(i) Object (Dravya). An object can
cause the rise of Karma. The object can be living or non-living. As the
objects are perceived by our senses, the rise of Karma can be caused in
the following ways
a. Touch. Touch of objects such as hot and cold, soft
and hard, smooth and rough, etc. may develop specific feelings in the
b. Taste. Taste of a thing which we eat or drink
develops a feeling in us. Various kinds of food dishes, drinks and
beverages, tobacco and drugs, etc have effects in two ways. First the
immediate effect in the form of taste and second, the more important
effect, takes place when they chemically act in the body system. Both
these effects develop feelings in the user.
c. Smell. Good smell is pleasant and bad smell
produces aversion and may also be harmful.
d. Vision. The sight of a near or dear produces a
feeling of love and the sight of an opponent produces a feeling of
hatred. The sight of a ferocious animal produces fear and sight of sweet
ï¿½ meat produces water in the mouth.
e. Hearing. Music and noise, words of love and hate,
sweet and harsh words, sound of a water stream and a storm, all arouse
different kinds of feelings.
(ii) Place (Ksetra). When you go to a
temple, cinema, vegetable market, Himalayas or a battlefield different
kinds of feelings are developed.
(iii)Time (Kala). Time is the agency
for transformation. Chemical, physical and biological changes in the
body take place with time and they produce different feelings at
different times. The fruition of Karma is also time dependent. The time
may become instrumental in fruition of Karma even in the absence of any
(iv)Feelings (Bhava). The above three
are external factors for development of feelings. There are internal
factors, and perhaps more powerful, which can produce feelings of all
kinds. These factors can be physical, mental or emotional.
a. Physical internal factor. The body is different
from the soul but is regarded as internal considering the whole system.
The physical, biological and health conditions of the body produce
multitude of feelings in a person. Any deficiencies in physical
structure, biological malfunctioning or disorder, ailments and illness,
etc produce feeling of pain. Healthy conditions, beauty, good structure
of body etc. may produce feelings of pleasure. Even our outfits and what
we wear influence our feelings. Any artificial change in the physical
structure and composition of the body may alter our feelings and produce
a different kind of experience.
b. Mental internal factors. Our mind is never silent,
it is always thinking. We notice the activities of the conscious mind
only, what is happening in the sub-conscious mind are not known to us.
But the activities of both the conscious and sub conscious minds
influence our feelings. That is why sometimes we know the reason of our
feelings and sometimes we do not. The input through the physical sense
organs is only one cause of our mental activity. Even in the absence of
such inputs the mind may generate thoughts which produce feeling of
pain, pleasure, fear, love, hate, anger, pride, kindness, violence,
attachment, greed, etc. and a person may be inclined to take a
particular course of action. Our own mental environment is a very
important factor for the way we behave and discharge our functions.
Mental thoughts are in fact, obstructions in the path of spiritual
progress and one has to find ways to circumvent this mental state.
c. Emotional factors. Emotions at times can be so strong that it may
change the course of life of a person. We have well known examples of
Valmiki, Angulimal, Tulsidasa, etc in history whose lives totally changed
on realization of wrong doings. Emotions directly attack the Karma, strong
emotions can cause significant nirjara and completely change the
personality of an individual. Bad emotions can push the soul towards hell
and good emotions can open the way to heaven. Emotions of a person are
changed when self-realization of right and wrong occurs. Condemning own
self for wrong doings and making a determination to reform can advance a
person on the path of spiritual progress.