Karma is a self perpetuating force.  So once an individual is caught in its trap (which we all are), it can potentially act as a whirlpol and suck the individual deeper and deeper until there is a point of no return.  

The Paramathma and the Puranas emphasis that the mind should evolve to transcend one's Karma.  The reason for this transition to occur is to obtain release from the cycle of births and deaths.  Essentially, when the mind is dominated by the forces of Karma,  there will be no release from transcience into permenance.

The Paramathma and the Puranas put the mind at the center of the universe.  All that is observed and experienced is the outcome of our Karma, as enacted through our thoughts.

So Karma and our mind seem to be inextricably linked. Since the perceived universe is a product of our own thoughts, the Paramathma propounds that Karmic forces can be overcome only through mind control.  Mind control essentially means self control (because the mind is the only entity that has access to itself). 

Self Control happens only when there is conviction and belief regarding the supremacy of the inner self over the perceived universe.

Once this conviction is in place, the next step to evolution involves  a self analysis of our own thought process.  This is a difficult proposition, since we will tend to be biased when looking at our own selves. But there is no alternative since no one else can possibly do it for us.

In order to develop conviction, the mind should be able to understand the forces that are responsible for its activity, and be able to seperate and discard those with undesirable consequences. 

This is essence of self realization.

The sign that the effort of self realization is successful, will be observed from the manner in which Karmic forces begin to recede. Our minds will no longer be driven by the pleasures, desires, needs and wants related to the perceived world. 

This diminishment of the impact of Karmic forces on the mind can be observed only by one who can recognize them.  The recognition will require an understanding of what these forces are and the impact these have on our minds.

These forces that stimulate, sustain, and develop the mental capabilities have been identified in the Puranas.  The desirable and undesirable forces have been segregated.  The linkages between knowledge and these forces of the mind have been established. 

Understanding the framework of the structure of knowledge and wisdom presented in  the Puranas will enable us to point our thoughts in the right direction and to interpret our experiences with the correct perspective.

These concepts are further analyzed in the subsequent  pages of this web site.