Acharya Prashant clarifies the concept of karma and its fruits, explaining that while the consequences of actions are immediate, they are often only perceived much later by those lacking subtle understanding. He uses the analogy of an HIV infection, where the virus enters the body immediately, but the symptoms of AIDS appear years later. For a wise person, actions are complete and leave no residue, whereas an ignorant person experiences the results of their actions in the future because they fail to recognize the immediate impact. He emphasizes that what people call 'past lives' is actually the collective inheritance of humanity's past actions, including genetic traits and environmental conditions, which an individual carries from birth. He further explains that the cycle of rebirth ends when one stops identifying solely with the physical body and ancestral lineage, realizing their true nature beyond this flow of cause and effect. Regarding suffering, he cites the example of Ramana Maharshi, noting that while the body experiences pain, the realized being remains detached from it. Acharya Prashant advises against worrying about past karma, as its fruits are already determined and inevitable. Instead, he urges focus on the present moment, asserting that performing complete and conscious actions now not only prevents future bondage but also diminishes the impact of past karma.
