This Whole Business of Karma

'One day you say that there is nothing called karma. Another time you say that we are what our karma is! Which one do we believe? Why do you confuse us so?' I was querulous. 'So, you are blaming me for your ignorance?' He baited. 'No, only for the confusion you could have avoided causing', I knew I was taking a chance. 'Listen' He said patiently, 'there is no uni-dimensional truth. The truth exists at different levels depending upon your evolution and understanding' 'Which means that I am an idiot, and I do not understand.' I persisted. 'Of course, that goes without saying. But what I am saying is this. For you and others, karma does exist. What you do rebounds. For me, for enlightened beings, there is no karma; it has been dissolved.' Master was still patient with His foolish disciple. 'Yes, I do understand that. You have explained that to us. But you also say that even for us there is no karma if we fulfill our desires. You said that karma is the fall out of unfulfilled desires. I do not understand', I was genuinely confused. 'That's absolutely correct. If you have a desire that you are able to fulfill completely you shall no longer have that desire. It is the carry over desire that causes consequences you term as karma.' Master continued. 'Karma is action, that's all. You have seeds of desires in you which are planted by looking at others. Someone has a bigger car, bigger house, and you too must have. So you work, you act to fulfill that desire. But, that desire is not your own. You borrow it from others. So, as soon as one desire is fulfilled, another comes, another house bigger than this, another car faster than this. Will it ever end? So, karma continues.' 'All our desires in that sense are borrowed, aren't they? We learn from others, we imitate others. So, how can I fulfill any desire in that sense?' I felt defeated. 'Desires that you are born with are your own. These are your basic needs. Ramana has said that this universe can fulfill the needs of all its 6 billion population but it can fulfill the wants of even one individual. It is the wants that you borrow from others that cause problems. That's what Buddha referred to when He said desires cause sorrow.' Master explained. 'Two questions then. What are the desires I am born with? And how do I avoid borrowing desires from others?' I was truly curious; for a change He was not deflecting me. 'Brilliant. Sometimes, just once in a while, you can think.' Master was nothing if not sarcastic, 'What are the desires you are born with, I shall explain another time. Let me explain how you can stop borrowing desires.' 'You compare yourself with others and become dissatisfied because you lack the awareness of your own uniqueness. As I once said before, the richest man is not the one with the greatest wealth but one with minimum need, because I have no home of my own, the entire world is my home.' 'It's easy for you to say; you are enlightened. You are a sanyasin, in fact beyond that. What about me? I am still bound by family ties.' I was getting frustrated. 'When I left home forever, I was only seventeen. I had no clue if I would become enlightened or when', His tone had softened, 'You can live with minimal needs with far greater happiness if you decide to, right now, in this moment. You only need to ask yourself what you are here for. It is never for fulfilling material desires. Human spirit seeks something beyond material wealth. Go deep within to rediscover what you know already.' It is His grace, infinite grace that sustains me in this path. Even without any special attempt desires drop. He says to go deep within. When all that I am is filled by Him, wherever I go it is Him I encounter. What more can I ask?