Believe in the cosmic timeframe

Whatever we do, whatever efforts we put in towards achieving our goal we expect a particular kind of result within a fixed timeframe and when the result does not come within that timeframe, we get disappointed and depressed.

While putting effort we also expect result commensurate to our effort or greater than our effort but never less than our effort. In very rare case result overshoots the effort or matches with the effort. But in most cases the result is lesser than the effort or exactly opposite of the effort. This mismatch between effort and result leads to disappointment, depression and blame game (either we blame others for our failures or we blame ourselves or our fate).

Not many understand as to why such mismatches take place. They get more confused whenever the result of their effort is completely opposite of their effort. This mismatch between the effort and result is many times because of the mismatch between our expectation and cosmic plan.

Generally, chances are very high for our plan (expectation) and cosmic plan. Our plan is fixed by our finite and limited intellect, selfish and short sighted, but cosmic plan gets fixed based on infinite and unlimited cosmic intellect (selfless, long sighted and for universal good).

All our efforts are self-centric, for personal gain and based on expectation of favourable result but in the process we forget the role of our past birth karmas (prarabdh karma). Past birth karma or prarabdh karma are those which were performed in the previous births but they did not get an opportunity to give their result in those births hence they get passed on to future births. These karmas which were performed in the previous births and could not give their results, become destiny in the present birth.

Present birth karma and destiny (result of past birth karma) go side by side. Sometimes due to cosmic plan such unusual coincidences and combination take place that along with present birth karma, the result of past birth karma is bestowed in our life. This confuses us, as the result is a mismatch to our karma. We perform good and pious karma but we meet with accident, lose money or fail in some endeavour. On the other hand, we might have performed some bad karma, sinful deeds yet we found ourselves bestowed with gain in wealth, health, name, fame and overall prosperity.

This mismatch takes place because of the destiny (past birth karma), which has already progressed to show its result and simultaneous performance of new karma in the present birth.

As Lord Krishna has said that we have the right to perform karma but have no right in its result. This does not mean that our effort has no value and our effort may or may not get us the result. This only means that we have no control as to in what form, when and how the result will come in our life. This is what we call as cosmic plan. Cosmic plan is based on permutation combination of various factors applicable for the whole of universe.

Therefore, we must keep putting sincere efforts towards our goals and leave the result to cosmic forces to decide as to what is good, how much is good, when it is good and in what form it is good. Establishing in this concept will always keep us enthusiastic, energetic and optimistic with the belief that one day, the effort of our good deeds will certainly be bestowed upon us.

Sadguru Rameshji is a modern age spiritual guru and the force behind Poorna Ananda, a Hyderabad-based centre for spiritual evolution and joyful living. He can be contacted at www.poornaananda.org