Page 12 - Metaphysical questions of life

The Cycle of Suffering, a result of the Karma Cycle

One result of the Cycle of Karma is the Cycle of Suffering. Both good
and bad karma keeps one in the Cycle of Karma because one must take

birth again to receive either the good or bad karma. Every self-
interested or selfish ac on has a reac on that entails another ac on.

One should be trained in the Art of Work by which one avoids good
karma (ac ng according to scriptural injunc on for material benefit)
and bad karma (ac ng against the scriptural injunc ons). The Art of
Work teaches one to engage in karma-free ac vity (called akarma)
which means ac ng according to scriptural injunc ons only to please

Lord Krishna or God without any desire for material benefit for oneself.
This is the state of pure, uncondi onal love for the Lord. The devotee is
ready to sacrifice everything for the Lord without any regret, remorse
or hesita on.

This is eloquently expounded by Lord Krishna:

“One is understood to be in full knowledge whose every endeavor is de-
void of desire for sense gra fica on. He is said by sages to be a worker

for whom the reac ons of work have been burned up by the fire of per-
fect knowledge.”Bg 4.19)

“Abandoning all a achment to the results of his ac vi es, ever sa sfied
and independent, he performs no frui ve ac on, although engaged in
all kinds of undertakings.”(Bg 4.20)

“Such a man of understanding acts with mind and intelligence perfectly
controlled, gives up all sense of proprietorship over his possessions and
acts only for the bare necessi es of life. Thus working, he is not affected
by sinful reac ons.” (Bg 4.21)

“He who is sa sfied with gain which comes of its own accord, who is

free from duality and does not envy, who is steady in both success and
failure, is never entangled, although performing ac ons.” (Bg 4.22)

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