Since we’ve been talking a lot about death and reincarnation, I thought now would be a good time to cover a related topic: karma.
The word karma literally means “work,” but it’s really a larger concept of cause and effect. Hinduism says that all actions have consequences, and those consequences can’t be avoided.
The way we generally understand the notion of karma, especially in the West, can be found in the old saying from the Bible: “As a man soweth, so shall he reap.” Whatever we do or think or say will come back to us—for good or for bad.
Science is big on cause and effect. We see something happen and we know there has to be an underlying reason—a cause—for why it happened in that way. Karma is the same principle, just on a moral level.
However happy or sad we are right now is the result of things we did or thought in the past—maybe even in past lives. Everything we do is recorded by the universe and the law of karma. As Huston Smith puts it, “Each thought and deed delivers an unseen chisel blow that sculpts one’s destiny.”
And, just as our past thoughts and actions caused our current situation, our current thoughts and actions are paving the way for what will happen in the future (something to bear in mind the next time you’re screaming at the moronic driver in front of you while you’re stuck in a traffic jam).
All you lottery fanatics, listen up: Karma says that there is no luck. Waiting around for your “big break” isn’t going to help you—not now and not in your next life. What you get depends on what you’ve done before. We get exactly what you deserve. Maybe that’s why something like 70 percent of lottery winners end up going bankrupt within a few years of hitting the big jackpot. Karma will eventually come back to bite you—if that’s what you deserve.
Although lots of people talk about karma, it seems to me that the notion supporting the whole principle is actually quite unpopular: the idea that we are completely responsible for ourselves and everything we do. Nobody likes to believe they’re a bad person. When bad things happen to us, we usually look around for someone or something to blame. It can’t be our fault. And hey—I’m not preaching. I’ve done my share of blaming, especially where my ex-husband is concerned (and I’ve got to say, I’m looking forward to karma coming to get him someday).
But karma says there’s nobody to blame for our present circumstances except ourselves. We created the present through our actions in the past, and we’re creating our future right now. And although karma dictates that all actions will cause certain effects at some point, we do have free will. We have all the freedom in the world to choose what we’re going to do right now, regardless of how crappy our behavior might have been in the past—maybe even in the very distant past, like multiple lifetimes ago.
So, whether you believe in reincarnation or not, I’m thinking that it might be smart to plan ahead—just in case. I don’t know about you, but I’d sure as hell like to have a better life the next time around.
Another stellar post Tara. Even for those who choose not to believe in reincarnation, the principals of Karma have value, as you say.
ReplyDeleteThere are echoes of similar principals in many if not all religions, always couched in differing terms, but similar none the less.
Is there such a great difference in the old chestnut 'Do unto others, as you would have others do unto you'.
The idea of making, or at least genuinely trying to make continual improvement in ones self and ones behaviour toward others, is another common thread through most if not all religions. Principals individuals these days would do well to remember regardless what they believe in.
Thanks for your blog too Tara, really enjoying it.