Answer
We are all carrying an unlimited load of karma accumulated over countless lives — millions of births, though we have no idea how many. This accumulated stock is called Sanchita Karma. It is like countless gunny bags filled with karmic reactions. From this vast store, when a living being takes birth, a specific portion is selected and placed into one’s consciousness for experience in that lifetime. This is called Prarabdha Karma. It refers to that portion of karma whose seeds are now ready to fructify and produce results in this present life. So while Prarabdha Karma is the karma presently unfolding, Sanchita Karma remains as the huge accumulated reserve — bags and bags of karmic stock still waiting.
You want a method faster than chanting? It is often said that Krishna generally does not interfere with one’s karma; He allows the law of karma to function. But devotees pray to Krishna and Guru, “Please interfere with my karma.” When one takes shelter and fully surrenders, offering everything to Him, Krishna takes charge. The faster method depends on how effectively we associate with the holy name. This means learning how to chant and hear properly. If the quality of our japa increases, spiritual progress becomes much faster. But if we chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra while the mind is wandering everywhere, then the process becomes slow. It is like taking a piece of iron near a fire. If you keep it only near the fire, it becomes slightly warm. But if you place it directly into the fire, it becomes red-hot and takes on the very quality of fire. Similarly, when we chant, Krishna is present in His holy name. If we keep the mind absorbed elsewhere, it is like standing near the fire — some effect is there, but limited. If we fully enter into the holy name through attentive hearing, the effect is transformational.
Even with inattentive chanting, we still make spiritual progress. Imagine then the effect if, while chanting sixteen rounds, one truly enters into the holy name each time. The spiritual potency multiplies tremendously. That is the faster method: increasing the quality of our association with the holy name. Then it is not merely that Krishna “interferes” with karma; rather, karma is burned to ashes by the power of the holy name. If one has taken shelter of a pure devotee and chants sixteen rounds according to his instructions, the accumulated stock of subtle karmic reactions — Sanchita Karma — is gradually destroyed. What remains is Prarabdha Karma — that portion of karma which has already begun to fructify and has produced this present body and life circumstances. This Prarabdha Karma must be engaged in Krishna’s service. Krishna says that whatever we do, whatever we eat, everything should be offered to Him. By connecting our present life and activities to Krishna through service to Guru, even Prarabdha Karma becomes purified.
The goal is that at the time of death, one’s karmic balance should be zero. When Prarabdha Karma is exhausted and purified, there is no need to accept another material body. As long as karma remains, one must take another material birth. But when all karma is finished through surrendered devotional service and pure chanting, liberation is attained.
