Do karmic actions and reactions happen at gross and subtle levels – do our present actions add to our destined pleasure or pain?

Do actions and reactions both happen at gross and subtle levels?

Yes, certainly.

The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam states that in Kali-yuga, we are exempt from sinful reactions for thoughts alone. This suggests that in earlier ages, such exemption wasn’t there—implying that people were accountable for subtle actions (like thoughts) as well.

So, thoughts are subtle actions, and thus part of the karmic framework.

Now, the word karma can have multiple meanings depending on context—it can refer to action, reaction, or even destiny. So, to gain clarity, we must understand karma both as action (what we do) and as reaction (what we experience), and examine both at the gross (physical) and subtle (mental/psychic) levels.

Accountability at Both Levels

Yes, we are accountable for both:

• What we think (subtle karma)
• What we do (gross karma)

Hence, both are under the domain of karma.

Reactions at Both Levels

Do reactions also happen at subtle and gross levels? Yes, indeed.

One of Lord Viṣṇu’s names is Swapna-nāśanam—the destroyer of bad dreams. In his commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra, Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa explains that bad dreams may be subtle karmic reactions manifesting in the mind.

So, minor karmic reactions may not come through external events but might appear as mental disturbances, like dreams. This supports the idea that both subtle and gross karma can manifest as subtle or gross reactions.

Is every result only from present action, or is it guided by Paramātmā and past karma too?

This is where karma becomes complex.

Let’s take an example: suppose a young person drives rashly and has an accident. Now, they might have driven recklessly 50 times without incident, but the 51st time they crash badly. Was the accident only due to their rash driving?

If so, why didn’t it happen earlier?

We can understand that the 51st-time accident was likely due to a combination of:

• Their present rash action
• The unfolding of past karma or destiny

But here’s the question: If they hadn’t driven rashly, would the accident have still occurred? That we don’t know.

Free Will vs Destiny

So, what is in our control? Our present actions.

Yes, karma produces consequences. But:

• Which action leads to what consequence,
• When that consequence unfolds,
• And how intensely it affects us,

—these are all unpredictable, as karma works in complex, intertwined ways.

Some people argue:

• “If I don’t have the karma to meet with an accident, no matter how rashly I drive, nothing will happen.”
• Others argue: “If I do have the karma to meet with an accident, it will happen no matter how safely I drive.”

Both extremes promote irresponsibility and are not aligned with the Vedic understanding.

The Role of Dharma

We are advised to understand karma in a way that inspires us to perform our dharma—to act responsibly, in harmony with our true nature.

While dharma can mean many things, it essentially means responsible conduct—choosing the right action based on who we are and the situation we are in.

Is Paramātmā involved?

Yes. Paramātmā (the Supersoul) is always watching—He is upadraṣṭā anumantā (Gita 13.23)—the overseer and permitter. He supervises the unfolding of karma.

So, when we ask:

Do we create new karma through our present actions?
Are the reactions we get due to present karma, or past karma?

The answer is: often, it’s a complex combination of both.

Can we change our destiny?

Destiny might be fixed in quantity, but not necessarily in the manner or timing of its unfolding.

Suppose someone is destined to experience 100 units of suffering. That could unfold in:

• 10 separate events over 10 years → manageable.
• 10 events all at once → overwhelming.

For example:

• A person loses a job.
• Out of frustration, they scream at their spouse → divorce.
• In rage, they break their belongings.
• They get into a public fight → jailed.
• Their bank account is frozen, profile marked → no new job.

If each of these events happened separately, they could cope. But when they come together, life becomes unbearable.

Had they acted responsibly after the first event (job loss), the later chain may not have occurred. So, present actions can either aggravate or mitigate the effects of past karma.

Conclusion

• Yes, actions and reactions occur at both gross and subtle levels.
• We are accountable for both types of actions.
• Reactions come from both present and past karma, under the supervision of Paramātmā.
• Destiny may set the quantum, but our choices affect the quality and timing.
• Hence, acting responsibly is always in our best interest and is the Vedic path.