The unavoidable co-relation between cause & effect

Saint Tukaram states that sin inflicts torment upon the soul, while virtue brings benevolence.

Samarth Ramdas Swami highlights the importance of remembering God as an act of virtue, while forgetting Him as a sin.

In JEEVANVIDYA (concept of life skills), gratitude is rightfully deemed virtuous, while ingratitude is sinful.

While these 3 principles are equally significant, there exists a subtle error in their interpretation. Sin is not the torment of punishment, but rather, the consequence of committing a sin is what causes torment. It is only after the act that the consequences manifest themselves. Likewise, performing a virtuous act is not equivalent to practicing virtue. The act is merely a manifestation of virtue, and it is the consequences that follow which determine its true nature.

Our understanding of sin and virtue may not be as straightforward as we like to believe. What we perceive as wrongdoing leads to sin, and what we consider good deeds leads to virtue. However, actions don’t always result in immediate consequences. Some actions may bear fruit instantly, while others may take time to manifest their results.

While some deeds yield immediate outcomes, others may require patience and perseverance to see the positive effects. It is important to remember that the nature of our actions and their consequences is not always immediately apparent, and that true understanding of the consequences of our deeds may require a deeper awareness and sensitivity to the world around us.

Let me tell you a story about a man who loved to dress well and another man who loved to chew paan (betel leaves). The former was walking down the street with a pep in his step. The latter was walking up the same street, chewing paan with great gusto. Right at the intersection where these men crossed paths, the latter spat a streak of crimson that stained the former’s crisp white shirt. This infuriated the man and he, without losing another second, started bashing the man who spat on him. While on the receiving end of all the bashing, the man kept saying that it was a mistake but the damage was done. The man chewing the paan got an immediate reaction to his action.

Now imagine the same scenario, but with a small twist. As soon as the man chewing the paan realizes he has spat on someone, he runs away, saving himself from some serious bashing. A week later, the paan lover was attending his friend’s wedding and just when he was looking for the perfectly bite-sized paan at the food counter, his eyes locked with the man on whom he spat a week ago. The man recognized the paan spitter immediately and rushed towards him and bashed him black and blue.

This scenario is proof that every action has a reaction, sometimes the result is instant and at times it’s delayed, at a time when you would least expect it. The crux of the matter is that he eventually received the fruit on both occasions, but the key difference lay in the timing of their arrival.

In the journey of life, we may encounter situations where the consequences of our actions may not manifest immediately, whether we have committed a virtuous or a sinful deed. JEEVANVIDYA teaches us that the time for the fruit of our actions to ripen may vary, but it will come to us eventually. It is crucial to understand that the result of our actions is inherent in the actions themselves. The law of nature dictates that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, but the time when the reaction will occur is uncertain.

Allow me to share another story with you. Once, I offered my help to someone. Let’s call him "X". Now I am awaiting X’s response. If he doesn’t respond, it doesn’t mean that my good deed is in vain. Rather, I will receive the fruit of my action from someone else. It may be someone who appears to be a scoundrel, or it may be an honest man. Some people become angry and frustrated, claiming that they have done so much for others, yet they receive nothing in return. Now if you remember this cardinal law of cause & effect, you wouldn’t worry about such things.

It's common to come across unsettling stories of individuals who hold high positions despite having committed various crimes. It's important not to be deceived by appearances, as it's crucial to remember that if punishment has not been administered by the government, it will come from the court. If it hasn't come from the court, it will come from nature. Even if it may not be evident to you, those around you will be able to see it. It won't be visible to those far away as it won't make the news.

Sadguru Shri Wamanrao Rao introduced this beautiful concept of the "Divine Bank". It is regarding the accumulation of sin and virtue. Divine Bank serves as a repository for all your actions. While the consequences of your actions may not be immediately apparent, they are stored in your subconscious mind and deposited into this Divine Bank. This accumulation is your savings in the bank. Imagine yourself as a part of a bank, where you keep your money, and when you require it, you give a check or a slip to withdraw it. If you don't have any savings in the bank, you won't receive any money, no matter how many checks or slips you present. On the other hand, if you have savings in the bank, you will be able to withdraw it. The Divine Bank has amassed so much sin and virtue that even if you take out a significant amount, it won't diminish.

There’s this beautiful dialogue in the series After Life. This is how it goes, “A society grows great when old men plant tress, the shade of which they know they will never sit in. Good people do things for other people. That’s it. The end.”

Think about that.