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The Universal Law of Karma


The Universal Law of Karma and the Age of Aquarius
Diamond Light-Newsletter of the Aquarian Age Community www.aquaac.org/dl/05nl3art1.html        (2005 No. 3–for entire article)
People generally regard karma as punishment, but the great law should not be limited in that way. The law acts in the name of equilibrium, and the damage done by the violation of balance cannot be judged by earthly measures. Only from higher planes can it be seen how a crime expands in its effect, once committed. We speak of a drop of poison, but one small word can be equally poisonous.
We can only remind you about the law, but free will must choose its way.
The Great Law of Karma is known by many names such as the Law of Retribution, the Law of Responsibility, the Law of Cause and Effect, the Law of Ethical Causation as well as the Law of Divine Justice or just the Law of Justice and finally, it has also been referred to as the one Universal Law.This subject of karma is inextricably connected with cosmic energies and cosmic purpose. It is a complex theme and one that is not easily understood. The Law of Karma is expounded in many esoteric texts including the Mahabharata written thousands of years ago. Among the many designated categories, the Ageless Wisdom refers, for example, to not only individual karma, but to group karma, national karma, world karma and cosmic karma—all of which are interrelated.Karma, it is said, is contained in each cell. The Theosophical Glossary refers to karma as the power that controls all things. Contrary to what is often understood, karma neither punishes nor rewards. Rather, karma “guides unerringly, and so, to say, blindly all other laws productive of certain effects along the grooves of their respective causations.”At death, there remains nothing of the personal life except the causes produced by that life—causes which are undying and which cannot be eliminated from the Universe until replaced by their inevitable effects. Unless compensated with adequate effects, during the life of the person who produced them, the causes will follow the reincarnated Ego, and reach it in its subsequent reincarnation until a harmony between effects and causes is fully reestablished.Among the various cited categories of karma, it is individual karma that is fundamental and determinative. It can influence, for ill or good, the creation of all other types of karma.`

 

What Is Karma?

The Law of Cause & Effect

By           http://hinduism.about.com/od/basics/a/karma.htm

The self-controlled person, moving among objects, with his senses free from attachment and malevolence and brought under his own control, attains tranquility.

~ Bhagavad Gita II.64

The law of cause and effect forms an integral part of Hindu philosophy. This law is termed as ‘karma’, which means to ‘act’. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English defines it as the “sum of person’s actions in one of his successive states of existence, viewed as deciding his fate for the next”. In Sanskrit karma means “volitional action that is undertaken deliberately or knowingly”. This also dovetails self-determination and a strong will power to abstain from inactivity. Karma is the differentia that characterizes human beings and distinguishes him from other creatures of the world.

The Natural Law

The theory of karma harps on the Newtonian principle that every action produces an equal and opposite reaction. Every time we think or do something, we create a cause, which in time will bear its corresponding effects. And this cyclical cause and effect generates the concepts of samsara (or the world) and birth and reincarnation. It is the personality of a human being or the jivatman – with its positive and negative actions – that causes karma.

Karma could be both the activities of the body or the mind, irrespective of the consideration whether the performance brings fruition immediately or at a later stage. However, the involuntary or the reflex actions of the body cannot be called karma.

Your Karma Is Your Own Doing

Every person is responsible for his or her acts and thoughts, so each person’s karma is entirely his or her own. Occidentals see the operation of karma as fatalistic. But that is far from true since it is in the hands of an individual to shape his own future by schooling his present.

Hindu philosophy, which believes in life after death, holds the doctrine that if the karma of an individual is good enough, the next birth will be rewarding, and if not, the person may actually devolve and degenerate into a lower life form. In order to achieve good karma it is important to live life according to dharma or what is right.

Three Kinds of Karma

According to the ways of life chosen by a person, his karma can be classified into three kinds. Thesatvik karma, which is without attachment, selfless and for the benefit of others; the rajasik karma, which is selfish where the focus is on gains for oneself; and the tamasik karma, which is undertaken without heed to consequences, and is supremely selfish and savage.In this context Dr. D N Singh in his A Study of Hinduism, quotes Mahatma Gandhi’s lucid differentiation between the three. According to Gandhi, the tamasik works in a mechanic fashion, the rajasikdrives too many horses, is restless and always doing something or other, and the satvik works with peace in mind.

Swami Sivananda, of the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh classifies karma into three kinds on the basis of action and reaction: Prarabdha (so much of past actions as has given rise to the present birth),Sanchita (the balance of past actions that will give rise to future births – the storehouse of accumulated actions), Agami or Kriyamana (acts being done in the present life).

