Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in "Merging with Siva - Hinduism’s Contemporary Metaphysics", Himalayan Academy, 2005, metes out three ways that one can handle karma. The first approach would require us to "begin the tedious task of unwinding these multitudinous patterns through performing daily sadhana"; The second approach is done "in deep sleep and meditation"; In the third approach "past actions are re-enacted through the actual intense reactionary experience and working within, conquering inner desires and emotions."
When the Siddha Pattinathar was accused of stealing jewels belonging to a temple, the local king had him tied to a post and whipped, the Siddha took it on him without protest. He accepted it as God's will. When Yogi Ramsuratkumar was set upon by mischief makers and beaten up, he accepted it as God’s will. His constant advice was to remain satisfied with whatever situation one found oneself in, realizing that it was part of the Divine will. He used to say, "In truth, there is only one will at work and that is Father’s will. It is therefore perfect, good for the individual, humanity, and the cosmos." Similarly, when thieves broke into Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi’s ashram and beat him up he received the blows without defending himself.
When Mahindren shared his observation with me, that "Nothing is mine for me to be afraid that I’ll lose it..." he understood the saints pretty well. Hence we understand the actions or in this case their non-actions and their stand in facing torture from others. A change in perspective and how we handle the circumstances this time differently is a sure way not to be caught in the web of unconsciously reacting to them. This is what saints have been doing.
Annie Besant and Bhagawan Das describe this quietude on one’s part as merely choices to let past choices have their way, and to go in accordance with them. He simply chooses to do nothing. Again we are reminded of Lao Tzu too to go with the flow. From Henry Wei in the "Guiding Light of Lao Tzu", Synergy Books International,
So much emphasis does Lao Tzu lay on the most important doctrine in regard to spiritual cultivation known as Wu Wei or non-action which is in the sense of non-interference, that is to say, non-interference with the trend of nature or the flow of Tao.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami sheds some light on how the saints look upon karma.
After the realization of the Self, Parasiva, the forces of dharma and previous karma still exist, but through the force of the realization of God, much of the impending impact of karma has dwindled, and it is faced differently, treated differently. Prior to the experience of realization, karmas were dealt with in individual increments. After the realization, the sum total is seen. Spiritual destiny is realized. Karma that once stood in their way of God-realization is removed. Fresh karma is then dissolved immediately. Karma waiting to germinate is roasted in the fire of their tapas.
One does not have the experience of realizing the Self until all of his karma is in a state of resolve. When this begins to occur in him, he actually sees that man is not man, man is the Self, God, for his karma and the forces of his dharma have begun to become transparent to him. Through the power of his realization, the karma is created and simultaneously dissolved. This occurs for the one who lives in a timeless state of consciousness. If one were to realize the Self each day, he would live his life like writing his karma on the surface of the water. The swamis who renounce the world and do tapas are trying to burn the seeds of the karmas that they did not bring with them in this life. They set fire to the whole house. They renounce the world and put restrictions upon themselves that others don’t.A friend and reader from India messaged me after reading these posts.
So long as one is embodied karma remains. For a realised soul, it is in balance and neutralised. Without karma, one may not be able to hold the amalgamation of pancha bhutas with the trigunas.
His observation sums it all up. We are alive as long as the breath goes in and comes out. The moment it goes out and never returns we die. But the Siddhas have found the secret to contain the breath within and live forever. They found the way to retain and stay in the body and yet remain aloft from karma. The Siddhas found the secret to manipulate the properties or tatvas of the body and remain in it forever. Should not we at least learn this secret by first earning their trust and then learning it from them and putting it into practice? Join us in going within then.