Karma means the actions performed. Karma can be both good and bad. The fault of bad karma is sinful intellect. Due to this sinful intellect, bad thoughts always arise. The example of Dhritarashtra from the Mahabharata can be given. Even after getting the kingdom, it was of no use to him. He was born blind. He had sinful intellect in his heart. Besides, he had the company of Shakuni. Speaking sweetly, behaving well temporarily, but wishing ill and doing bad deeds while acting is the fault of karma. Such double-dealing individuals do not see good days. Dhritarashtra always said that his destiny was at fault. But destiny and karma are different.

Destiny does not mean achieving victory; rather, it means getting what is unexpected. Such destiny is obtained only by accumulating good deeds over time. Receiving the fruits of your past actions, and the merits of your family also bearing fruit, such unexpectedly good results are obtained by destiny. Getting good, trustworthy people to work under you is a sign of destiny. If there is Guru's grace, only good people are found, and bad people will not even come near. Sudden financial gain, getting money unexpectedly, is a sign of past good deeds.

Meeting Sadgurus like us, having their darshan, and becoming stable at their feet is your destiny. The little merits accumulated by your continuous worship, reading, contemplation, meditation, and recitation have risen, and hence you could come near these feet.

A mere zero has no value. There must be a number before it. Similarly, destiny does not rise without Guru's grace. People in India are very devout. Consciously or unconsciously, they are always doing something for God. Some engage in contemplation and meditation, some are inclined to help others, and some are constantly engaged in charity and benevolence. In this way, a little merit is accumulated. Such merit accumulates and bears fruit at some point in life.

The coexistence of poverty and envy is the fault of sinful intellect, that is, karma; while having a straightforward and simple nature is a sign of destiny. This sign is found in very few people. Just as straightforward and simple-natured people come to us, so do people with the faults of karma. Both progress, but the faults of those with poverty and envy gradually decrease, and later they will progress. Meanwhile, those with a straightforward and simple nature will have made significant progress. There will be a difference in the progress of both.

|| shree gurudev datta ||