Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam, Dakshinamanaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri

Understanding Karma & Its Purpose

Chennai City August 22, 2012

Following is the eleventh in the series of fifteen benedictory discourses delivered by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji during Chaturmasya at Chennai in 2012, on Vedanta, choosing topics from the Brahma Sutra Bhashya of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya.

Topics

Moksha (cycle of births and deaths) can be attained only from Jnana
This cycle is set in motion by engaging in Karmas driven by desiring or engaging in prohibited actions
However one will not one get Moksha merely by abstaining from Kaamya Karma and Nishiddha Karma because no one can claim that they have never engaged in actions driven by desire (Kaamya) or abstained totally from prohibited (Nishiddha) actions
How is the Karma of a Jnani burned?
Karma is to be performed for Chitta Shuddhi (purification of the mind)

To that which is born, death is indeed certain; and to that which is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, knowing this, you ought not to grieve over (this) inevitable. Bhagavan Sri Krishna on Significance of God
Daylight and darkness, dusk and dawn, winter and springtime come and go. Time plays and life ebbs away. But the current of desire never leaves. Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada on Mohamudgara
Once you begin to feel the presence of God, a joy unknown to you ever before will begin to be felt. The thought of his ever- living presence with you will be a great solace to you. Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamigal on Significance of God
Tendencies develop, regardless of the characteristic of the action performed. Hence, he who wishes to lead a proper life will do well to avoid evil deeds and to repeatedly perform virtuous deeds. Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamigal on Significance of God
To err is human. Accepting one’s error and correcting oneself is a mark of nobility. Humility is the primary path to achieving nobility. Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal on Significance of God's Names