Prarabdha & Agama
Question
I am wondering what will happen to a person's karma when he is on the path of serious self-realization.
Suppose he has burnt up all his prarabdha due to his penance. Then does he start to finish off his next birth's karma also in this same birth...or how does it work...
Can we finish off all our future births' karmas also in this very birth?
Answer
1. Prarabdha Karma when completely exhausted along with Agama (that of future births) through a life of Yoga leads to absolute liberation and release, merging into the Brahman irreversibly. The physical body cannot be discarded by the Yogi as long as his Prarabdha remains (even if the Yogi is self-realized). This is why many realized sages are known to live for many years even after becoming 'Jivanmukta-s' (liberated while still alive). They still have 'Prarabdha' remaining, completing which they are released for ever.
2. The Yogi gets the ability to burn his Âgama karma (karma that has the potential to blossom in future incarnations) in Nirvikalpa Samadhi, but he still has to experience Prarabdha in this very birth and get done with it.
ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)