What is Karma?

In Sanskrit language, Karma means "actions" or "deeds”.

There are three types of karma:

1. Prarabdha karma - karma experienced during the present lifetime.
2. Sancita karma - the store of karma that has not yet reached fruition.
3. Agamin or Sanciyama karma - karma sown in the present life that will come to fruition in a future life

The accumulated effects of actions done in all one's past lives is the Sanchita Karma, which the Jeev(जीव, soul of a living organism) from birth to birth. Until the Sanchita Karmas are completely exhausted, there is no salvation to the Jeev. A portion of the Sanchita Karmas is taken out and allotted to be worked out in a particular incarnation of the Jeev, which is called the Prarabdha Karma. While the Jeev, thus, woks out it is Prarabdha Karmas through a given body, it performs fresh actions, which are called Agami Karmas, which are added to the balance of its Sanchita Karmas. 

Thus the cycle of Sanchitha, Prarabdha and Agami goes on during rebirth. It is said that, a horoscope is an indicator of the Prarabdha karma in coded language.

The Sanchita Karmas of an individual may be compared to a running account of which the Prarabdha Karmas are withdrawals and the Agami Karmas are the deposits. While the present body works out a certain amount of the Sanchita Karmas, it also adds something to it. This body is at once a product of Prarabdha and a cause of Agami. It would therefore appear that it is difficult to get freed from this cycle of transmigration, because the Sanchita will never get exhausted.

A question would naturally arise, is there no way out?

In case of Gyani (ज्ञानी) (A wise person who is endowed with Knowledge), the scriptures say Self Knowledge is so powerful that it destroys all Sanchitha Karmas. This is comparable to the radiation burning all cancerous cells in the body. The Prarabdha Karmas are exhausted by him through experience. He accepts them as God’s will and allows the body to go through them, without complaining. He exhausts all the Prarabdha Karmas, allotted to this present life. Agami does not come to a Gyani because his actions are done without ego, because he has not identified with the body – soul. When  a Gyani dies, sanchitha is burnt; prarabdha is exhausted and agami is avoided. So, there is no question of re-birth for him. He is free from all types of bondage.

Why do we light a lamp?

Light symbolizes "Knowledge" while darkness represents ignorance. Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Furthermore, knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievement can be accomplished. Hence we light the lamp in reverence to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of wealth.

Why not light an electric bulb? That too would remove darkness.

But the traditional oil lamp has a further spiritual significance.The oil or Clarified Butter(ghee) in the lamp symbolizes our negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the negativity get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always burns upwards. Similarly we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards lofty ideals.

What is Breath?

We can live without food, water for few days, but without breath we can hardly survive for more than few minutes. So, "Breath is Life".  Not only humans, animals, plants depend on breath for life. Human breathe in air and give out air in humanity which is breath for plants. Thus we live in harmony.
Breathing is very important function of our body. Thus the air we breathe is most important. The air today especially in cities are polluted. We need to grow more trees to restore the harmony in nature.

What are Emotions?

Emotions emerge from mind. When mind is compounded with feeling of senses it become an Emotion. The Emotion occur at the realm of mind and can be expressed, whereas feeling occurs at the realm of Soul and can't be expressed. Love is a feeling and can't be expressed, it has to be felt. Similarly, Happiness and Freedom are feelings. Emotion is nice to experience like a breeze. Emotions can be controlled by deep breathing. 

Why do we chant mantra for 108 times?

Mantra is a sound energy that cleanses the mind of desire. It churns the Mind.

One of reason is that there are 27 nakshatr / star constellation and 4 pada /charan (division of nakshatra into 4 sections are called padas / charan). The 27*4 = 108. So, we repeat the mantras for 108 times.
Nakshatras
Ashvinī
Bharanī
Kṛttikā
Rohinī
Mrigashīra
Ārdrā
Punarvasu
Pushya
Ashlesha (nakshatra)
Maghā
Pūrva Phalgunī (Pubbha)
Uttara Phalgunī (Uttara)
Hasta
Chitrā
Svātī
Vishākhā
Anurādhā
Jyeshtha
Mūla
Pūrva Ashādhā
Uttara Ashādhā
Shravana
Dhanistha
Shatabhisha
Pūrva Bhādrapadā
Uttara Bhādrapadā
Revatī

Another reason is that diameter of sun * 108 times gives the distance from earth to the sun.
Also, diameter of moon * 108 times gives the distance from earth to the moon!!

What is Namaste?

Indians greet each other with namaste. The two palms are placed together in front of the chest and the head is bowed at the same time one say the word namaste. The Namaha + Aste, the word ‘namaha’ can also be literally interpreted as "na ma" (not mine). Namaha + Aste - "I don't exist". It has a spiritual significance of negating or reducing one's ego in the presence of another. What exists in us is the GOD and thus acknowledge that he resides in us.

Significance of OM

OM sound is a combination of three elements, AUM, A stands for Agni / fire, U stands for Udaka / water and M stands for Maruta / air. The sound emerging from the vocal chords starts from the base of the throat as "A", with coming together as lips, "U" is formed and when the lips are closed, all sounds end in "M".