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Summary of Question:	Karma Over Many Life Times
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Monday, 3/13/2006 6:43 AM MDT

Like you have mentioned before that karma is carried over many life times and for ever reaction there is an equal and opposite reaction. I understand that clearly. However you mentioned that we may be paying for something that our souls did 5 lifetimes ago. Why is this so. I mean so your soul has to go through many life times to pay this back. Is it not possible to attain god within this lifetime ? regardless of what has happened in previous life times. Or do we still have to pay for our previous lifetimes untill the debt has been cleared ?

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Sat nam. If we are 'paying' for something from 5 or more lifetimes ago, it's likely because (1) our soul chose to 'pay' it in this round and /or (2) we are repeating the karma life after life (as in don't move on from it or learn from it or resolve it).

YES, it is possible to attain that divine understanding, that divine internal experience of God, in one lifetime. It takes WORK. That WORK is naam simran. The more Naam Simran we practice, the more karma we resolve. The details depend on your soul, your commitment and your practice. Some people meditate for lifetimes before their account is clear enough to avoid the rounds of births and deaths. Guru Granth Sahib says over and over that by meditation on the Naam one's account is erased. So some things one has to pay for karmically are written off, and others are mitigated (an example: the difference between a broken leg or losing a leg).
I have to add that sincere and heartfelt seva also burns karma. By sincere I mean: no ego attachment to doing it. No attachment to results (example: you help homeless people. They stay homeless. You get upset.) Serve honestly and without thought of reward and this will help you burn karma.
Guru ang sang,
-DKK