KARMA


Karma by Time and Fruition

This is the most widely used classification in Vedanta and Yoga.

Sanchita Karma (Accumulated)

  • All karmic seeds (samskaras) from countless past births.

  • Not all seeds will sprout in a single life — only those suited to current conditions will.

  • Analogies:

    • A quiver full of arrows — only a few are shot in one lifetime.

    • A granary — you only cook a portion of the rice at a time.

Prarabdha Karma (Begun, In Fruition)

  • The “destiny” part of karma that has already started to bear fruit.

  • Determines birth conditions: parents, body, environment, lifespan, major challenges.

  • Can be pleasant, unpleasant, or mixed.

  • Even enlightened beings (jivanmuktas) must experience their Prarabdha until death, but they experience it without inner bondage (like watching a movie without identifying with it).

Agami Karma (Forthcoming, New)

  • The karma created in this life, through thoughts, words, and actions.

  • If done with ego/attachment, it adds to Sanchita for future lives.

  • If done with selflessness (karma yoga), it doesn’t bind.

Karma by Quality of Action

This categorization shows the moral-energetic flavor of karma.

Kriyaman / Vartamana Karma

  • The present, ongoing activity.

  • The most powerful, because it gives you choice now.

  • Yogic teachings emphasize mindfulness here: awareness at the moment of action can transform your destiny.

Aashaya Karma (Latent/Subconscious)

  • Stored emotional residues and impressions from past actions.

  • Shapes tendencies, desires, fears, and habits.

  • In Yoga, these are called vasanas or samskaras.

  • Meditation burns these seeds before they sprout (called kriya-shakti in tantra).

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 Karma by Moral Polarity

From Jain and Hindu classifications:

  1. Shukla (White Karma) → selfless, sattvic actions. Leads toward liberation.

  2. Krishna (Black Karma) → harmful, tamasic actions. Leads to deeper bondage.

  3. Shukla-Krishna (Mixed Karma) → ordinary human actions, a blend of good and bad.

  4. Akrishna (Colorless Karma) → actions without attachment or ego, typical of enlightened beings. Does not bind.

Yogis aim for Akrishna karma — acting without accruing karmic residue.

 

Yogic Understanding of Liberation from Karma

  • Karma Yoga: Acting without attachment to results (Bhagavad Gita’s core teaching).

  • Jnana Yoga: Realizing the Self as beyond body-mind, untouched by karma.

  • Bhakti Yoga: Surrendering action and its fruits to the Divine.

  • Raja Yoga: Through meditation, burning samskaras and transcending the karmic cycle.

Karma is like a chain — action → impression → desire → action.
Yoga breaks this loop by stilling the mind, so impressions no longer compel new action.


Visual Flow of Karma


        PAST LIVES
            ↓
     Sanchita Karma (Total)
            ↓
     Prarabdha Karma (Selected portion: shapes THIS life)
            ↓
   Present Life Choices (Kriyaman Karma)
            ↓
     Agami Karma (Stored for future)
            ↓
        Back into Sanchita


A yogi’s path: interrupt this cycle → stop adding Agami → burn seeds of Sanchita → exhaust Prarabdha → liberation (moksha).


Summary:

  • Philosophical Hinduism views karma as a cosmic law of cause and effect across lifetimes.

  • Yoga and Vedanta focus on transcending karma through awareness, selfless action, and realization of the Self.


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