Mar 18 2009
Understanding Karma
Karma is the universal law of cause and effect, which states that to every thought, act or word, energy is taken into the universe that will ultimately affect our current reality. It is in accordance with the Newtonian principle that every action produces an equal and opposite reaction!
Understanding how Karma works and its importance, is part of understanding ourselves. Some believe that when something negative happens in our lives it must be Karma and vice versa, however, not everything negative that happens in a person’s life is necessarily “bad.” Although, it may have a negative impact on our current situation it could, in turn, have a positive lesson! Did I lose ya’, yet? Let me give an example: Your significant other leaves you for another! Your heart is broken, you feel betrayed and you swear that you will never love again! This is a terrible time in your life…for the moment. Three weeks later a car runs a stop sign and hits your car! Nobody is hurt; you and the other driver get out of the car to go over the damage and…WOW! Is he cute! Next thing you know you just met the man of your dreams and live happily ever after. Would that be bad Karma? Of course not, it’s just a necessary series of events that brought you to where you are supposed to be!
So, can we create our own Karma? Well, if we consider the fact that we are responsible for our own actions and thought’s; than, yes! By being in control of our present, we in turn, control our future! There are three kinds of Karma; satvik karma, rajasik karma and tamasik karma. Satvik Karma is a form of karma that is selfless and usually for the benefit of another; it is a rare form of karma, as selflessness is a rare act. Rajasik Karma is a selfish form of karma, in which the act is only done for yourself for some form of reward. Then there is tamasik karma, the worst of the three, these consist of acts which are accomplished with no concern of consequences, such as murder.
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
- Unknown
One of the cool things to come out of quantum mechanics is the concept that cause and effect are not a one-way street. The effect changes the cause as much as the cause changes the effect.
Pretty interesting when you apply that concept to Karma. Actions affect consequences and consequences affect the actions. Our minds order them in a logical sequence that we experience as time.
It’s all a mirage, but I thought it was well stated in this quote (I can’t remember where I read it).
There was faith healer of Deal
Who said “Although pain is not real,
when the point of a pin goes into my skin
I dislike what I fancy I feel”.
Good post.
What a great quote! Thanks for sharing it!!