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Whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap.
~ Galatians 6:7
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What is karma? Karma is a Sanskrit word that means, literally, “action.” Karma is more readily translated in our culture as “what goes around comes around,” or, “as you give so shall you receive,” or, “what you do will come back to you.” The spiritual laws of karma guarantee that our actions will come back to us, perhaps many times over. This is why Ethical Conduct demands our regular attention.
There are spiritual laws that govern this life. We don’t have to believe this, any more than we have to believe in the laws of gravity. However, whether we believe in gravity or not, gravity affects us; and, whether we believe in spiritual laws or not, they affect us as well. Just as the laws of gravity rule the solar system, so too, the laws of karma rule our lives. All that we are in this moment is a result of past intentions and actions, and all that we will be in the future is a result from our current intentions and actions.
Why aren't the laws of karma, the laws of cause and effect, obvious? Different karmas manifest at different rates. Consider the process of planting seeds. If we plant a tomato seed and give it proper care and attention, over a relatively short period of time we may reap ripe tomatoes. This process takes a few months. If, however, we want an apple tree, we need to plant an apple seed and ensure proper growing conditions for many years before it will manifest as a mature tree that bears apples. Pretending we know nothing about seeds, we might think a tomato seed and an apple seed are similar; however, they mysteriously give rise to different plants with different growing seasons. The universal laws of karma are as immutable as the biological laws of seeds. Different karmas grow at different rates, and each particular karma will lead to a particular fruit.
We can consider our intentions as seeds. If we plant seeds of hatred in our minds, and then act with hatred, we will eventually reap a harvest of hateful experiences. On the positive side, if we plant seeds of truthfulness and integrity in our hearts and minds, and then act from this place, we will at some point find our experiences resonating with truth and integrity. Karmic seeds will ripen with proper growing conditions: however, the ripening period and the exact fruits are virtually impossible to determine. We need to plant the seeds of wholesome intentions and tend to them over a period of time, perhaps throughout the course of our lives, in order for them to bear results. What kind of garden do you want? Give attention to your seeds of Loving Kindness, personal health, and Ethical Conduct, and see what flowers.
It is precisely our intentions, and not our specific actions, that shape our karma. This can be demonstrated with the following example. A surgeon may slice someone’s throat in order to perform a tracheotomy. Here the intention is to heal, and as this intention is skillful, wholesome karma is generated. Contrarily, a murderer may slice someone’s throat in exactly the same manner with the intention to harm or kill. In the latter case the intention is unskillful, and unwholesome karma is generated. Same action, different karmic seeds are formed.
Karma is not a system of rewards and punishments. It is an impersonal law, like the law of gravity. If we throw a ball in the air, it will come down due to gravitational laws. If our aspirations are to be generous and loving, and we act from those aspirations, we will eventually find others are generous and loving towards us.
Take caution against judging yourself or others here. The intricacies of the laws of karma are complex, and it is impossible to ascertain precisely how one’s fortune or misfortune came about. There are simply too many factors to be taken into consideration. Also, the act of judgment itself comes from a comparing mind, and a comparing mind arises directly from conceit, greed, hatred and/or delusion. Instead of judgment, soften the mind with compassion and forgiveness: let your actions arise from these intentions.
Read more about karma in Realms of Reality.
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www.reflectivejournaling.com
Laura Wright Karma
Albuquerque New Mexico USA
www.lwrightnm.com
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