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saidevo
07 September 2006, 11:52 AM
Namaste.

Hindu religious texts speak of two forms of karma (good and bad) that accrue during human life in the physical body. There are three kinds of karma: sanchita, prArabtha and akAyamya. A karma-afflicted human soul spends several years in the astral and mental worlds before it takes rebirth. While in the astral world, the soul suffers from the effects of unfulfilled desires, hovering around places and watching other embodied souls enjoying such desires, which it cannot, because it does not have a physical body.

If karma can be generated by emotions and thoughts, will this dis-embodied soul in the astral world generate any karma during its post-mortem life? In the same way, can the soul do something good that might reduce its bad karma?

The fruits of good karma are enjoyed in the heavens. When this balance becomes nil, the soul descends for a rebirth. Is it possible that the soul might generate good karma in the astral life and prolong its life in heaven?

Sudarshan
07 September 2006, 12:37 PM
Namaste Saidevo,

I dont think everybody will give you the same reply or agree with what I say.




Hindu religious texts speak of two forms of karma (good and bad) that accrue during human life in the physical body. There are three kinds of karma: sanchita, prArabtha and akAyamya. A karma-afflicted human soul spends several years in the astral and mental worlds before it takes rebirth. While in the astral world, the soul suffers from the effects of unfulfilled desires, hovering around places and watching other embodied souls enjoying such desires, which it cannot, because it does not have a physical body.


In the astral world, the soul still has a linga sharira, made of five subtle elements, the ten senses, and the anta-karaNa. Why cant the soul enjoy anything? Their enjoyment is of a different order, and Brihadaranyaka and Taittiriya mention that these souls in astral bodies enjoy several times the bliss enjoyed by earth bound souls.



If karma can be generated by emotions and thoughts, will this dis-embodied soul in the astral world generate any karma during its post-mortem life? In the same way, can the soul do something good that might reduce its bad karma?


No Karma is acquired in the astral world, it is solely for enjoyment(or suffering) of the fruits of Karma. But existing Karma (sancita) cannot be experienced in the astral world. Thoughts in the astral world do not become Karma because they are instantly materialised. Only unfulfilled desires(thoughts) become Karma. Karma based on action is not possible in the astral world as no gross body is present.

Good Karma cannot reduce bad Karma. They dont cancel each other. They have different fruits.




The fruits of good karma are enjoyed in the heavens. When this balance becomes nil, the soul descends for a rebirth. Is it possible that the soul might generate good karma in the astral life and prolong its life in heaven?

No. The heavenly life is fixed during the judgement of Yama.

But souls that have absolutely no bad Karma, but only good Karma will go beyond Mahar Loka and will never return to this world. On enjoying the fruits of their good Karma, in those heavens, and by obtaining enlightenment they will proceed to moksha, along with creator Brahma. Those with bad Karma(however minimal) will be forced to return back.