The majority of us understand what karma is. For those of you unfamiliar, it is an Eastern philosophical term to describe the relationship between cause and effect. A more modern way to describe it comes in a phrase most of us are familiar with, “What comes around, goes around”. Today, we’ll consider this basic, but most important, Universal Principle to reveal its true meaning and purpose within our lives, and hopefully remove some of the misconception and misunderstanding that surrounds it. For the most part, karma must be understood as a very helpful and necessary tool to guide us in our lives, to provide us with some boundaries, to help us understand what it is we’re creating. It will provide us with self-awareness, a more clearly defined direction and, perhaps most importantly, a more complete understanding that all things are indeed connected. Let’s take a look.
Cause and Effect
My friends, before we really get into it here, I would like to point out a very important fact that you must accept within your hearts and minds in order for the Principle of Karma to make sense to you. When something makes more sense, we are much more willing to cooperate, this you know. What we need to fully realize is that karma has no intent to produce a punishment of any kind. We must remember, the universe is not cruel, the universe is based on love. From the highest perspective, from a purely mental or spiritual perspective, karma simply indicates the true nature of cause and effect, nothing more. Whatever we experience then, whether good or bad, is not personal. If we insist on making it personal, we must know that a loving God only wants us to gain in our self-understanding, so that we make better decisions in our lives. Let it be said, love doesn’t always feel good, but it is always necessary. If we are to be successful in our journey, we must know, beyond any doubt, that victimhood has no factual basis in our reality. Alright? Sometimes the truth is difficult to accept, but again, the truth will always set us free. Having clarified this matter, our purpose here in the physical world is to learn how to create. If we don’t understand what we’re creating, how can we fully engage with the creative process? In other words, every thought we entertain, every feeling we give our attention to and, most importantly, every action we take has an effect. If you recall, our thoughts, feelings, and actions create the reality we are living in, both in the present and what will be seen in the future. The reality we create, my companions, has an impact on not only ourselves, but those around us, and the greater world in which we exist as well. Do you see the validity and importance of “One Unified Whole”? Did you know that you are an integral and necessary part of this whole? What you believe, what you do, does matter. This, you must know. Getting back to the heart of the matter, without the Law of Karma in place, we could never see the positive impact we have, much less the negative. We must be fully aware of the results of our creation. We have much more control, you see, for the results indicate our movement and direction. Remember, for the most part, if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. It is difficult to always know the right way, but we can rest assured that our experience will show us. Karma, in essence, is a building process. When we choose correctly, the present moment feels better and more complete, our future opens wider, our vision becomes clearer. I think most of us understand this. The challenging aspect of karma is when we have those negative experiences. When something bad happens, it’s understandable we would feel victimized. But you see, there is always a why. If we engage with cause, we can effect change. I remind you, self-judgment is our enemy at this part of the process. Once this happens, everything stops. So hey, don’t do that! If we locate the why in our minds, our power returns. Things get difficult when we cannot find the reason to explain our current situation. Unfortunately, there are times when we may not know until some point in the future. This indicates the necessity of trust and faith. No matter how bad our experience may be, we must assume we are responsible at some level, even though the cause is not apparent. Again, no judgment here. If we do not have the answer now, acceptance needs to happen. Without acceptance, humility is entirely lacking, and the cause can never be revealed. A negative experience is indeed unpleasant, but feeling bad simply reminds us that something is out of place. All negative karma can be resolved when we understand it as an effect of incorrect thinking. This is always, without exception, the case. Do you see how our bad experiences are simply a gift of love? Love suggests to us an opportunity to change our mind. Once we do that, forward movement begins again, all possibility becomes ours. You see, the universe wants us to be successful, and feel good about our success. Karmic experience provides the guidelines. This is its intended purpose. Yes, we create our own path, but the path itself has already been provided. My friends, there is no contradiction in this statement of fact. We can infer, therefore, an established plan to underlie the creation of this path. A clearly defined path must have boundaries in order for us to see where we are going. It is quite narrow, this pathway, but its narrowness will ensure speedy travel. It is its narrowness that provides a required focus, for it is balance we must sustain. With a full awareness that the path is always well lit, however, we can rest assured that when we occasionally lose our way, we will indeed find our way back. The purpose of karma underlies and reveals this very simple reality.
