Clarity Reference / Karma, Action, and Consequence / Why Karma Does Not Bind the Self
Why Karma Does Not Bind the Self:
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Karma does not bind the Self because the Self does not act.
Action belongs to the body–mind and operates within experience. Consequences arise in the same domain, appearing as conditions, tendencies, and situations. This entire movement requires identification to appear binding.
Binding occurs only when action and consequence are attributed to an assumed individual doer. When the Self is taken to be the body–mind, karma appears personal and constraining. This attribution is the result of ignorance, not of karma itself.
Understanding removes this mistaken identification. When the Self is no longer taken to be the agent or experiencer, karma loses its binding force. Action and consequence continue, but they no longer define or restrict what one is.
Seeing why karma does not bind the Self resolves fear and expectation alike. Karma remains an explanation for experience, not a determinant of freedom.