Karma and non-attachment

A person performs actions and is remunerated. The fruits of the actions motivate him to perform actions again, and then again he is rewarded. It becomes a cycle: the fruit arises out of the action, and the action out of the fruit. From time immemorial, life has proceeded in this manner. This is called the wheel of karma.

The law of karma is equally applicable to all. Our past samskaras are deeply rooted in the unconscious. These latent samskaras, or impressions, create various bubbles of thoughts that express themselves through our speech and actions.

No one can live without performing actions. When you perform actions, therein you reap the fruits of your actions. “As you sow, so shall you reap.” Nobody can escape from this law.

It is possible for the aspirant to get freedom from these samskaras. Those who can burn these samskaras in the fire of non-attachment or knowledge, are free from the bondage created by them. It is like a burnt rope that has lost its binding power, though it still looks like a rope.

You decide in the morning that you will do your duty lovingly, no matter what. If you think like that, you will find that you will not be tired at the end of the day as you usually are. You have no alternative but to learn to love your duty. Then it becomes easy. If you do not love something, and yet you do it, it creates a division in your mind, and gives you stress. Learn to create love toward your duties.

Non-attachment is like a fire that can burn the binding power of past samskaras. Non-attachment does not mean indifference or non-loving. Non-attachment and love are one and the same. Non-attachment gives freedom, but attachment brings bondage.

All the things of the world are meant for us and we have the right to use them. We have no right to establish ownership over the things we have, because they have been given to us to use, but they are not ours. We should use them as means, but we should not possess them. Learn to love all the things of the world, just as means but don’t get attached to them. This is the philosophy of non-attachment.

Realization of the greatness of the Divine Force and the evanescence of the objects of the world results in pure vairagya (dispassion). In the light of dispassion, or non-attachment, the aspirant attains freedom from his desires, whims, ambitions, and anxieties. Being free from all distractions, he can undertake his practice wholeheartedly. Non-attachment enriches the nature of his practice and helps him to continue his search until he reaches the goal.

The Essence of Spiritual Life by Swami Rama