Astrology/Knowing karma/Merit
Question
Hello Sir,
Many thanks for your great service to human kind. I have couple of questions. Could you please reply?
1. In 'Autobiography of a Yogi', there were few instances where things improved from astrology. Can astrology overcome Karma or it was just guru's blessing.
2. Why are we not aware how much karma's are left to be burned. Why God doesn't want us to let this know.
3. Some of the people are really good looking and successful because of their past karma but are indulged in bad habits. If they had done good karma in past birth, why is it that they are unaware about spiritual advancement.
Answer
1. Astrology is a science that can give some idea of the impending future. However, for correct predictions to ensue, the astrologer has to be selfless, leading a pure and divine life without any selfish motive. He should have no other motive as regards the science than serving people. People who use astrology to gain wealth, name and fame donot come under this category. The Lord does not bestow divine knowledge of the future upon such worldly people. This is why most astrologers of today are nothing short of frauds.
Shri. Yukteshwar was a great Yogi who had much knowledge of the future. He used this knowledge where it could help the deserving and not for any other purpose. He lived a simple life high on 'Vairagya' (dispassion). He had no other quest than that of liberation. Such people eventually develop the knowledge of the future even without learning astrology.
2. Can we close your eyes and complain - Why can I not see? To see something, we have to open our eyes and focus on the object. The same applies to ones past karma. With the ignorance surrounding the Atman that has limited the ability of the mind, man is blind to abstract, metaphysical concepts and facts. He can only see and understand that which is physical or within sense perception. As one unwinds this ignorance and gets the mind closer to the Atman, he will slowly start getting an idea of his and even others karma if he so wishes. Why then blame God?
3. When a sportsman excels in the Olympics, he is given a gold medal and felicitated. Does this mean he can draw money from a bank without having an account and some balance? Can he say I am a gold medalist, so I should get all things for free when I go shopping? A gold medal only represents his excellence in the given sport and nothing more. It cannot have bearing on all other aspects of his life beyond the possible extent. Nor can it break rules and regulations that the world employs.
Punyam (past merit in karma) is exactly similar. Suppose someone has past karma relating to actions which destine him/her to have good looks/wealth etc. then such qualities manifest in this or next births. It does not mean that the person will also be spiritually inclined. If he/she has also striven to develop spiritually, then spiritual qualities manifest. Else they do not. Each kind of action gives that kind of a result and nothing more. Spirituality and past merit have no connection.
ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)