Karma and Kismat OR Deeds and Destiny

We often hear people talking in extremes related to Karma (deeds) and Kismat (Luck). While one party says “Karma is everything and you can do anything & achieve anything by Karma, so there is no luck”, while many believes specially those more religious that “Luck has a large role to play in our life and God determines what we get, how much and when so we cannot do much”.  But Life is about balance and over the years I couldn’t read or hear a voice that talk about perfect balance. We’ll see the reality behind it.

When we talk about luck, the existence and power of God or a supreme governing power comes into the picture which would again arise a debate. But that reminds me of a childhood story. As a child I was rebellious and would ask question on everything unless I understand the reason behind an action, I wouldn’t accept because its just told. My father would often ask to do something in rituals just because he has been doing, his father keep doing and asked him to do, and my grandfather did because he saw other elders doing it and so on. Here my father would say “ should do because I ask you, because your ancestors kept doing so it must be right”, and I used to say “If nature, who made me, wanted me to follow things just because you or someone is been doing and not use my brain, nature would have given brain only to you or my grandfather whom I need to follow and would have given me an antenna instead , so you think and I catch, but If I’m carrying a 5-pound brain over my neck then it ask me to evolve myself by learning and modifying”. No my father was a very strong personality in and around his community and native, he rarely used to take advice but trusted himself most and not only he literally achieved a lot but made life for his brothers, father and everyone, while my brother & Sisters were scared to talk to him , here I kept questioning and its was difficult to answer. So one day he got frustrated and gave me 2 golden things, 1 advice and 1 question, question was “if you doubt God then answer this, a child is built in a womb but opening the womb doesn’t even find a pencil then how from eyes to fingers and every part of body is so well designed by whom?”, and suggestion was “its easy to talk negative to be smart, own responsibility if you have negative opinion, get inside and find the truth then you have right to not only deny but also enlight others with your findings.” These 2 things stayed with me forever and changed the course of my life and my personality, a gift from my dear late father who was my 1^st Guru also. So lets understand.

First of all, Karma and Luck need not be seen as good & bad always, for the definition of good and bad would also differ largely on the community and individuals due to their ability to understand and . things. You might have heard on karma “what goes around, comes around”.  Even the Newton’s 3^rd law in science speaks same. In Sanatan dharma, one side I says “what you do is everything and you can get anything with your actions, nothing is impossible”, while somewhere it also says “God is supreme power and without his wishes not even a particles would move, so its all him who do and we are just doing our roles”, you see both extreme is what create confusion and similar statements are found in other religions also. In Yoga also, Karma Yoga is defined as one of four branches of Yoga to attain the ultimate goals.

The word “Karma” means action. Geeta said Lord Krishna told a perfect phrase in Geeta “ Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadhachana”, which means “ You must keep performing your duty but do not have any expectation of the fruits”. Why I say its perfect, for this sentence has huge meaning hidden inside. When you believe there is no luck that start bringing you closer to ego while away from the reality, and when you think luck is everything, that start bringing excuse and laziness inside you. But the result we get from our karma now, depends on many factors like – how is other’s karma whose result would impact mine, what are our past karma and the others, what is our purpose of life etc? Hence you should give your best, leave the rest for the nature, and keep doing what you’re supposed to do without worrying of results, that would make you realize full potential. We are not in isolated world, our life are connected to people around us, If you’re giving a competitive exam and expecting result based on your karma, you should also see your competitor’s karma.

For this time I will keep it short and explain a final concept with a story. Its an old story of 2 close friends had finished their study, had good marks and were enthusiastic for the future with large hopes. Now both were going back to hometown after study and would live there trying to make good fortune, so both decided to check with a great astrologer about their luck and future. They went to a great astrologer, he say the 1^st person and said  “you’re so lucky, within next 1 year you’re going to be a king so extremely rich”, hearing this he was so happy. Now the astrologer analyzed the 2^nd person and said “aah! You are such a unlucky fellow, your life would be in extreme poverty, you wont even have complete food to satisfied yourself and your family and which will happen in 6months and remain so”, now this was a shocker. Both friends got the unexpected so they decided to meet at the same place after 1 year and find out how true was the fortuneteller. Slowly 1 year is also over and both friends finally met, very happy to see each other. After a hug it was time for sharing the experience, 1^st person said “I’m not king so that astrologer was wrong”, hearing it 2^nd also said “though I’m not doing very well but I’m not such a poor also”.  Both reached to astrologer angrily and said he was wrong, but what astrologer told is the essence of entire discussion and should clear any understanding on Karma and luck. He said “my dear boys, your luck has given you an opportunity to be a king but you got assured and stop your karmas and was enjoying daily life with almost no work waiting for someone to come and appoint you as a king, while you was supposed to be extreme poor but that made you conscious and worried for future and hence you not only did extreme hard work but also ensure to save for future. So Luck gives us an opportunity according to our past karma and purpose of life, but with our Karma we stretch it further or back and ultimately its combination of both is what we get.”

Now what we should do? Its hard to know whats in our luck but if we watch our though and incidents around we would know what is nature trying to tell us about our purpose of life. And when you start doing something, easiest and best thing also is to follow Geeta – do what you’re supposed to do with best of your ability without worrying about your success or failure.

I would be happy to answer any question or help further. I can be reached at – info@shikti.com or drsantkj@gmail.com or through. Online form

Thank you for your time, Stay well and Blessed. – Dr Sant