Past experiences and actions are not immediately erased, but things that happened a decade ago will remain in the mind as if they happened yesterday. But before such events or actions are recorded in the mind, they are also recorded elsewhere in existence. Likewise, an unconscious action will also be recorded in the mind and will create an impression that will last throughout one’s life. If a person falls into a water tank during their childhood and is saved, he may manifest a fear of water throughout his life, and even though he makes up his mind not to be afraid, he will still b affected, unable to be released from his fear consciousness.
In addition to physical organs, a person also has subtle organs. The mind is one such organ; ‘chitta’ or subconscious mind is another. It is in the sub-conscious mind that all experiences are recorded in the form of ‘samskaras’. The mind reflects the impulses affecting man through the five senses. When a person sees a tree, the mind creates within itself the shape of a tree and no other shape. Old experiences (samskaras) are recorded in the subconscious mind - experiences not only of the present life time, but also experiences of previous incarnations. In deep states of hypnosis, the conscious mind is subdued and the experiences of the sub-conscious mind begin to unfold.
The subconscious mind acts like an audio and video recording device, expressing stored information through the fore-mind as good or bad samskaras, or revealing it as good and bad thoughts respectively. As man acts on the dictation of his mind, he is confronted with the good and bad thoughts revealed by his subconscious and acts accordingly.
Man has not yet realised that all of his thoughts are not originated by him. One who is relaxing at home might have a sudden thought to go out, when he could either become involved in an accident or meet a good friend. The cause of these thoughts originate from the subconscious mind.
While in the womb, the subconscious acts as the conscious mind and it is the samskaras in the subconscious mind that mould the required character and form of the child initially. This explains why siblings born into the same family can manifest vastly different characteristics, and only later adopt the habits of their parents.
These experiences of the subconscious are what we call ‘karma’. All of ordinary man’s entire projections are the result of stored subconscious experiences. One may be well-read and a deep thinker but may still be unable to understand the functioning of the subconscious mind. Because of this, he will find it difficult to overcome Karma, but the subconscious mind will continue to store information and influence the conscious mind without any control of the individual. Karma which has been recorded from previous births and which shows its effect in a current birth is called ‘prarabda karma’. Experiences freshly recorded in the subconscious mind are called ‘agamya karmas’. Thus strong samskaras of previous births form the basis of one’s current lifestyle.
A group of good people may live together and, similarly, a group of bad people may also live together, but both good and bad people cannot live together harmoniously as both groups have different samskaras.
Nevertheless, there are ways to change one’s samskaras. If one wants to give up smoking, the mere thought of smoking is not enough to cause one to quit, nor will a forceful manner of quitting work as it may lead to other negative situations. Negative prarabda karmas cannot be changed by mere thought. Individual karma can only be changed or destroyed by its originator. There are two ways of overcoming this. One is to experience and expend it, and the other is to induct very powerful positive samskaras to destroy or counteract the negative ones. One of the best methods of doing this is by practising yoga and meditation.
When one wants to win over karma, divine force does not act against it. As we know, electricity can be used for both good and bad. If Godly Samakaras are recorded, one will travel a Divine path. Many karmas undertaken while discharging our duties, go unrecorded. If one does his karmas in this manner he will become a ‘karma yogi’. In the Gita Krishna advocates performing duties as a yogi, being equipoised in joy and sorrow. By regular spiritual practises, karmas do not form and in this manner, one can reduce past karmas causing the mind to eventually become pure; and one will break the cycle of birth and death. Thus fate can be overcome by one’s intelligence. Let peace be there.
By Swami RK Murugesu Maharishi
