Sairam,
Before we start exploring the 3 kinds of karmas with the example of arrows, I am going to give a truth, which, some of us may not be able to absorb at this stage. So, we will keep the truth flagged as of now and then re-visit after a long time after getting into all concepts in this spiritual journey sojourn through this blog.
The Truth
“At the end of spiritual journey, when the knowledge gained through scriptures is actually experienced within, when the duality between, you the knower and the knowledge gathered actually ends and you realize that you are the knowledge yourself, when you exist as divine Love in the path of devotion or undiluted Bliss in the path of Jnana, the relevance of all the concepts learnt is gone.
It is like the use of a strong ladder for climbing and reaching the top story of your dream home where, once you reach the top roof and enjoy the breeze, seated in total peace, the relevance of the ladder is not there.
However, without the help of the ladder, you could not have reached the top and settled there. Right?”
Now, we come back to the theory of Karma, with the example of arrows.
Arrows in the Quiver (Sanchita karma)
Accumulated impressions: Imagine, similar to the example given by Swami where He says, you bring along with you, a kanta mala, which is the effect of all your past, we bring along with us, when we are born, a sanchi or a bag in which we are carrying few karma arrows.
The karmas in the quiver are the accumulated deep impressions (Samskaras) that have been collected over our entire history. Some arrows have been added to the quiver (new Karmas) and others have already been shot (old Karmas), and are no longer in the quiver.
Red and White arrows: There is a combination of red or tainted arrows and white or pure arrows. The red ones, let us take as the arrows pertaining to the wrong deeds of past as Red arrows and the arrows pertaining to our pure/ noble action as White or pure arrows.
The formula of karma: The total of the arrows (Samskaras) in our quiver today is the net of the new arrows added, minus the old ones that have been shot. These arrows and deep driving habits in the quiver are called "Sanchita Karma."
It takes time: Because of the process of playing out old Samskaras while new, more useful ones are added, it takes time for one's balance of karma to improve. In other words, it doesn't happen overnight (recognizing that God, grace, or Guru might help).
On attaining self realization: The sanchita karmas get burnt in the fire of Brahma jnana, when a sadhaka attains self realization. They are rendered ineffective like a roasted seed with which a new plant cannot grow.
Taking example from Ramayan, Shri Dasaratha (father of Rama) in his young age killed one innocent Brahmin boy named Sravana and hence his old blind parents cursed Dasaratha that he shall also have to die due to the separation of his son.
At the time of this curse Shri Dasaratha was not married and hence that curse could not be effective immediately.
His action (Karma) was therefore kept in abeyance pending as Sanchita Karma waiting for the opportune time to come. Subsequently, in due course of time, when Shri Dasaratha got married, also got Rama as his son and then precisely just on the auspicious coronation day of Rama, the unholy sinful past action of King Dasaratha immediately cropped up and he had to die because of the curse compelling the separation of his son Rama. And curiously enough, even Sri Rama (the omnipotent God incarnate), in due respect to the immutable law of Karma, chose not to interfere by showing any favoritism to His own father in giving him extension for at least 14 years till He would return from the forest.
Taking one more example from the epic Mahabharata, King Dhrutarashtra, when he lost all his 100 sons in the battle field, inquired of Lord Krishna as to why he met with such a disastrous loss even though he did not remember to have committed any such horrible sin during his present lifetime. Lord Krishna, out of respect and sympathy for him gracefully bestowed upon him divine vision so that he could visualize for himself the heinous act perpetrated by him in any of his previous births which was responsible for his current misery.
Thus aided, Shri Dhrutarashtra discovered that fifty births back when he was a hunter of birds he once threw his burning net on a tree causing hundred small baby birds to be entrapped and burnt to ashes, while the remaining big birds flew away but they became blind due to the scorching heat of the burning net.
The effect of this horrible sinful deed was that Shri Dhritarashtra became and remained blind all throughout his present life and also lost his 100 sons. Shri Dhritarashtra wondered and further inquired from Lord Krishna as to why that wanton and sinful act did not immediately rebound on him to punish him in the same birth or even during his immediately next birth, and why it remained dormant as Sanchit Karma for such a long period of fifty lifetimes.
Lord Krishna smiled and replied that his past sinful deed had to wait for an opportune time up to 50 births during which time he could earn and accumulate enough pious deeds to merit him to be eligible to get a hundred sons in one lifetime so that his previous sinful Sanchita Karma could instantaneously confront him with the effects of his evil action.
Love.
