Theos-Talk Archives (June 1998 Message tt00272)

Kym asks :--

"But, I cannot even fathom how a turnip would generate karma - if karma
is causation, I can't figure out where/how the turnip "caused" and where
one could pin "motive" on the turnip.  It doesn't seem "fair" that a
turnip should chalk up karma points when it is simply doing what is
natural and required for a turnip to do."

KARMA, comes from the root KRU to do or to act.  Karma therefore implies
action with its concomitant reaction.  Hence everything by its mere
existence-for it IS, and therefore is a "Be-ing"--acts, and hence causes
a reaction.   Hence APHORISM No. 5 states, "Karma operates on all things
and beings from the minutest conceivable atom up to Brahma."

As the Atom is a whirling group of neutrons, protons and electors, in
the atom these are acting and making (causing) according to their number
the elementary chemicals of the Periodic Table, with their atomic
weights.   The study of the actions and reactions of these chemicals
with each other make for the study of the LAWS of Chemistry.   Each
chemical has its inherent natural properties, in association-when
meeting up with other chemicals, they combine to form COMPOUNDS,  with
new-very different from their parentage-properties; and Compounds can
act and react with other simple chemical or compounds, the offspring of
these unions diverse and multifarious.

The result of these combinations, show up in our Mineral Kingdom,
Vegetable Kingdom and Animal Kingdom.  When we begin to see unicellular
and multi-cellular beings, we see their movements as those of living
beings, manifesting what has been called LIFE.  While Occultism has held
that every atom which acts and reacts with other atoms and beings, is
showing LIFE,  hence Occultism' fundamental principle is that Life or
JIVA (sometimes called PRANA = breath, in those that breath) is
Universal and defused everywhere.  ALL IS LIVING.

In the Mineral, Vegetable and Animal Kingdoms,  with their vast
varieties, of species and genera, we see the evolutionary power of
manifesting LIFE growing and developing as organic and in organisms;
causing these manifesting in their totality our Earth.  Hence going back
to an earlier held doctrine that Mother Earth, itself as a totality,  is
a living organism, GAIA, some of the New Age thinkers talk this way now.

All the multifarious beings composing these three kingdoms, like the
chemicals, have their properties of form or shape, color, organic
structure, behaviour acting and reacting to their environment and
circumstances.  The study of the LAWS of these beings make up our study
of  Geology, Physics,  Botany, Biology, Physiology,  Pathology,  etc.,
etc.   And result in all the variety of courses our Universities offer
under these headings, divided and sub-divided endlessly.   All these
beings,  have their natures imprinted within them, they act by natural
impulse-in animals the word instinct could also be introduced, their
LAWS are inherent.  Outside of the mineral kingdom, where a genetic code
exists, their actions as to how to develop into their special species,
genera, are all laid down, in for the most cases in great details and
unerringly-some slow evolutionary changes, and fast mutations apart,
then these too maybe hence forth be transmitted.

The "turnip" with its seed which holds the properties to be
unfolded-enACTed-into  its particular shape of roots, leaves, with its
color, its flavour is ALIVE.  It being alive, can transmit its
peculiarities of minerals, enzymes, hormones, vitamins, etc., to
effecting changes in the soil in which it grows, to other beings
consuming it,  the caterpillar, the animal grazer or the man.  Being
alive, it can pass on those living properties to the benefit of other
organisms.  It acts by natural impulse.  The inherent intelligence of
its kind.

These Kingdoms which unlike man have not had individual mind MANAS
awakened, have no self-knowledge (I am a turnip, not a rose, bean or
something else) nor do they have other-knowledge (about the rose, bean
or something else).  They enACT  only their own programmes-their
genetically encoded behaviour.   Man has reached that stage in the
evolutionary progression where self-awareness and other-awarness has
developed.  Hence we have these University courses about the things
around us.  With this awakening man questions nature and him/herself.
Man wonders if vegetarianism is better or worse the tiger or the deer
have no such moral dilemmas to puzzle them.  Nor the further
responsibility to make choices.  KARMA for man has added dimensions,
which the mineral, vegetable and the animals have not to contend with.
But these Kingdoms are continually acting and interacting, according to
the Laws of their inherent natures, according the Karma.

But here this topics development,  may well end.   Fraternally,
Sophia
…………………………
Just finished reading Kym's remarks of  June 11th

>>"I must say Jerry and Alan do have convincing points in that
consequences (karma) should be experienced very soon after the action in
order for one to learn and understand fully what one is supposed to
learn and understand fully.  It really does not make sense that a human
is dealing with the consequences of events that happened eons ago - this
very process adds to the frustration of humanity and is reflected in the
rise of fundamental religions and cults.   [???time lag???] Popular
reasons for our suffering include "God is testing you/us." or "If Eve
hadn't eaten the apple, humanity wouldn't be in the trouble they are
in." or "There is a hell." or "There is a heaven." Or "God is dead."  >>
Yes, indeed there is am immediate reaction within the actor,  we have
placed weightage on to those characteristics, tendencies of character,
which put in motion our action.  Whether it was conciderate, helpful,
peaceful, contentious, harmful, hateful, jealous, self-righteous,
acquisitive, exclusive, etc., etc., we have increased that particular
habit within ourselves, and have made it much easier to repeat a similar
motivated action again.  Each time we repeat it become easier and
easier, to do the good, the bad, or the indifferent.  Future actions
will most likely be energized from the previous powerhouse that we have
created in a particular direction.  But this is all within the actor.

What of the repercussions of our actions as they move out to other
people and things animate and inanimate?  An unkind word or action, will
hurt and effect the recipient for some time to come, may even sour their
whole attitude to a sex, a caste, a religion, a race and this will have
its run of action for sometimes years to come.  You may say that now
karma, is that persons, how they react to what was done to them, yes,
that is also true.  But the spark off which might ignite a conflagration
and its consequences, have to traced back to the initiator of the
original action.  Then as we watch a pebble thrown in a bucket, a pond,
or a lake, or into a sea, will set every atom of water into motion
eventually.  It takes time for all these to be effected.  Then the waves
start back to the point of origin, sometimes more than once, until
equilibrium returns.  Easier to see and conceive of in a bucket, gets
more complex in pond, and worse and worse the larger the body of water,
in which other waves and currents are all in movement.  Time for the
action with its coexistent motion to reach the confine, is necessary, in
order for the consequences to start returning back.  This is karma as it
effects others, and the world at large.  Hence immediacy, or one life,
will not be able to provide the time for the return of the causes as
effects to return to the point of origin.
Hence it may come in future lives.  Example, a person creating a grave
injustice in their Will which becomes active only after their death.
They in preparing the Will  have already increased their dendencies for
injustice.  But what of the physical effect of the Will's enactment,
after they have left their body.  Future lives alone give the
possibility of the readjustment of the injustice.  This is a very
obvious example but there are less obvious ones, that also taking time,
will have to return for opportunity of creating equilibrium, and
adjusting the disturbed harmony.  The curtain of forgetfulness, is
dropped upon most of humanity, for many do not have the strength of
character to either bear, what they would look upon as injustice meted
out to them in former lives and would seek revenge, or be able to bear
the horror of the mistakes and dreadful actions they themselves may have
committed.   It is taught that we are the sum of our tendencies of
character (skandhas).  Man know thyself, is the dispassionately be able
to assess our faults, weaknesses, and our strengths, and know this is
the result of previous actions.  Then to work upon the eradication of
weaknesses and faults, and the increasing of our worthwhile tendencies.
Sophia