The Boomerang of Life: Understanding the Principle of Karma and Phal – कर्मफल का सिद्धांत (August, 2025)
Have you ever thrown a boomerang? You send it flying away from you, and then, almost magically, it curves through the air and comes right back into your hands. Sometimes it even returns with more force than you expected. Life works in a very similar way. In Sanatan Dharma , this idea is explained through the law of karma phal (कर्मफल का सिद्धांत) . Whatever action you send out into the world, like a boomerang, will eventually return to you. This month, instead of giving you all the answers, we will share stories and high-level ideas. Your task is to think deeply, reflect, and discover the lessons for yourself.
What is Karma (कर्म)?
Karma means action. Every thought you think, every word you speak, and every action you take is part of your karma. These actions leave permanent marks on your life, like carvings in stone. Once carved, they cannot be undone. The choices you make today shape the experiences you will meet tomorrow.
What is Phal (फल)?
Phal means the fruit or the result of your actions. Good actions bring positive results. Wrong actions bring negative results. Sometimes these results appear immediately. Sometimes they show up much later. But just like a planted seed always grows into a plant, every karma always produces a phal.
The Law of Cause and Effect
The universe works through a simple rule: every cause leads to an effect. Nothing disappears without consequence. Your actions, whether small or big, shape your future in ways you may not expect.
Story 1: Riya’s Exam
Riya felt nervous before her test. Many classmates cheated by copying answers. She felt tempted to do the same. In the end, she chose to be honest and write her own answers. Her score was not the highest. She felt disappointed at first. But later, her friends began trusting her and asking for her help. Riya discovered that honesty builds respect and friendships that matter more than a single grade.
Think: What is the deeper lesson in this story?
Story 2: Neha’s Quiet Help
Neha helped a shy classmate with science homework. No one noticed. She felt that her kindness went unseen. Weeks later, when Neha needed help with her art project, that same classmate supported her and shared useful tips. Neha realized that good actions often circle back at the right time.
Think: What does this teach us about unseen rewards?
Wisdom from the Gita
The Bhagavad Gita teaches:
“Karmanyevadhikaraste mā phaleshu kadācana”
“You have the right to perform your actions, but not to the fruits thereof.”
This means you should focus on doing your duty with sincerity. Do not cling to the result. The effort and the intention matter more than the visible outcome.
Story 3: Anshu’s Soccer Game
Anshu practiced hard for his soccer match. On the day of the game, he gave his best effort, and his team won. He felt sad because he wanted to score the winning goal but couldn’t. Afterward, his coach praised his teamwork, and all of his teammates thanked him for his role and contributions. Anshu realized that true success was not about scoring the final goal. It was about giving his best, supporting his team, and celebrating victory together.
Think: What does this story show about the difference between personal glory and shared achievement?
Story 4: Meena and Arjun
Meena and Arjun both helped a classmate with homework. Meena helped quietly because she truly cared. Arjun helped in a way that made sure everyone saw him. Later, Meena built a bond of trust with her classmate, who supported her in return. Arjun’s classmates felt he was showing off and grew distant from him.
Think: What role did intention play in shaping the results of their actions?
Time for the Karma Boomerang Reflection
Now it’s time for you to think and write. While the above stories gave you hints, the deeper meaning should come from your own reflection – and that reflection is your true learning.
- Recall a time when you did something good without expecting anything in return. What happened later?
- Think of a moment when you almost chose the wrong path but decided to do the right thing. How did that choice affect you or others?
- Identify one seed of kindness or honesty that you can plant without telling anyone. What kind of “fruit” might it grow into?
Like a boomerang, your actions will always return to you. What you throw into the world is what you will one day catch again.
As always, I am looking forward to illuminating reflections of our hawan group kids. Make us proud!
Regards,
Harsh Mendiratta
www.hawan.net