Mystic Mantra: The law of karma

Vedas are the ultimate knowledge of creation, they are as scientific and rational as they are old and traditional. Vedic philosophy did not discriminate on the basis of religion, geography, birth, colour of skin or status in society... all of these are modern developments. Vedic masters classified men into civilised (daivik) and uncivilised (asurik), and these could be found across cultures and religions, even in the same individual at different times and stages of life.

Dvau bhootasargau loke-asmindaiva aasura eva cha
Daivo vistarshah prokta aasuram paartha me shrinu
(There are only two kinds of men in the world — those with daivik prakriti  and those with aasurik prakriti, says Lord Krishna as he begins to detail the traits of an asur)

Men of asurik disposition are devoid of discernment, good conduct and honesty. They are destructive in nature  — hurting and harming fellow beings, animals and environment, turning their face away from crimes. They live for just themselves and are characterised by hypocrisy, pride and arrogance. Immersed in the pleasures of senses, they take the body to be supreme and physical feats as finality.

They spend their life and birth hoarding wealth, every day thinking of ways to collect more and more. Intoxicated by pleasures of senses, these men perform charity and sacrifice only in name, for show-off. Such men, says the Gita, get caught in a downward spiral, into lower and more painful births making their way to hell. If you take a look around at growing cases of abuse of animals and humans, of thefts and treachery, you will find that asurik traits predominate mankind. Spiritual events where there is intoxication and wild dancing, shouting and screaming are traits of asurs. Like papas committed in a temple does not make it a punya. Similarly intoxications, wild dancing and screaming in a spiritual satsang does not make it a davik trait.

There’s nothing wrong in partying or dancing provided simultaneously one is doing service, charity and aiding the positive forces of creation. Those who aid the positive forces of creation reap bounties; and those who destroy creation and its multi facets reap sins and are directed toward hells. Inflicting pain on helpless animals is a sure shot way of landing in hell. The law of karma is a common demoninator in all the religions in the world. It works. Make it work in your favour rather than against you by doing good deeds.