What is Karma? Does Karma make our free will futile?from the sanskrit kárman "act, action, performance"
Karma is a sum of all that an individual has done, is currently doing and will do. Karma is not about retribution, vengeance, punishment or reward, karma simply deals with what is. The effects of all deeds actively create past, present and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to others.
Karma will only make our free will futile if we are attempting to do the impossible. So that is no different than the non-believer in karma would understand to be common sense.
What the average person doesn't understand is, many of the circumstances we face in life are brought about by our karma. Our Karma is like invisible magnets stuck to our nervous system, and they attract circumstances.
This karma in our nervous system is some of the "obstructions" that are cleared by yoga practices. As they are cleared, we gain more freedom of free choice, and much more happiness.
Click on "Main Lessons" above to learn karma-clearing practices.
or read more here:
Self pacing, surrender and EnlightenmentLesson 334 – Advaita (non-duality), Free Will and KarmaLesson 343 – What is Karma?and more references in the
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