Vedanta Talks - Swami Sarvapriyananda Karma and Rebirth in Hinduism | Swami Medhananda
Dec 28, 2025
Swami Medhananda, a monk of the Ramakrishna Order and a senior research fellow in philosophy, explores the intricate doctrines of karma and rebirth in Hinduism. He discusses their implications through sacred texts like the Bhagavad Gita, emphasizing the evolution of moral and spiritual growth versus mere retribution. Medhananda also tackles complex topics like free will, collective karma, and evidence of past-life memories, while providing practical advice on cultivating selfless actions and integrating karma-yoga into daily life.
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Karma And Rebirth Vary Across Traditions
- Hindu doctrines of karma and rebirth are diverse across texts and traditions rather than monolithic.
- Swami Medhananda argues the debate requires distinguishing classical and modern responses to criticisms.
Two Ways Karma Ripens: Merit Or Samskaras
- Hinduism offers two complementary explanations for how karma ripens: metaphysical merit and psychological samskaras.
- Some traditions collapse the metaphysical into the psychological, showing multiple coherent models.
Examine Motives When Doing Good
- Inspect the motive behind every action: selfish motives bind versus selfless motives purify.
- Aim to remove selfishness so good actions lead toward liberation, not just merit.
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