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)

Weapons do not cut This (Atma); nor does fire does burn It. Water does not wet (nor drown) nor does wind dry It. This (Atma) cannot be slain, nor burnt, nor wetted, nor dried up. It is changeless, all-pervading, stable, immovable and eternal. Bhagavan Sri Krishna on Significance of God
Do not be proud of wealth, people (relations and friends), and youth. All these are snatched by Time in the blink of an eye. Giving up this illusory world, know and attain the Supreme. Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada on Mohamudgara
Today God is altogether ignored and this is the cause of all our suffering and misery. Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamigal on Significance of God
By God’s grace, we have obtained a human birth, the power of discrimination and someone to teach us about the ultimate, truth. If we still remain lazy, we will be wasting a marvelous opportunity. Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamigal on Significance of God
No man is omniscient. Hence man should not have the ego that he knows all. It is ego that leads man astray and drives him to commit sins. Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal on Significance of God's Names