Originating in Buddhism and Hinduism, Karma is the natural
law of ‘cause and effect’. Whether you choose
to ‘believe’ in karma or not, it is an interesting
way of looking at things.
The word Karma comes from the Sanskrit ‘kri’ which
means ‘action’. It is a natural law of the
interdepence of all things in the universe. Every thought,
word, and action we take has an effect and ripples out into
the universe, causing other effects. According to the
laws of Karma, these effects then boomerang back to us, either
in this lifetime or a future one, giving us the ‘results’
of our actions. This is the view of the world as ‘a
playground of learning’ for the evolution of the soul,
coupled with a belief in reincarnation.
Intention is an important aspect of Karma, meaning the mental
impetus which leads to action. Our ‘intention’
or will is what creates the karma. For example, if we
throw a piece of paper in the bin with no feeling or particular
meaning, then that equals no karma. However, if we throw
it away angrily with negative thoughts about another person,
then those thoughts ripple out and create karma – even
though they are just thoughts. Thoughts are very important.
We generate about 60,000 of them a day, but how many of them
are positive? Think about how much negativity you may
be pushing ‘out there’. That’s a sobering
thought!
There are three different kinds of Karma in Hinduism:
1. Prarabadha Karma. This is the overall ‘set-up’
of one’s life. Where you are born, your family
and physical condition. The starting point, based on
your evolution in previous lifetimes, and the lessons you
have come to learn in this one. This kind of karma can
be the ‘bad thing happening to a good person’
– something negative from a previous life that is being
settled. 2. Samchita Karma. These are the preferences
and talents inherited from past lives. These are more
changeable and can be refined and developed during this lifetime,
for example through yoga and meditation a person evolves a
more stable personality. 3. Agami Karma. The karma of
this lifetime, over which the soul has complete control.
The actions taken and their results, which may have effects
in this lifetime, or in future ones.
The results of karma somehow match the originating action,
in essence. A ‘good’ action will cause a
‘good’ result to come to the person. A ‘bad’
action will cause a ‘bad’ result.
Creating Good Karma
The ‘antidote’ to ‘bad karma’ - if
you think you may suffering from some – is firstly,
surrender, and gratitude. Try to be grateful for the
suffering as it is through this that we evolve. Looking back
at past challenges, isn’t it these that have shaped
you? Secondly, try to ‘see through the story’
of what is happening so that you can learn the lesson gracefully
and move through it rapidly. Try to pull back and see
it as a stage show, to give objectivity. Though sometimes,
the movements of karma are great, old and complicated and
not for us to understand. Suffering, by the way, does
not eliminate karma. The only way to burn karma, is
through ‘dharma’ which translates roughly as ‘good
works’ or ‘giving’ or ‘your path’.
Karmic Relationships
A more modern belief in Karma encompasses the idea that before
we incarnate, we agree certain relationships that we will
have, and what we will learn in them. We are part of
a ‘band of players’ and we continue to play out
various learning scenarios with them through many lifetimes.
Hence the feeling when we meet certain people that we ‘know
them already’. When you meet somebody like that,
trust that you will be learning with and from them!
Victim/Persecutor
The ‘victim/persecutor’ scenario often turns up
in karmic relationships (where the victim returns to act out
the role of persecutor and vice versa, ad nauseum) does not
burn karma. Victim/persecutor are merely opposite sides
of the same coin – they are polarities. If you
act out either one of them Dharma is the only way to resolve
karma. For example, the victim helps the persecutor.
Or stands up to them. Or anyway, somebody does something
different to break the pattern!
Soul Mates
People sometimes get a bit hung up on ‘finding their
soul mate’. Feeling that there is ‘only
one person in the world who is the perfect mate for you’
is perhaps a way of setting yourself up for stress and disappointment!
I feel a more constructive idea is that we each have many
‘soul mates’ – all part of the band of players
mentioned earlier, that we will meet at the perfect, pre-ordained
time, and journey with them in whatever ways to learn just
what we really need to know. Relationships, I feel,
are essentially ‘learning experiences’.
Through others, we encounter lost and unexpressed parts of
ourselves. We fall in love with wonderful unknown parts
of ourselves, as reflected in the mirror of another.
And often, we recover that part of ourself as a result of
having the relationship. Hurrah!
NEXT ISSUE: Integrity
Jeli welcomes comments and may be contacted on:
Email: jelila@jelila.com
Website: www.jelila.com or www.imagine-retreats.com
