Karma, Consciousness, and Freedom

New Understandings from Sadhguru with Sage and Tony Robbins

Posted by: Team Tony

What is karma? Do you believe in it? The word exists in every culture in different forms. Some believe in past lives. Some believe in heaven and hell. It all comes back to a single understanding: If you’re good, you get rewarded. If you’re bad, you get punished. When something bad happens, we believe we deserve it, because of karma. But this understanding of karma is actually used to instill fear and guilt – and to control human behavior. It’s used as an excuse to not take responsibility for our lives. 

True karma isn’t about control – it’s about freedom. It isn’t fixed. It is waiting for us to define it. “My life is my karma” really means “My life is my making.” It is about embracing the greatest gift of being human: We have the ability to create our own reality. Our experience happens from within. Among all creatures on earth, humans have the unique ability to choose. We have consciousness. We are the only ones with the privilege of responding rather than reacting. Making a choice rather than letting our emotions control us. We can cut the ropes that are holding us down, free our consciousness and evolve our lives. 

In this podcast, Sadhguru, a beloved friend of Tony and Sage, sits down to discuss identity, consciousness, inner freedom, human evolution and his book Karma, A Yogi’s Guide to Crafting Your Destiny. Sadhguru is a true luminary of our time and offers in this interview a fresh understanding of karma and its common misperceptions. Removing  the stigma of “good karma” or “bad karma,” Sadhguru explains that our karma actually has the ability to enhance our lives if only we choose to use our past, and our memories of it, in ways that serve our perception of life, personal evolution and spiritual growth.

Select how you want to listen (or watch) below.

What are the ropes that are tying you down? How can you identify them – and cut them once and for all? Listen to the podcast above to hear from Sadhguru himself on the most common needs and beliefs that hold us back and how you can explore the full potential of your life to embrace true karma. Many of these align with Tony’s most deeply held principles: The ways that the human need for certainty can actually lead to a fear of freedom. How reframing the past ultimately gives us the freedom to live in the moment. And how you can transform your experience from suffering to joy just by shifting your focus. 

EPISODE NOTES

[00:11] Sadhguru ID/Intro
[00:42] What is Karma?
[03.26] Karma is about liberation, not control
[07:08] Karma is how to move from an unconscious to a conscious existence.
[07:36] Responding (choice) v. reacting
[11:17] One consciousness
[12:23] Consciousness is not something we do
[15:43] To be free, understand what ropes are holding you
[16:30] What is Vasana?
[18:31] Sadhguru working with prisoners in India and US
[20:37] Large part of karma being created unconsciously
[22:08] Sadhguru’s goal to make the whole world ecstatic
[23:41] People have a fear of freedom
[26:15] We die in installments.
[28:01] Your attention needs to be with living.
[28:50] How can you create a new destiny consciously?
[29:41] Your experience of life is manufactured within you.
[34:14] Why is intention so important?
[36:06] Your intent is based on your identity
[36:44] Fix your identity
[38:38] What does Sadhguru mean?
[41:08] How do you liberate Karma?
[41:54] Awareness and abandon
[42:46] The story of Gautama
[49:15] Genetic compulsions are within all of us.
[51:56] How will you use what is within you?
[53:34] How do you coach people to pause?
[54:16] Managing instincts consciously
[56:34] What is the practice of just being and looking?
[01:00:04] Not looking through the kaleidoscope of karma
[01:02:02] Shifting perception from suffering to pain
[01:02:53] Creating space between you and your body
[01:06:47] What life throws at you is not your choice. What you make out of it is 100% yours
[01:08:02] The gift of this existence
[01:11:03] All human experience happens from within.
[01:13:21] Sign off