Karmic Archery: Four Types Of Karma

In Jainism, there are 97 types of karma listed in the scriptures. Some others specify 148 types, whatever the actual number happens to be is beyond me, however I do know of four types of karma in which I would like to elucidate.

Once we understand the basic principle, it doesn't matter how many more types of karma are known or listed because it would be beyond human grasp to comprehend them.

There are four types of karma in which we are involved. We could think of it this way; four seeds have been planted on our behalf by our Soul's Supreme caretaker. Those seeds are propagated by our actions.

Seed 1: Sanchita Karma (Accumulated actions) - it is what has been stored over several lifetimes. Like a credit card we have been using for lifetimes, it is our total cosmic debt. We either add to it or subtract from it by our actions. Since we are constantly charging our life credit card, the cosmic debt can't be wiped out until we have exhausted our cycle of birth and rebirth.

Seed 2: Praarabdha Karma (Actions in motion) - like a karmic blueprint. We slowly work it off as we add to it. We are working off negative karma (debt) and replacing it with positive karma (credit). Like an adjustable mortgage rate that works in our favor. We have a contract with our Supreme master to work down our debt in this lifetime. As we burn the debt off, more opportunities to burn further debt will surface and that much Sanchita Karma gets dissolved.

Praarabdha Karma is generally thought to be inevitable and some think it should be suffered and endured. It has been likened to an arrow which, once shot from a bow cannot be recalled. It does not mean that there is no remedy at all. An eminent warrior can neutralize the arrow with another arrow and can escape from being its target.

Seed 3: Kriyamana Karma (Current Karma) - karma created in this lifetime because of our current actions. The most common karma that many people know and often referred to as, "What goes around comes around or Instant Karma." What we think, say and do has an immediate effect on what happens in our present life. For example, if we run a red light and we are subsequently pulled over and issued a citation for that action. We have created karma and burned it off immediately.

However, it is not always clear cut or immediate. Some Kriyamana Karma is sometimes stored for other incarnations. It can be classified into two subcategories: Arabdha Karma which means the seed has already been planted and Anarabdha Karma which means dormant.

For example, Enron cheated millions of investors; some people got caught (Arabdha Karma) while others went to jail (Anarabdha Karma). The people who got caught began to feel to burn of the karma immediately, while those who managed to delayed their karma had more time to think about the probable consequences that will surface now or later. (One committed suicide and one died in jailed.)

Seed 4: Aagami Karma (Future Karma) - it is the portion of karma that is created because of the actions in the present life and that will be added to Sanchita Karma. If we fail to work off our life debt, we incur more debts that become more karmic seeds that will sprout in the future.

Karma can also be explained in the analogy of The Archer. The Archer stands with his arrows. When the arrow leaves his hand, he can't undo the action. He grabs for another arrow, takes aim and is about to shoot.

The bundle of arrows in the quiver on his back can be thought of as the Sanchita Karma; the arrow he has shot is Praarabdha Karma; and the arrow which he is about to shoot from his bow is Kriyamana Karma. The result of the arrow that he is about to shoot is the Aagami Karma.

Do you think one type of karma is more dominant that another? Does it depend on the individual Soul’s mission?

Share your views.