I am a student. I have a bad fear that if I become successful in what I do, negative things will happen to me to balance out my happiness. I fear that karma will make me unhappy and may be torture me if I enjoy anything now. Even I fear a simple activity like running, thinking people who dont have legs can’t run, but I am enjoying running. So, god will balance out and give me pain later. My mins is ever confused due to this.If anyone tries to help ,I find hard to trust 'em. Pls hlp
—Kaushik, USA
Dear Kaushik, We are sorry to hear that you are living in fear about becoming successful or being happy for fear of the karmic consequences. Fortunately the karmic laws don’t work like that!
Karma is the law of action and reaction. To be happy or successful should NEVER make you think that you have to pay for it later by being unhappy or unsuccessful just to balance things out!
Now if you become successful by dishonest means or by hurting someone, then the certainly the laws of karma would then come into effect. That is a different thing entirely.
Yes, it is true that the pendulum of life swings us back and forth between happiness and sorrow. This is why the Bhagavad Gita says emphatically: “Get away from my ocean of sorrow and suffering!” This means that there is a state beyond happiness and sorrow which is divine bliss. It is possible to find this state within yourself and become that!
We strongly suggest that you learn to contact your God-nature through meditation, for God IS joy and never-ending bliss and therefore God very much wants us all to be filled with divine joy!
Since we are made in God’s image, our essential nature IS joy/bliss and all we have to do is realize that. Learn to live in that joy! Life will be so much better for you.
If you’d like to learn more about how Paramhansa Yogananda clearly explains karmic laws, please read this book: Karma and Reincarnation: The Wisdom of Yogananda. It is very easy and fun to read, and it should help put your mind at ease and live a much happier life!
