Is This World Only a Place of Action or Also a Place of Enjoyment of the Fruits of Actions?

[Shri J. Prasad asked: Is this world a place of actions (karma-loka) only or a place for enjoyment of fruits (Bhoga-loka) also?]

Swami replied: Your question is that is this human world a place of only actions (Karma-loka) or is it a place of enjoyment of fruits (Bhoga-loka) or is it a place for both. The answer is that all these three possibilities exist as per the selected path of the soul proceeding in this world. If the soul is completely immersed in spiritual path only, this world becomes pure Karma-loka for him, which means that the enjoyment of past fruits is completely stopped by the God in order to encourage him in the main way. If a student is totally immersed in studies only, the authorities of the institution encourage him in all possibilities. If the soul is involved in both spiritual and materialistic fields, he is partially encouraged and partially discouraged like a normal student involved in both studies as well as in extra in-disciplinary activities. If the soul is involved only in materialistic line, such soul is not encouraged at all and this world becomes only the place of enjoyment of his fruits. It is just like an in-disciplined student not encouraged at all, but is always involved in disciplinary actions. This world becomes only Karma-loka (and not at all Bhoga-loka) for spiritual people. This world becomes only Bhoga-loka and not Karma-loka for only materialistic people. Most lot of the people is intermediate between these two levels (partially spiritual and partially materialistic) for whom this world becomes both Karma-loka and Bhoga-loka. In fact, this world of human beings (Martya-loka) is originally meant for doing spiritual actions only (Karma-loka) so that the soul will not be disturbed by the enjoyment of fruits of past deeds. Hence, if the soul is involved in spiritual line only, as per the original arrangement, fruits of past deeds will not disturb him.

Hence, this world of human beings (Martya-loka) is called as Karma-loka entirely as per the original plan. But, due to the fall of human souls in their attitudes, this pure Karma-loka may become entirely Bhoga-loka or both. These three types of souls are mentioned in the Gita (anishtamishtam mishram cha). If a person is entirely involved in spiritual path, even the fruit of praarabdha gets cancelled. If praarabdha is not cancelled, there is a trace of deficiency in the spiritual effort of the soul involved in spiritual activity. Generally, in view of such trace of deficiency, Shankara told that the praarabdha can’t be cancelled, which is like an arrow that left the bow and which can’t be controlled (dhanurmukta sharavat). The Gita says that all types of fruits are cancelled for the soul involved completely in attaining the spiritual knowledge (jnaanaagnih sarvakarmaani… Gita, kshiiyante chaasya karmaani…). Even the arrow that left the bow can be stopped by the omnipotent God in order to give full encouragement to the soul involved in the most important spiritual line. In spite of all our sins, God has given this human birth as the last chance to be involved in spiritual line. This is the reason for the other religions saying that there is no re-human birth. Shankara also told that it is very difficult to get the chance of human re-birth (durlabham trayamevaitat…). He said that after attaining human birth, one shall develop climax interest in salvation and subsequently shall try to catch the Sadguru (manushyatvam…). Based on this analysis, Swami Vivekananda told that we ourselves are writing our own destiny. It is our activity that decides whether this human world is to become pure Karma-loka or pure Bhoga-loka or both. Re-human birth in Hinduism is also a very rare case. If the soul is involved in spiritual line with complete dedication, even then, due to some trace of deficiency, the attainment of final step may be delayed. For such exceptional case, God gives a special opportunity of human re-birth once again (yogabhrashtobhijaayate…). Even Jesus told that such exceptional power is in the hands of ominipotent God to be used in the case of an exceptional deserving soul. However, this does not mean that every soul has this chance of re-human birth like every student has the opportunity of March, September, March, September... opportunity to write the examinations if failed!

We have read all these books and know all these quotations. But, we are unable to link all these quotations in a proper way to develop a clear true and complete spiritual concept, which is possible only to Sadguru or God Guru Datta alone! Hence, the importance of Sadguru is praised in the Guru Gita and it is said that if you are unable to reach Sadguru, what is the use, what is the use and what is the use (guroranghripadme…). When all these quotations were not correlated, how much confusion existed? When all these quotations were correlated in perfect way by God Datta, how much clarity exsits now? In confusion, the concept looks most difficult like a thick forest (Shabdajaala-mahaaranyam…). In clarity, the same concept looks like open ground without even a grass-let!

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