Karmas Zero Value

The word zero in the title of this post looks disappointing, because outside mathematics depending on the context various denotative or connotative meanings for zero include total failure, absence, nil and absolutely nothing.

Heading to their village home were 2 young minds after their engineering semester results. It was crowded bus and one of the youth noticed a pregnant lady standing so he offered her his seat. A little later an aged passenger was pleading with the conductor to be allowed to travel even though he did not have full fare amount. The second friend offered and paid for the old man’s ticket. After a couple of hours the bus was quite empty. The two youths were sitting together talking loud and behind them was an elderly swami. The boys were discussing their marks achieved in their engineering semester exams. One was repenting he was two marks less to top in one subject. The other felt if he had been more cautious a few marks would better grade for campus interviews.

The Swamiji was hearing their concerns on numbers and its value and then interrupted them. I have been watching you both for your actions of helping others in the bus earlier. These good deeds like marks add to your good karmas and are equally important in life. Karmas are indeed very important as it is the karmas of past actions which become a robe of this physical body that we obtain. Every word said is accounted for, hence speak only that which will bring you honor. They alone are good, who are judged well at the Lord’s Door, those with bad karma can only sit and weep. One of the boys out of curiosity asked those actions as karmas we did, what value they have. The Swamiji said Zero Value. Instantly the boys replied than why hype karmas.

Good question said the Swamiji, let me tell you a story. In a small kingdom people gathered on both sides of the street, a man from a nearby village in search of work also joined them. It seemed as per tradition an elephant is released from the palace that holds a garland with his trunk. The person who is garlanded by the elephant becomes the care taker to serve the Praja for next 7years. As luck is for the villager the garland was placed around his neck. Soon the drums were beating and the guards came to escort the villager to the palace.

The Kingdoms Raj Purhoit was conducting the Raj Tilak ceremony, advising the villager a condition that after ruling 7 years he steps down, leaves the kingdom crossing over a river bed at the outskirts of the kingdom which has dangerous animals & reptiles. It is seldom people have been able to make it but that’s the tradition. The villager accepted the condition. While in power the villager governed the kingdom honestly and wisely to become a favorite of all. His 7years were the best the kingdom had seen and hence when his tenure ended people blessed him and pleaded he stayed, but he confidently walked towards the river. What surprised all was that there was now a bridge on which he stepped over and safely walked to the other side. The earlier rulers were also wise, but the attractions of royalty kept them engrossed and did little to plan for crossing the river, the villager did.

Coming back to your question the Karmas zero value. You need to understand one has to earn another eka 1digit which comes from regular Naam-Simran at Amritvela and when placed ahead of the several zero of the karmas, the value gets phenomenally elevated. The villager did earn good Karmas in ruling his praja but it was the bridge that took him safely to the other side. To cross the ocean of life, Nam Simran is our bridge to take us the other side.

In his parting note the Swamiji said ‘start young it will help you’ll keep your score high and grades that help meet the Divine.