Quote:
Originally Posted by Presence
We are "doers" in that sense, right? We're trying to make good choices and do good things. So how does that fit with Ramana Maharshi saying we are not the doers?
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In Hinduism,distinction between the lower self and higher Self is emphasized. The Self is experienced in present moment awareness.
The lower self is considered the ego and false self comprised of one's strong desires in the form of cravings and aversions.
All crimes like rape, murder,robbery are linked to vices like lust, greed, hatred which are but strong desires in the form of cravings or aversions at their core.
Operating with the false self generates karma leading to bondage and repeated death and rebirths. One acts unconsciously and under the strong grip of desires rather than wisdom and correct judgement.
Vicious acts generate bad karma while virtuous acts generate good karmas.
Yes, good karmas lead to better births and lives with better health, personal beauty, finances,worldly happiness and other auspicious qualities for a long span of time.
But they are still considered to be of an impermanent nature, and worldly happiness is also considered inferior to the bliss of the higher Self, which is one's true nature.
Anandamayi Ma considered all rebirths to be death itself, as the entity is under the grip of bondage and karma and hence vulnerable to psychological suffering. If the entity performs very bad karmas due to poor judgement or passion or influence of bad company, he can even move to the hellish dimensions and unnecessarily endure needless suffering till the negative karma is extinguished.
When one operates from the state of the higher Self , then there is no 'doer' as Ramana stated, meaning the false lower self is absent.
In this state no karma is generated, and one gradually moves to higher states of consciousness eliminating past reserves of karma.
Enlightenment is attained when all karmas are extinguished.