Customer Reviews

Aghora III: The Law of Karma

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This valuable addition to author Robert Svoboda's outstanding Aghora trilogy makes a vivid and illuminatingly frank contribution to our understanding of what spiritual masters--and we--are and aren't. Principal among these is the apparent fact detailed extensively in this book that "enlightenment" comes in a wide variety of shades but, in any case, cannot erase, by far, every inclination of the human personality of the enlightened. The great aghori Vimilananda's ownership of racehorses and his adventures at the track are a case in point dramatically pertinent to this apparent anomaly. Following Svoboda's account of his teacher's response to his own karma and that of his track competitors, students and family is, ironically, a Vedantic lesson in detachment from attempting to understand the whys and hows of the way things happen. For the open-minded, this book does present many intriguing indicators as to how behavior and attitudes in this life may affect the cards dealt to us in future births. Readers who recall the basic premise of Advaita Vedanta (Vimilananda's spiritual orientation), however, may remind themselves as they read this book that, since "doing" is only apparent-doing, and it is Life that lives life, what the heck difference does the understanding of karma matter anyway? Dissecting the complexities of karma is not only impossible but an activity appropriate only for those still involved in the futile task of self re-creation. Own this book if only for the cover which has to be a "first": a truly spiritual book decorated with a color photo of racehorses pounding to the finish line in Bombay!

After eagerly awaiting the publishing of this book for about two years, I was somewhat disappointed to learn that it didn't really measure up to the first two. The engaging stories and parables that graced Aghora I and Aghora II were conspicuously absent, having been mostly replaced by racetrack stories inspiring a bleak outlook on human nature. I also believe the metaphysical and spiritual benefit to be gleaned from the book's contents is be harder to come by, since most of the stories provided to demonstrate the vicissitudes of the Law of Karma are concluded with the statement that Karma is impossibly complex and incomprehensible.

Positive things to note about the book are the fact that it rounds out the details of the great Aghori Vimalanda's life, and anyone having an interest in the man's inimitable personality will appreciate this. Perhaps the fact that Karma is such a difficult subject is the reason for the book's failure to confirm or deny the limited knowledge about Karma that I have already gained in this lifetime.

If the author reads this and would life to point out something that I may have missed, I would encourage him to email me. I must also say here that the first two books impressed me so much that they have changed my life, and should be required reading for anyone with an interest in Tantra.

BRAVO!!!Robert Svoboda has delivered another page-turner in his series of wonderful books about that awesome Aghori, Vimalananda. May the Blessings of the Divine Mother be upon them both!These books are truly life-transforming in that they open up vast new vistas in the "Tantric" world, where one may see that Tantra is not just the "Sex" Path but instead much deeper and more profound. This book's expositions on the Law of Karma are an amazing study in human relationships and the duties and debts which we all owe.The concept that any animal killed for pleasure or even food gains the right to be reborn in such a way that the debt may be repaid in a like manner, is reasonable, even if frightening to those of us who have eaten, or continue to eat meat and/or are involved in pastimes which may be abusive to animals or people, or even plants.It is comforting to see how thorough Karmic justice is, even though we may not see the results right away.Thank you,Dr. Svoboda for your refreshing approach to Tantra/Aghora. I am not an expert in this field but i must convey my appreciation for the Light of Truth which you have shed,filling up the dark corners of ignorance with the honey-like light of bliss and Divine Love. Thank you! Om Namah Sivaya! Jai Maa! Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!

Not sure whether I'm entirely on board with everything Vimalananda discusses on the topic of karma in this book. That said, it opens up many possibilities in terms of ideas. Which is always welcome. I found the book a little repetitive in some respects, but overall a useful addition to my library of Tantrik tomes.

Rarely do I find a book that tells spirituality the way it really is. This is that book. I have been practicing various styles of Indian and Vedic based meditation for almost forty years, this explains everything perfectly.

In my opinion, this is the best book of the triology series. The triology is not exactly continuing series. There are gaps, between the parts. Part 3 is about The Law of Karma. Karma is simple to explain "as you sow, so shall you reap". As per one's free will, one can find ways to escape prarabdha karma. But such actions will not get success and put one into more problems. So it is best to accept whatever comes and believe that "whatever God does is for the best".

First 40 pages is the Introduction page that summarizes what has been written in next 280 pages. 280 pages consists detailed explanations, interesting points that explain well about how karma comes into play and why it is better not to avoid undergoing karma.

Over all, it is a very interesting read.

I read the book after having multiple Hindu friends. They would talk about Karma on occasion and I figured it would be a good topic for me to understand better! I now feel comfortable with many aspects of Karma and while it would be useless to apply Karma as quid pro quo, instant .... retribution isn't the flow of Karma rather it is a subtle force, past lives and such, it is still a power that Christianity does not explain. That is how does GOD care for us as individuals! In Hinduism we are part of a universal soul and as we indivuate that is have a sense apart from the whole, we create our own series of debt or negative karma. That Karma over 100's of lifetimes must all be unraveled and the sense of us being within a universal consciousness is our complete existence. As long as we differentiate we are separate from the universal consciousness and incomplete.

I have read the first 2 parts of the book. I found this book the most valuable and interesting. It holds the valuable secrets of how nature works and the power of consciousness. Every person who is interested in the way the Karma works should read through this book.

This wasn't the first book that I read. I picked up Aghora II one fine day because the picture on top of the book seemed interesting. It lay on my bookshelf for a few months when one day in the absence of anything better to do I started reading it. I had no inkling that my life was about to be transformed.

Before that I was another one of those "English-medium" taught disconnected Indian who had a passing idea of India's culture and traditions. Although I had heard all the rhetoric about the greatness of Indian culture, religion etc. etc. nothing had provided me an in depth vision of it at all. I took 2 years to read the three parts of Aghora. I read nothing else. I did not need to. Even now when I go back to them sometimes, I read something which prevents me from reading anything for weeks, such is the depth that has been addressed.

It won't be an overstatement if I would say that these books have changed my insight completely towards everything known or unknown. These are not just books!

Very good book and great experience in getting the book too...
This book is recommended to all