My understanding of all this may be wrong, but isn't karma subject to being overridden by God? It seems that many or most of us think of karma as the first and foremost arbiter of our futures, with God taking a hands-off approach. I can't presently find the verse in the Bhagavad Gita, but I seem to recall Sri Krishna saying that not a blade of grass grows without His knowledge. And then there are the other verses that indicate that He takes an active role in running the universe and assisting in our salvation by His grace and His forgiveness of transgressions. If this is so, then we have a much closer relationship with God, that supercedes the laws of karma.
Having been raised Christian, I am used to the idea of God being personal and highly involved in our welfare and salvation (I was always a renegade ), being very hard to offend and push away, much as we see Sri Krishna in Vaishnavism. I'm not sure I understand just when and where God steps in to ameliorate the effects of karma, based on popular belief that karma is the controlling factor. I prefer to think of God as constantly bestowing grace and forgiveness when the bhakta is sincere. I am thinking that God(dess) does as much as S/He can to give us grace and help to improve our station in life, thereby achieving a higher birth. Or if we reject that, then we fall down. Thoughts?
But then, of what avail is this detailed understanding of my manifestations to you, O Arjuna! Supporting this mighty universe with but one single fragment of My self, I remain unchanged and transcendent. 10.42
Though performing every kind of work always, he who has taken refuge in Me shall, by My grace, attain to the eternal and indestructible state of Moksha. 18.56
O scion of Bharata's clan! Seek refuge in [Me], making a total surrender of your being - body, mind and soul. By [My] grace you shall attain to supreme peace and the everlasting abode. 18.62.
Having been raised Christian, I am used to the idea of God being personal and highly involved in our welfare and salvation (I was always a renegade ), being very hard to offend and push away, much as we see Sri Krishna in Vaishnavism. I'm not sure I understand just when and where God steps in to ameliorate the effects of karma, based on popular belief that karma is the controlling factor. I prefer to think of God as constantly bestowing grace and forgiveness when the bhakta is sincere. I am thinking that God(dess) does as much as S/He can to give us grace and help to improve our station in life, thereby achieving a higher birth. Or if we reject that, then we fall down. Thoughts?
But then, of what avail is this detailed understanding of my manifestations to you, O Arjuna! Supporting this mighty universe with but one single fragment of My self, I remain unchanged and transcendent. 10.42
Though performing every kind of work always, he who has taken refuge in Me shall, by My grace, attain to the eternal and indestructible state of Moksha. 18.56
O scion of Bharata's clan! Seek refuge in [Me], making a total surrender of your being - body, mind and soul. By [My] grace you shall attain to supreme peace and the everlasting abode. 18.62.