#257 Your Tree of Karma – How did it grow this year?

Suppose you were to visualise yourself as a tree – mango tree, eucalyptus, pine tree, redwood, parijata, any tree, with your roots, tree trunk, branches, flowers and fruits.

As a tree, your roots dig deep into the soil of dharma – universal network of nutrient values necessary for you to grow. The deeper and wider your roots go, the stronger is your rootedness and stability.

The nutrients that you need are what your ancestors also needed.

These nutrients that have stood the test of time are Sanatana Dharma. These have been the firm ground of all beings helping them grow and thrive across ages. These are –

• Ahimsa (non-harming)

• Satyam (Truthfulness),

• Akrodha (Absence of anger or Appropriate expression of anger)

• Shaucham (Cleanliness)

• Kshama (Accommodation)

• Dama (Mastery over the body)

• Tapas (Religious disciplines)

• Svadhyaaya (Study of scriptures)

• Dhritihi (Fortitude)

• Daya (Compassion)

• Aarjavam (Straightforwardness)

• Abhyam (Freedom from fear)

• Sattvasamshuddhi (Purity of mind)

• Daanam (Giving)

• Tyaaga (Renunciation)

• Apaishunam (Absence of jealousy)

• Amanitvam (Absence of pride)

• Adroha (Absence of enmity)

The seasons changed. The climate changed.

As the tree of Karma, your trunk relentlessly absorbed these different nutrients from the rich foundation of Dharma and transported it to the branches of your karma leading to fruits of your karma. 

Ahimsa (non-harming)

Like that time when there was an argument between you and your colleague at work. You chose to resolve the argument by stating your position, inviting the other’s position, looking at the big picture, spoke about the deliverables of the project. You did all of this through an amicable dialogue instead of blaming or shaming the other person.

You nurtured the value of ahimsa.

Satyam (truthfulness)

At work, you admitted to a mistake, even though you knew it would lead to consequences. With your partner you shared how the person’s loving presence and words has helped you heal from their past trauma.

Yours was the karma of satyam (Truthfulness) which led to the fruit of being happy for both. Everyday we live the karma of satyam. In those instances when we moved away from satyam and spoke lies, were the consequences favourable to you and the other?

Akrodha (Absence of anger or Appropriate expression of anger)

Your teenage son came home acting a bit weird. You later found that he had tried some weed. Although you remembered how you too had experimented with a lot of things in your teenage years, you were angry and worried in your mind. You resisted the urge to just blurt out things in your anger, thought through how you wanted to approach the subject and spoke to your son calmly and firmly. You explained the pulls and pushes of this age, the need to feel alive and the pressure to be accepted by friends. You did not shame or insult him which you had done in the past. You actually said that now that he had tried it, it was not such a big deal. He denied it initially but was relieved to see your reaction.

Yours was the karma of akrodha (not displaying anger inappropriately) which led to the fruit of both being happy. Everyday we get the opportunity to practice akrodha, appropriate expression of anger. When else during the year have you shown akrodha which has led to a greater connection between you and others?

Shaucham (cleanliness)

Shaucham (external)

At home and at work, there are many days that you are exhausted and the last thing that you want to do is organise your room, your office table and especially your files on the computer. And yet when you make the effort to do it sometimes, yours is the karma of shaucham, cleanliness promoting an organised and tidy space which promotes lightheartedness and clear thinking.

Shaucham (internal)

Somehow this year there were many instances where there was a feeling of disconnection and tension with others. While they have their faults, you can only take responsibility for your behaviour.

You realised that there were some thought patterns that you are carrying as baggage from the past. The pattern of not feeling appreciated, the pattern of not expressing yourself assuming that people will magically understand, the pattern of considering yourself superior because you are into Vedanta.

You understood that you need not be dictated by your patterns. You always had freedom of choice. And so, you deliberately grew the karma of appreciating the other, expressing yourself and not taking a superior stance.

Yours was the karma of internal shaucham thus promoting a leisure and space to see reality for what is and not operating out of your default pattern settings.

Just like we empty garbage everyday we empty what is not required from our lives through clear thinking , support of others and prayerfulness. Everyday we get the opportunity to practice shaucham (both internal and external)

What have been the effects of enjoying this value of shaucham in life?   

