Letters on Karma

According to Yoga there are three types of Karma collectively known as Sanchita, Prarabdha & Agami.

Sanchita-karma is a residue produced by actions performed either in this life or in a previous one, which remain dormant during this life. Sanchita-karma is a potentiality of karmic seeds  and most beings* (see notes) don't experience the effect of it during the current incarnation.
Prarabdha-karma is indeed the residue of actions working itself out during the present life.
Agami-karma, ''yet-to-come'' is the result of actions performed during this present life which will mature in the normal course of events.

Just like with other Fundamental Laws no matter how much awareness we have of it, the Law of Karma - a current that ripples waters of the ocean - affects the surface of creation from within. It's not just action per se, but what, in its motivational force, fills the creature with desire for existence.

Notes: * The exceptions are those in whom the Latent Energy (Kundalini) has been awakened. When an awakening is powerful enough and the physiology is pure enough for a proper ascend of Consciousness  inside the (Sushumna) channel, the rising Energy will compress the karmic load expelling the latent tendencies along with latent sanchita-karma. That explains why many advanced meditators after awakening  have to endure more than what was otherwise ''written'' in their life-scenario.

(Extracts from the letters, Cote d'Azur, France, July, 2009)

The subject of Karma is vast and we would inevitably touch the other aspects of Vedic wisdom in order to expand the understanding of the concept. One of the disciplines closely related to the concept of Karma is the Vedic Astrology, known as Jyotish (Science of Light). According to that science trajectory of the soul is calculable just like any other heavenly body in the Cosmos.

In fact it provides an entirely new perspective on the notion of Karma, which is much more to do with the respective positioning of the Planets and their combined effect on the incarnation in question. The Science (Jyotish) itself was founded by the ancient Rishi Parashara who fathered that great son of Indian pantheon of Seers, the author of the 'Four Vedas', The Mahabharata and the Yoga Vashishtha.

Rishi Parashara did not just conceived his child randomly but made sure the seed was sawn at such precise time that it would assure the birth under the most auspicious planets with potency enough to create nothing less than a super-human. Surely enough his son was born a Veda Vyasa one of the most celebrated Rishis and most beloved author of the epics, the lore which was destined to influence an entire Orient.

The celestial trajectory of the soul is not a random traveling, it has an orbit so when the jyotish pandits build the birth-chart of a particular individual they can trace the past as well as foresee the future.

Some New Age authors have a tendency to portray Karma as something easily mendable, something one can navigate at will. As tempting as that sounds it is a far fetched view on the fundamental Law which sets everything in motion. According to Yoga, and as mentioned earlier, Karma consists of different degree of density. It has to be accepted and worked with by purifying the field of action itself, because Karma is not separate from Dharma. ''Purifying the field'' - meaning transcending action from the most fundamental level, from the level of thought.

Jai Guru Dev (Extracts from the letters, Cote d'Azur, France, August, 2009)