullness) Compared to a prison house. A facility provided for the rebellious souls, giving them an opportunity to reform themselves Why did the Lord create the material world ??

6. Provides the soul with a body in the 8400000 species of life 400,000 - Humanoid species 900,000 – In Water (aquatics) 2,000,000 – Plants 1,000,000 – Avians 3,000,000 – Animals etc… Different bodies provide different levels of consciousness just like different cells in the prison A- Class Cell, B-Class Cell & C-Class cell Binds the body with the three modes of nature Durga Ga – get out … durg – very difficult to get out

7. Three Modes of Material Nature Sattva Guna Mode of Goodness Rajo Guna Mode of Passion Tamo Guna Mode of Ignorance Knowledge Free from sins Conditioned by sense of happiness Unlimited desires Fruitive activity Attraction between man and woman Madness Laziness Sleep Intoxication

8. Food in Mode of Goodness B.G.17.8 “ayuh sattva balarogya….” Food that increases life span & Heart becomes purified Gives strength, health, happiness and satisfaction Such foods are juicy, wholesome, and pleasing to the heart Food in Mode of Passion B.G.17.9 “katv-amla-lavanaty….” Foods that cause distress, misery and ill-health Such foods are too bitter, too sour, salty, very hot, pungent, dry and burning Food in Mode of Ignorance B.G.17.9 “yata yaman gata rasam……” Food that are Prepared more than 3 hrs before being eaten Induces lethargy, etc Consisting of remnants,

9. All living beings in the material world are conditioned by the three modes The soul comes in contact with a particular mode of material nature and acts accordingly, being conditioned The Conditioned Soul We seek happiness on the material platform according to the modes we are conditioned by We are forced to act helplessly according to the impulses born of the modes of nature

10. In this way the soul is forced to take birth in this material world again and again Thus our pure spiritual nature is perverted by the impure desires, born of the three modes

11. KAALA (TIME FACTOR) Time is Krishna’s Energy Most Powerful force in the material world. Amongst all killers time is the ultimate. Time causes transformation in the prakriti - Cycle of Universe - Six Transformations In B.G. Krishna says, “Kaalo ‘smi” – “I am Time”

12. KARMA (ACTIVITY) Definition: Activities performed by the living entities conditioned by the three modes, under the control and purview of time THE LAW OF KARMA “ For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction” We are accountable for everything we think, speak or do Therefore we must be aware of the consequences of all the activities that we perform.

13. Preliminary knowledge of the LAW OF KARMA Good Karma – Virtuous Activity Regulatory concession given does not mean free license to engage in sinful activity Bad Karma – Sinful Activity Laws of Karma are relative The four pillars of sinful life: 1. Illicit Sex 2. Intoxication 3. Gambling 4. Meat Eating Krishna Says, “Gahana Karmano gati” – “ It is very difficult to understand the law of karma”

14. Contd… Preliminary knowledge of the LAW OF KARMA Applicable only to human species Instant and delayed Karma eg. Sow a mustard seed & get a fruit in a month sow a coconut seed and get a fruit in 20 years Individual and collective karma Ignorance of the law is no cause to escape reaction If everything is predestined then why work ? “ The wheels of God grind slowly but exceedingly fine”

15. TO ESCAPE REACTION, “A-KARMA MUST BE PERFORMED” Good and bad karma are both binding Good and bad karma do not cancel each other Contd… Preliminary knowledge of the LAW OF KARMA LIFE IS A PREPARATION DEATH IS THE EXAMINATION

16. DIFFERENT TYPES OF KARMA TYPE ACTIVITY Karma As per scriptural (‘PIOUS’) directions Vi-karma Against scriptural directions (‘SINFUL’) A-karma For which one does not suffer any reaction Eg. Soldier fighting on behalf of the country