Kshama (Accommodation)

Your colleague had a medical emergency to attend to. You were busy with many things too. And yet out of your care for the person as well as a commitment to getting the job done, you made the time to do your colleague ‘s bit too.

Yours was the karma of Kshama (Accommodation)

You have been resentful of your father not spending enough time with you while you were growing up. And so, in adulthood, you often are sarcastic about why you should spend the time with him given that he was not there for you. Seeing him struggle with old age related issues, now you see the need to be more accommodating of him. You see that he was brought up with the idea of ‘a man’s job is outside the home and children just have to be seen and not heard’. Yes, you felt denied. And yes, that was how he was brought up and he did what he thought was his best. The remaining time with him could be spent in sarcasm and avoidance or some care could certainly be expressed as everything said and done, he was a partial instrument for you to be here.

Yours was the karma of Kshama (Accommodation). Surely this year there would have been many moments that you practised accommodation.

Dama (Mastery over the body)

You are a foodie and have struggled with finding the time to exercise as well as figuring the right balance of diet, exercise, sleep and rest – all equally necessary to be healthy. And so this year, you reviewed all your habits in the domain of health and have maintained discipline by reducing junk food, adding intermittent fasting, researching and doing the right kind of exercise for your body type and so on. Whenever you moved away from the routine, you did not wallow in self-pity but came back right to your discipline.

Yours was the karma of Dama (Mastery over the body). Surely this year there would have been many moments that you practised dama, mastery over your sense organs and organs of action.

Tapas (Religious disciplines)

You heard your Vedanta friend speak of how she was benefitted by doing japa. Inspired you set a target of doing a few thousand times, just in time for a festival related to that particular devata. Somehow all distractions happened in those days. Somehow you wondered if you really need to do this. And yet you persisted in your japa which in time has brought you much clarity of thought, blessings of unexpected events and a recognition of an unflinching support from your devata.

Yours was the karma of Tapas (Religious disciplines of japa, puja, yajna, vrata-fasting and teerthayatra, pilgrimages). These are yielding karma phala, slowly and surely.

Svadhyaaya (Study of scriptures)

As busy as it is living the city life, you set aside time most weekends to show up for the Vedanta class because of a commitment you have made to yourself. You want to enjoy the fruits of knowledge of the limitless reality, the Upanishads proclaim about you. There were days you felt like giving up, thinking that you were not making any progress. There were moments you felt embarrassed in discovering yet another thing about yourself that needed changing. And yet revelling in the fact that one is a manifestation of Bhagavan himself, again and again, you tried to look at yourself in the dazzling light of Vedanta.

Yours was the karma of Svaadhyaaya strangely yielding the karma phala of seeing yourself, the Atma as neither a karta nor a bhogta, never the doer or the experiencer. 

Dhritihi (Fortitude)

You persevered through a challenging project at work, maintaining a positive attitude even when faced with setbacks. You wanted to get married and were getting exhausted with the dating game. One moment your hopes would be up and the next your hopes would be dashed. And yet you persisted without giving up to finally find a compatible partner in your life’s journey.

Yours was the karma of Dhritihi (Fortitude) making you happy.

Daya (Compassion)

Your friend had a messy divorce. You made the time to be there for him, baby sit the daughter, schedule time for an evening out after work. Yours was the karma of Daya (Compassion) making you happy. There were many such moments of compassion towards the other and most importantly yourself. You decided to be more kind, encouraging and supportive to yourself.

Aarjavam (Straightforwardness)

Your team member had recently started to show exhaustion at work and was missing a lot of deadlines. While you asked several times about his health and family life, it all seemed ok. Later on Linkedin through a casual conversation you found out that he was holding a part time job with an overseas company. No wonder he was appearing tired to work. And so you communicated openly with your colleague about violating the terms and conditions of the contract that he has signed. You were not afraid of confrontation and pointed out in a straightforward way, the consequences of his actions on his performance as well as the project deliverables. You do so without sugarcoating or shaming him.

Yours was the karma of Aarjavam (straightforwardness).

Abhyam (Freedom from fear)  

Some new project at work required upgrading your skills with AI tools. Without ruminating on the anxiety of ‘how would you learn’, ‘what if you took too long’, you kept aside your fear and tried to learn. As you learnt more, you were free from the fear.

