This has been a question by many including me . If we believe in Law of Karma -and if you want to know more about that please see my book on Amazon under Shirish Kirtane as author, then one realizes that we collect millions of karmic effects and it feels that that pot will never be empty. So then there is no MUKTI OR end of cycle of Life and death. If all karmas will have effect and we have to face that, then how can small number of lives will be enough? It bothered me and had lot of questions , when I did YouTube video on Mysticism of Mahabharata and stated that DRONA is past karma SAUNSKAR. He was killed by DRUSHTDHUMNA son of DRUPADA. DRUSHTADHUMNA came out of fire when DRUPADA was insulted by Drona and he started doing penance. So the question is can one destroy Karmaic effects with penance? I think the answer is in understanding the 2 types of karma.
One continues to do action or karma ALL THE TIME. One cannot stop that. But if one looks at that carefully one will realize that there are 2 kinds of karmas. When I love / eat / drink- food -alcohol-i GET ATTACHED TO to that . Let us say if we enjoy alcohol The impression from the taste of alcohol or effects of the alcohol, and that leads to my attachment and then i have more intense desire to do action of drinking more alcohol and that leads to more effects .So in my next life I will be born with DESIRE to drink alcohol. But I CAN RESIST THAT and not drink . So I can destroy that effect. These type of karmic effects can be destroyed by meditation and penance. But then there are other types of karmas that the effects may not be easily destroyed or may be never destroyed and one will have to face that. If I kill or beat someone or hurt someone then that karma has effects on SOMEONE ELSE and not on MY MIND. So I don't have that effects on myself and so I cannot DESTROY that only person who can destroy that is if the victim forgives me or I will have someway of repaying that. This type of karma will HAVE TO REPAID and cannot be destroyed by simple meditation or penance etc.
This is my answer .If you have not watched my YOU TUBE videos , please watch on JUST A TALK@justatalk2648.
