What is karma? Most people understand karma as a balance sheet of good and bad deeds, virtues and sins—the mechanism that decrees that we cannot evade the consequences of our own actions. In reality, karma has nothing to do with reward and punishment. Karma simply means action: your action, your responsibility. It isn’t some external system of crime and punishment, but an internal cycle generated by you. Accumulation of karma is determined only by your intention and the way you respond to what is happening to you. Over time, it’s possible to become ensnared by your own unconscious patterns of behavior.

Even when one is not doing anything in particular, one’s body, mind, emotions and energy are all in action. These four actions of Karma are happening every moment of one’s life - in wakefulness and in sleep. The real question is how much of it has been conducted consciously, and how much is purely accidental? The earning of good Karma lies in the living of a fully immersed life in every moment, with full vigor, commitment, and intention. To not get tagged by bad Karma, act without expectations or entanglement with the outcome, and always act without bad intention. If you can’t pour positivity into your actions, stop. Don’t do it. Don’t act under obligation, duty, resentment, anger, or ill will. When you do, a minimum, the result will be truncated and diminished, and at worst, it will hurt you now or in the future. To make the action right, get the intention right. Then take action.

It is not difficult to guess which will breed the worst karmas. By worst I do not mean the most immoral; I mean that which creates the worst consequences for you.” As the karmic volume increases in volume, the discerning mind becomes almost useless, because you now work largely by habits, patterns and cycles.” Whatever happens in the mind immediately imprints itself on the body as a chemical process… If you think of mountains, for instance, your chemistry will react in one way; if you think of tigers it reacts in another. So for every minute mental fluctuation there is a certain type of chemical reaction and sensation… You are therefore a living repository of karmic memory on levels you are not aware of.” And having been through it a couple of times, I feel more optimistic about being able to "handle my karma," i.e. life. About enjoying life in general. And I feel a renewed willingness to do my part to handle the problems of others. For, as one of Sadhguru's aphorisms for beginning yogis says (my paraphrase): All rules are my rules. I understand that in a more profound way after reading this book.

With these simple yet profound truths, Sadhguru delves into exploring the mechanics of this oft misunderstood and maligned word. It leaves the reader with said truths prevailing and shining through this riveting and utterly absorbing user manual, which most of humanity has unfortunately long ignored to pay attention to. Dedicated to the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of humanity and endowed with perfect clarity of perception, Sadhguru has an outlook on life that never ceases to fascinate, challenge and amaze all those in need. Sadhguru founded the Isha Foundation, a non-profit, volunteer-led organization operating in over 300 centers and supported by over 11 million volunteers worldwide. Through powerful yoga programs for inner transformation and inspiring social initiatives, the Isha Foundation has launched a massive movement dedicated to all aspects of human well-being.Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic and visionary. Named one of India's 50 most influential people, Sadhguru's work has touched the lives of millions worldwide through his transformational programs. Sadhguru has a unique ability to make the ancient yogic sciences relevant to contemporary minds. His approach does not ascribe to any belief system but offers methods for self-transformation that are both proven and powerful. The moment you view everyone with love, your intention is automatically inclusive. Regardless of what blunders you commit in the name of love, the karsti not accumulate beyond a point. Your intention makes all the difference. If you say something prompted by love, and another person gets hurt, that is his karma, not yours. But if you say something out of hatred and another person has no problem with it, it is good karma for them and not for you! Karma is an exploration and a manual, restoring our understanding of karma to its original potential for freedom and empowerment instead of a source of entanglement. Through Sadhguru's teachings, you will learn how to live intelligently and joyfully in a challenging world. Surprisingly, this book has been a "hide under the covers with a flashlight and hope the parents don't catch you" type of read. I really found it that engrossing. I have lost hours of sleep two nights in a row because of this book. I couldn't stop pressing the gold button for 28 minutes more.