Karma, a fundamental concept in Sanatan philosophy, broadly means “action” and its consequences. It operates through a cause-and-effect principle, influencing our present and future lives. Karma is classified into three distinct types that describe how actions affect the individual’s journey across lifetimes.
The three main types or components are Sanchita Karma, Prarabdha Karma and Agami Karma.
1. Sanchita Karma: Accumulated Past Actions
Sanchita Karma is the total accumulated sum of your past deeds – good, bad and neutral – that still remain unresolved. This collected karma creates the potential experiences you will face in this and future births. It represents the latent karmic baggage that shapes your underlying tendencies and spiritual lessons, but it does not manifest all at once.
2. Prarabdha Karma: Present Life Blueprint
Prarabdha Karma is the matured karma determining your present life’s scenario. It is the “blueprint” for this lifetime, handed down by your past life’s decisions. It is responsible for your physical body, environment and many life experiences. It teaches the importance of acceptance and conscious living, urging you to navigate your life with wisdom and grace.
3. Agami Karma: Karma Being Created Now
Agami Karma is the newly created karma through actions in your current life. Every choice you make, every deed you perform, is continuously shaping your karmic future. It is created in real time and within your control. It paves the way for spiritual evolution and liberation.
These three types of karma help to understand how past, present and future actions intersect to shape your life and spiritual development.
Meditation and Karma
Once a person gets into a regular practice of meditation, they become more aware of themselves and their consciousness expands. This stops them from reacting to each and every external event or stimulus. This, in turn, starts reducing both their Prarabdha Karma and Agami Karma.
As one becomes more and more meditative, Sanchita Karma also starts to reduce, thus helping one in their spiritual journey.
And then one finally reaches the state of Jeevanmukti – the liberated state where one is alive and present in their physical body, on this earth. A rare state, where the individual is connected to both the physical and the Divine world.
Start meditating today. You will notice small changes in you that make life more pleasurable and satisfying. You will realise that the Universe wants to celebrate and sing and dance with you. Life is meant to be a celebration.