Right and Wrong Action

Karma means work or action. According to Rishi Jaimini, rituals like agnihotra and yajnas are termed karmas. There is a hidden power in karma termed ‘Adrishta‘, which brings in fruits of karmas for the individual. Karma is all in all for Jaimini. Karma is everything for a student of the Mimamsic school of thought. Jaimini is the founder of Poorva Mimamsa. He was a student of Maharishi Vyasa, the founder of Uttara Mimamsa or Vedanta. The Mimamsa school denies the existence of Ishvara, who awards the fruits of works. According to the Gita, any action is a karma.

Charity, sacrifice and tapas are all karmas. In a philosophical sense, even breathing, seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling, smelling, walking and talking are all karmas. Thinking is the real karma. Raga-dvesha, likes and dislikes, constitute real karma.

Have right thinking. Use your reason and common sense. Follow the injunctions of the shastras whenever you have doubts. You will be able to find out if your action is right or wrong.

If you are unable to understand the vast ocean of shastras, then strictly follow the words of a guru in whom you can place absolute faith and confidence. The third way is to have fear of God. Consult your conscience. Practise to hear the inner voice at 4:00 am. If there is fear, shame, doubt, pricking of the conscience and uneasiness of mind, you are doing wrong. If there are joy, exhilaration and satisfaction, your actions are right.