Yours was the karma of Abhyam (Freedom from fear)

Sattva-samshuddhi (Purity of mind)  

Very often in the breakaway groups in extended family gatherings there would be a bunch of people who would laugh raucously, gossiping about other relatives in the family and put them down. Earlier you too would enjoy the gossip. It was not gossip. You were just exchanging information. This year you politely excused yourself and avoided the gossip. When asked, why you were being a spoilsport, you replied that ‘by discussing their negativities, I found myself becoming negative’, Whatever it is they are family and there is something that I can learn from everyone. There was awkwardness as you moved away that time but you still joined them in laughter in other discussions.

You were happy to practise the karma of Sattva-samshuddhi in both personal and professional relationships.

Daanam (Giving)  

This year, you had kept aside 15 % of your income and have chosen organisations and causes close to your heart. You contributed to their well-being without expecting recognition and you do it because you are blessed to be able to do so. This year, you extended that to volunteering your time to also do seva to help with social media for your teacher.

Giving makes you happy – Giving a thoughtful gift, a kind word, a thoughtful gesture, giving of what you have, helping someone with a skill that you have, which the other person struggles with.

Yours is the karma of Daanam (giving)  

Tyaaga (Renunciation)  

You let go of some possession that was no longer needed – perhaps some clothes, some jewellery or your idea of comfort as you jostled through crowds to go on a teerthayatra. Maybe you gave up the tight, rigid notion of yourself and hence could take some objective feedback.

Maybe you gave up the identity of being the captain of your ship and allowed Bhagavan to be the captain, following his lead.

Yours was the karma of Tyaaga that made you happy.

In fact happiest is the one who does not need any condition – external or internal to make him Ananda as he has discovered himself to be Ananda. There is a lovely analysis of Ananda of different divine beings in the Taittiriya Upanishad. Their changing Ananda is no match to the svarupa Ananda of the shrotriya akaamahatah – one who has listened to the teaching in the sampradaya and who is free from all binding desire, the beautiful refrain in Taittiriya Upanishad is shrotriyasya chakaamahatasya.     

Apaishunam (Absence of jealousy)

There will always be someone smarter, taller, more wealthy and talented, than us. To feel jealous and miserable we just have to look over our shoulder or gaze at some people’s lives on social media. It is difficult to escape the trap of comparison. This year you have exercised greater control over the use of social media scrolling by scheduling the app timer and reminded yourself that people’s glories and achievements are the Vibhuti, glory of Ishvara. No this is not an escape.

While the jealousy may still be there, now there is inspiration, wonder and happiness at the glory of Ishvara and the jealousy does not debilitate us.

Adroha (Absence of enmity)

You built a cordial relationship with a sister-in-law whom you initially had conflicts with, by finding common ground and fostering understanding. While you both will never be best friends, at least you will stop wasting your time, effort and energy in nurturing resentment and hurt. Yours is the karma of adroha, a state of peaceful co-existence.  

Amanitvam (Absence of pride)

There have been some significant milestones in learning and growth this year. Rather than seeking excessive personal recognition, you acknowledged your contribution as well as the collaborative efforts of the entire team including Ishvara your silent partner in all endeavours. Yours was the karma of Amanitvam.

So much karma done this year !!!

So much karma phala experienced!!!.

Enriched by all these nutrients of Dharma, as the Tree of Karma you become the Tree of Dharma.

Karma can only be performed according to the framework of Dharma. Everyday we get this opportunity.

Your roots sink into foundation of Dharma that is Bhagavan.

So many avataaras appeared on earth to restore the dynamic balance that is Dharma.

The seeds of your karmaphala, fruits are scattered far and wide, in the hearts of the many people you have met and are still to meet, across continents and cultures. They will sprout into more trees of dharma. 

Just like the tree will never know where the seeds, her children are, we too will never know where the seeds of our karma have travelled – their impact or whether they have just fallen by the wayside.

Our job is to not wonder about karma – gahana karmano gatih – too deep and difficult to understand the ways of karma.

You uphold Dharma. Dharma upholds and uplifts you.

As we look back on our karma of this year, we are happy and grateful.

Dharma makes us happy.