Karma: Hindus and All of Us Misunderstand It

I. MEANING "Karma" in Sanskrit or Indian languages means "action," and only that. It is not a LAW in Hinduism, or in the Vedas or other Eastern religious texts. Karma does not mean, "as you sow, so shall you reap." The real meaning of KARMA preserves the autonomy of the individual. ii. NO VICTIMS OF "KARMA" (ever!) The related point is that YOU (or I) are always the AGENT in this world. We are not victims of this so-called law of Karma or any other. You may ask, "If I didn't elect "a Hitler" to any position in my country, others did. So how am I operating as active and my own agent?" You always get what you want. In the above scenario, you acted independently and as your own advocate/agent by: a. You were disgusted how the "elections' or process (by analogy) was going, and you said to yourself and/or others: "You will regret your choice. I'm not voting." So, in effect, you spoke your "prophecy" and acted ACTIVELY or PASSIVELY for it. b. You may have said, "Both choices (or all those I must choose among) are equally mediocre. I will choose the least of the evils." So, there, you ACTED. You did KARMA, one way or the other, actively or passively. c. You could even have decided to elect, or give "benefits/rewards" to someone to spite others. Whatever the reason, you have acted. You have done ACTION, or karma. So there is no PUNISHMENT, simply a result, reaction, or consequence - good or bad - from our action/s. So, KARMA means we are actors and agents, always free, for even under slavery we have human agency. It does NOT mean what goes around comes around, or someone is getting their just desserts! There is neither God nor LAWS that control KARMA or make sure it works with mathematical precision. It is as ordinary as speaking or doing what you WANT (however justified).