How can one overcome karma according to Hindu philosophy and avoid or rectify bad karma in this life?

The science of karma It is simply the science of cause & effect Karmas are the actions (causes) and the fruits of karma are its reactions (effects). The rules of karma are such that when you create karma, the resultant effect comes naturally and automatically. The resultant effect is something one has to go through; one simply cannot avoid it. Everyone, including the Enlightened beings, have to suffer on that account. For instance, a celestial deity happened to harass Lord Mahavir by inflicting all kinds of pain on Him through various possible means. However, the Lord was fully aware of the science of karma. He knew that it was His 'karmas' that were bearing fruit. He knew that this was indeed destined to happen. The deities were not the real cause of the atrocities meted out on Him (although visibly it seems so); they were only ‘instrumental’ in this process. The real cause was Lord’s own past karma that came into effect today. Karmas produce circumstances that by nature are temporary The circumstances come together, give their effect, and go away. The circumstances that come together to give the effect are called ‘Scientific circumstantial evidence’. Whatever we experience in our life is the result of scientific circumstantial evidence. These are the causes that cause every event that happens in our life. How does one overcome karma as per Hindu philosophy? One can overcome karma by not creating new karma. For that, Maintain equanimity in the events that happen in life One generally remains preoccupied in always trying to invite the events which he likes and prevent those he doesn’t, in his life. One isn’t aware that through this attachment and hatred, one is constantly binding further and further new karma. But after knowing the science of karma, we realize that whatever events happen are actually the resultant effects of my own karma, and now, I want to overcome or finish each of these with equanimity. Attain Self-Realization It’s only after we attain Self-Realization, that it becomes possible to finish each of the karma with perfect equanimity. Self-Realization happens when we realize that really, “I am a pure Soul and my nature is only to see and know.” With this, our belief that, ‘I am indeed the one who can invite or prevent any event that happens in life, I am or was indeed the doer of any karma’ also drops. We, with the awareness of, ‘I am a pure Soul’, remain separate from the scientific circumstantial evidence and simply see what happens. This is the key to overcoming any type of karma. This is the key to ultimate happiness that prevails, irrespective of whether the event happens or gets prevented. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan, the Enlightened being, explains: In this world, there exists only two things: the Soul and the circumstance. The science says that if you remain separate from the circumstance, you can stay in the pure Soul, and then, karma does not exist. After you attain Self-Realization, you begin to learn how to keep your Self separate. And Self-Realization can be attained only through the Living Gnani!!! What should be done to avoid bad karma or the punishment for bad karma in this life itself and not after rebirth? Do not hurt others When we plant a cactus, we cannot expect it to bear mangoes, can we?! We get the fruit of the tree we plant. Thus, make a pure inner intent that I do not want to cause any hurt to others. And accordingly, daily morning, pray to God, “May no living being be caused slightest hurt through my thoughts, words or actions.” Say this prayer at least 5 times every day. This is what should be done to avoid bad karma. Never harness a single bad thought towards people, situations or any circumstance that comes forth in our life. Such thoughts hurt others. We believe them to be the cause of the untoward events that happen in our life and hence harness bad thoughts. But now that we know what the real cause is, we shall avoid bad karma. By hurting others, we bind bad karma and with the said prayers, we avoid bad karma. Ask for forgiveness for the hurt that you have caused to someone In case, some bad thoughts arise in our mind, or we happen to hurt someone through our speech or actions, we shall immediately do pratikraman. Pratikraman means you remember the Lord residing within the person who has been hurt, apologize for your mistake, and resolve never to repeat it. Doing so, the liability of punishment after rebirth diminishes, and it also brings relief in the pain that we are experiencing on account of the past karma today. To read more, visit: https://dbf.adalaj.org/aAnEUwNM