The Discipline of Unattached Action

According to the scriptures, the discipline of unattached action (Nishkâma Karma) can lead to salvation of the soul. So they recommend that one should remain detached while carrying out his duties in life. As Lord Krishna said in the Bhagavad Gita: “To the man thinking about the objects (of the senses) arises attachment towards them; from attachment, arises longing; and from longing arises anger. From anger comes delusion; and from delusion loss of memory; from loss of memory, the ruin of discrimination; and on the ruin of discrimination, he perishes”.
12 Great Laws Of Karma
(Cause & Effect)
Learn more about what Karma really is and what Laws govern it.  Actually the law of karma is very simple and has been known for thousands of years.  It says:  Whatever you do to others – will be done to you, in this or any future incarnation of your soul.  This law is so straightforward and logical, it sometimes is hard to believe, that some persons still think they may somehow get around it.  If you knock your head against a wall, it is obvious – it may damage the wall and it may hurt your head.  If you knock someone by physically fighting – you may cause harm, pain, injury to the person and the law of Karma requires you to experience the same pain.  This is to have you learn to behave in a way that causes but pleasant experiences to others and yourself alike.  Until you start to become aware of your own behavior and start to be fed up with the result of your very own actions.  Until you start to strive for a more peaceful environment.  The only sure method of finding one is changing your very own behavior.  This law of karma applies for individuals as much as for families, groups, villages, cities, nations, cultures or even entire planets.  I thought perhaps my friends here could benefit from learning more about what Karma really is and what Laws govern it, that they might better understand it; and also to learn how to go about changing their thinking so that the Law Of Cause and Effect can assist them in bringing about the changes they want to see in their lives.
Here are 12 Great Laws of Karma that you must know:
  • Law # 1 :  THE GREAT LAW    “As you sow, so shall you reap”.  This is also known as the “Law of Cause and Effect”.  Whatever we put out in the Universe is what comes back to us.   If what we want is happiness, peace, love, friendship…  Then we should be happy, peaceful, loving and a true friend.
  • Law # 2 :  THE LAW OF CREATION     Life doesn’t just happen, it requires our participation.  We are one with the Universe, both inside and out.  Whatever surrounds us gives us clues to our inner state.  Be yourself, and surround yourself with what you want to have present in your life.
  • Law # 3 :  THE LAW OF HUMILITY    What you refuse to accept, will continue for you.  If what we see is an enemy, or someone with a character trait that we find to be negative, then we ourselves are not focused on a higher level of existence.
  • Law # 4 :  THE LAW OF GROWTH    “Wherever you go, there you are”.  For us to grow in Spirit, it is we who must change – and not the people, places or things around us.  The only given we have in our lives is ourselves and that is the only factor we have control over.  When we change who and what we are within our heart our life follows suit and changes too.
  • Law # 5 :  THE LAW OF RESPONSIBILITY    Whenever there is something wrong in my life, there is something wrong in me.  We mirror what surrounds us – and what surrounds us mirrors us; this is a Universal Truth.  We must take responsibility what is in our life.
  • Law # 6 :  THE LAW OF CONNECTION    Even if something we do seems inconsequential, it is very important that it gets done as everything in the Universe is connected.  Each step leads to the next step, and so forth and so on.  Someone must do the initial work to get a job done.  Neither the first step nor the last are of greater significance, as they were both needed to accomplish the task.  Past – Present – Future they are all connected…
  • Law # 7 :  THE LAW OF FOCUS    You can not think of two things at the same time.  When our focus is on spiritual values, it is impossible for us to have lower thoughts such as greed or anger.
  • Law # 8 :  THE LAW OF GIVING AND HOSPITALITY    If you believe something to be true, then sometime in your life you will be called upon to demonstrate that particular truth.  Here is where we put what we claim that we have learned, into actual practice.
  • Law # 9 :  THE LAW OF HERE AND NOW    Looking backward to examine what was, prevents us from being totally in the ‘here and now’.  Old thoughts, old patterns of behavior, old dreams…prevent us from having new ones.
  • Law # 10:  THE LAW OF CHANGE    History repeats itself until we learn the lessons that we need to change our path.
  • Law # 11:  THE LAW OF PATIENCE AND REWARD    All Rewards require initial toil.  Rewards of lasting value require patient and persistent toil. True joy follows doing what we’re suppose to be doing, and waiting for the reward to come in on it’s own time.
  • Law # 12:  THE LAW OF SIGNIFICANCE AND INSPIRATION    You get back from something whatever you have put into it.  The true value of something is a direct result of the energy and intent that is put into it.  Every personal contribution is also a contribution to the Whole.  Lack luster contributions have no impact on the Whole, nor do they work to diminish it.  Loving contributions bring life to, and inspire, the Whole.

Learn to live according to spiritual the rules of eternal life and improve the quality of your life.  Your mind, emotions, speech and actions are affected by this law.  The law of Karma explains why illness, accidents and disasters of any kind may occurs to some persons, and why others may enjoy a happy life, free, healthy and joyful.  Learn to properly apply this law for your personal benefit – it will be at the same time for the benefit of all.  Your life will become instantly easier – provided you follow all rules exactly to the word.

“How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.” -Wayne Dyer

Thank You Very Much.      Sompong Yusoontorn