An analogy used by Swami Vivekananda
Vivekananda used this analogy to explain why some people seem to suffer or prosper disproportionately – even when their current actions don’t seem to warrant it.
The Storehouse of Deeds (Sañchita Karma)
Vivekananda likened a person’s entire accumulation of past actions (Karma) to a vast seed storehouse:
“Each person has a great storehouse of seeds — good deeds and bad deeds — accumulated over countless lifetimes.”
This entire storehouse of potential actions is called Sañchita Karma.
Each seed represents the potential consequence of something you’ve thought, said, or done – in this life or any previous one.
The Handful of Seeds (Prārabdha Karma)
However, a person does not experience all these consequences at once.
Nature – or Divine Law – selects a handful of seeds from that vast storehouse for one’s current life.
“The events you are currently experiencing – your joys, sorrows, health, wealth, and family – are the fruits of that handful of seeds.
This is your Prārabdha Karma (destiny or operative Karma).”
This explains why a morally good person may still face suffering – they are simply reaping the results of past actions selected for this lifetime, even if they are now sowing good ones.
The New Seeds (Kriyamāna Karma)
But the process doesn’t stop there.
Every action you perform now, in this very moment, becomes a new seed added to the great storehouse.
This is your Kriyamāna Karma – the Karma you are creating in the present.
The Power of the Farmer
Vivekananda taught that while you cannot change the seeds already planted (Prārabdha), you have complete freedom and responsibility over the seeds you sow now.
“Be a good farmer!
Use your present freedom to sow only good seeds (Kriyamāna Karma).
Through constant selfless action and spiritual practice,
you can reduce the bad seeds in your storehouse and stop adding new ones,
thus gaining freedom (Moksha) from the entire cycle.”
This analogy reveals that Karma is not fatalism – it is a law of cause and effect.
You are not bound by your past; you are empowered in the present to shape your future.
Vedik Mind 