Second is the action, which is happening now. Third is the action, which has left an impression on you. The impression of action, Acton and potential action, all three are karma. Often people don't make this distinction.
They get so caught up with this karma thing. "Oh karma, karma, karma." In India, say, "It's my karma, so it's inevitable, I had to bear it, this is my karma." If there is something unavoidable, you say this is karma.
Karma is action, which is potential or present, you are acting on it, and third is the impression or effect of karma. A glimpse of this dimension, which is beyond space, frees you from karma. This experience has come to your life sometimes wherein you are saying things you don't want to say but you are watching what you are saying helplessly.
How many of you have done this? You got upset or you were saying things which you don't want to say you kept saying it. Right, how many? Raise your hand. At some time or the other in your life you have experienced that you are watching, witnessing, whatever is happening.
It may be for a fleeting second.
If you happen to go to a jail just to visit and speak to the people there, you will be amazed. Once I was in the largest jail here in India, of course to give a talk there. I said, " Look, let us confess. Tell me really if you have done something. How many of you have really committed a crime?"
Not one hand rose there. I looked at the jailor sitting next to me, “They say they are all innocent”. He replied "That's what they all say." This is true. Because the Atman or the Self always feels innocent. It is not afflicted by the crime. It is not the doer. That's why even the worst criminal will say, it just happened. I don't know how it happened. Whatever happened, happened. I was not in control."
The self inside you also feels It is young, ageless. People in their 50s or 60s say, "Children have grown up but I am still young." Nobody feels they have grown old. Why? Because the self does not age. The Self is pure. The moment you become aware, you know you are not the doer whether it's a good act or the worst act.
People who have done extremely well in sports or music and have won Grammy awards or great awards, you ask them "Did you really do this?" They give you blank stares. “No I don't know. It just happened”. Many times they themselves are amazed or amused. What happened? The field of action has its own set of laws.
But the existence of the self, which is the sum mum of creation, has its own separate dimension. And the Upanishad give a peep into this dimension. They give you a glimpse into this marvellous, unfathomable, undescribable aspect of creation. Both are essential.