The Plan
If we accept that an overall plan exists for us, all we really have to do next is pay attention. The difficult part is that we must be willing to change course if it becomes necessary. Remember, the ego doesn’t want to change its mind, for all that currently exists is all that can ever be. If you recall, the Plan is the same plan for all. For example, most of us have a basic understanding of the World Teacher’s message when He says, “See others as yourself, or, treat others as you want to be treated”. Most can sense the meaning and importance of this. Again, we have the implication that a greater whole is the true reality. So, the question arises, “If there is a plan, and all must eventually cooperate with it, then why do many continue to choose selfishness?” Returning to the Law of Karma, “Why do some seem to have everything, to be able to get away with the mistreatment of others, and there’s apparently no cost to them?” To put it simply, many have created what they need, they feel successful and complete, so there would be no need to change course. Unfortunately, their little world is the only world, they have no awareness of anything outside their own mind. Their wholeness is a small wholeness, for they have no understanding of the impact of their creation. To help us understand why this is the case, we bring in another aspect of the plan, the development of the heart, and the love it brings forward. This required element is totally lacking in the selfish. At a certain point on the path, the heart must be open in order to proceed further, and this will happen for each when the time is right. My friends, we have all been there, at that selfish place, we just do not remember. Compassion is ours. With a little honesty, we recognize that we’re all still working on the full development of love. Karma ensures this development, for if a person is able to love and give, but chooses not to, they will lead themselves down a path of isolation, and all they have acquired will be removed from them. But, again, karma provides opportunity, and opportunity comes from love. The opportunity presented with an undue and unnecessary isolation is a new awareness that there must be something more. Every person, when the pain of self-isolation becomes great enough, this pain of course being self-created, will see that their thinking about the true nature of reality is incorrect. A change of mind ensues. This is a universal gift available to all. The Higher Plan works. Is this plan the only thing that is? If there is only one plan, how do destiny and freewill fit in? Let’s briefly consider them.
Destiny
An overall plan implies that our lives are pre-destined. It almost feels like everything is already done. So, we ask, “What’s the point of it all then, why are we here?” My friends, I think we need to recognize that there is so much before us, so much to explore and experience, that we forget this, in and of itself, is the plan. Through our willingness, through our excitement, through our cooperation, we’re participating in destiny already! Believe me, we will never be bored! If we simply notice what is already available to us, the overall plan could only be that much greater. Don’t you want to know? With a little humility, with an honest sense of awe, there is no reason or motivation for us to deny the reality that is. We’re just getting started. We can expect the overall plan to be amazingly more than we could ever dream of. Our participation is all that is required. Forget about the pain and struggle, for these are temporary. Pay no mind to the limited capacity of the mind, for this, too, is temporary. At this time, my fellow souls, a necessary healing is upon us, and it is hard. It is challenging. Let’s move through it together, for a brand-new freedom, an incredible joy awaits. Destiny? You bet!
Freewill
What is freewill exactly? What is its necessity and proper application? If there is any universal or spiritual principle that is more misunderstood, it is this one. All we have to know about it, my friends, is that we have choices available to us, always. I must say, yet another gift from God! Is it difficult to choose? It is, for there is so much to choose from. Don’t worry, we’re given enough time to narrow these choices down, and subsequently the correct choice will be chosen, the correct decision will be made. We have no say over what the plan is, nor whether or not we will learn how to cooperate with it. Our freewill is therefore much more limited than we realize. That’s ok. Remember, the plan is good. Part of this plan is for us to make many decisions at every turn. Within these decisions, the plan works out. We bring the One Plan forward. Our freewill is indeed a gift, and its implementation and proper use is also quite simple. We have the ability to say yes or no. You see, we are needed too in all of this, my friends, for the plan cannot come forward until we say yes. What do we have to lose anyway, an opportunity to achieve eternal greatness? It is humanity’s decision, and the more that make this decision the better. Welcome to the spiritual path, life begins. My fellow companions, if there is anything we need to understand about freewill, it is that we must allow ourselves the willingness to make mistakes. Without them, we cannot know how to move forward. Remember, there is no bad deed, no misspoken word, no limited thought, no misapplied feeling that cannot be changed. All atrocity is healed and overcome by a simple change of mind. Karma, again, reveals its true nature.
A Few Reminders Along the Way
Be your own best friend, or you cannot truly be a friend to any other
Don’t let time get the best of you, choose the present moment
Know that every action has an equal reaction, it’s nothing personal, it’s the only way to learn
There’s no need to ever worry, you’ll get it right with every failed attempt
Healing is nothing more than choosing the next thing, right before your eyes
Life is amazing, all things, both good and bad
The glory is you and yours, my friend
The Higher Plan unfolds, opportunity therefore awaits!
*Fellow spiritual students, I try to keep things simple. There is so much that the overall plan has in store for us, but the World Teacher’s message gives each of us a great place to begin. Be kind and welcoming to your brothers and sisters, for all are needed to make the plan work out. Always forgive, for there is no place to go but forward. Do everything as best you can, and know, beyond any doubt, that all is well.
All my love and support