A. As you sow, so shall you reap. Every action has a reaction equal and opposite to it. Whether or not you believe in God, you have to pay for your actions. In some cases, prayers can forgive your actions completely. If you pray from the bottom of your heart asking God to forgive all your lies and swearing that, from now on, you will always speak the truth—you may be forgiven. But if you start lying again, the karma from all your past lies, plus interest, can come back to you. My prayer on this issue is simple: “Lord, please give me the strength that, whatever happens in my life, I will always rejoice.” Then, even if I undergo a major surgery, the grace of anesthesia comes and there is no awareness of the surgery. The fruits of my actions are now all sweet. So the karmic law did not change, the prayers changed my attitude. Do not ask for forgiveness, but just to be on top of the world with all that life brings you. That does not mean you can do wrong deeds, but what has happened in the past will not affect you. As you pray for divine awareness, your thoughts and actions will automatically be in gratitude for freeing you from all your past actions. You have a protective shield around you. You become Superman, where only kryptonite can break you. That happens only if you lose faith in the power of your prayers. — Satish Daryanani
