Theos-Talk Archives (August 1998 Message tt00475)

Aug 28th 1998
                                What is Karma and where does it Operate ?

Dallas offers:

IMHO What HPB taught at the beginning of the theosophical Movement covers
the basic ideas of karma and the power of free-choice that is ours as human
beings.

There is in each of us an aspect of the Universal Spirit.  Karma is one of
its operational factors.  It operates to bring the Universe into existence
and takes note of our thoughts and feelings and acts.  It is always
educative, and not punitive.

Bad karma" is a misnomer.  It is simply the fact that sensitive nature
around us, takes notice of our motives and acts, and brings to us, sooner or
later, the exact result that those have induced.  We may think we have
secured an advantage, or that we have settled a score with some other human
being by putting them in difficulty.  But if we have done this and know that
it was a wrong thing to do, we are going to eventually "suffer" from our own
error.
We always KNOW when we are doing wrong.

Land mines are no exception and those who have assisted in their
construction, placement and ultimately in the harm they do to unknown other
beings will sometime have to suffer the consequences.

As far as I have been able to determine the view that Theosophy offers is
that all action whether it be thought, feeling, emotion, or actions --
anything involving CHOICE involves Karma.

Karma as HPB describes it ( a review of what she writes in THE KEY TO
THEOSOPHY is helpful, if we want an accurate description of the Law)
operates to bring on manifestation.  The Great Dhyanis (the WISE ONES )
operate to do this, using the matter from previous Manvantaras, and they do
it under the LAWS of the UNIVERSE.

Humankind, because of its presence at the balance point of nature in its
general evolutionary process is given the "Mind." -- the power to think, the
poser to know the various Laws that govern all that is about him, and his
own progress.

To do this we evolve a "personality" and this includes in our emotional
nature likes, dislikes, uncertainties, knowledge and these are usually quite
unorganized.  The MIND is a tool which enables us to observe and to organize
them.  It is part of the "personality" but not under its control.  In point
of evolution it is a superior power.  It is impersonal, detached, and able
to analyze motive, volition, emotion, and impulse.

Essentially MIND is a portion of the INDIVIDUALITY -- the REAL EGOIC ENTITY.
This "Individuality (or MONAD)" is said in Theosophy to include:

1.    SPIRIT  (or rather a "ray" of the ONE UNIVERSAL SPIRIT);

2.     BUDDHI, or Wisdom that has been acquired as the experience of the
MONAD through all its evolution up to the present.  This ATMA-BUDDHI, taken
together are called by HPB the MONAD in evolution, as they are indissolubly
linked,  And then

3.    MANAS -- the Mind.  With all its many powers and functions [ see
PATANJALI's YOGA-SUTRAS for a full description ]

The MIND serves as a link to the "Personality" through the thread that is
called "Sutratma" or the "thread-soul."  It links the HIGHER MANAS with the
LOWER MANAS ( or the embodied mind).

In terms of Karma the personality generates it all the time.  The
INDIVIDUALITY is always detached and is always in complete harmony with
Universal KARMA.

The purpose of living for us, humans, is said to be to develop (with our
"embodied-mind -- Lower Manas) an understanding of the operation of Law in
all of Nature's departments and especially in the area of our ability to
make free and independent choices.  The MORAL/ETHICAL factor is the
important faculty to master and develop in this stage of our evolution.  The
first and primary faculty of the MIND is its independence -- its free-will,
and its power to choice.  hence our advancement in the evolutionary scheme
is said to be "probationary."

This is to be carefully understood as our not being the "tools" or subject
to the manipulations of a supposed "personal God," angel, Demon, etc., etc.,
Therefore Theosophy advances the idea that we are linked DIRECTLY through
the INDIVIDUALITY to the ONE SPIRIT.  We carry in ourselves its entire
potential.  We educate ourselves and we end up initiating ourselves.

In regard specifically to the question of our ability or inability to chose
the right thing, or to choose "between two evils" implies that we,
interiorly, know what the RIGHT THING IS.  Or, we would not have a sense of
a "bad" thing

Now I may be in error in offering this, and some aspects of karmic action
and reaction are not considered here -- as for instance the effect on our
"skandhas" (or little lives) when we make bad decisions -- and how they
become the "carriers" of our "bad" karma.

But there is food for much consideration here, I think.

Best wishes,
                                                    Dallas TenBroeck
                                                       dalval@nwc,net

> Date: Friday, August 28, 1998 12:06 PM
> From: "Rodolfo Don" <rdon@garlic.com>
> Subject: Re: 1/3 of Adults in the USA on online

>>I had thought to stay out of this thread, but there is importance in my
>>answer.
>>
>> Far too many people have the belief that if something is wrong (or
>>generates personal karma), then it should not be done. But our choices
>>do not always include the right thing. Sometimes, we have a choice of
>>nothing but evils, and must choose between them. It is easy for those
>>not forced into such a position to force a choice on others, based on
>>arbitrary criteria, when that choice may be far worse than others.
>>
>> Such is the case with land mines. Land mines are bad things, and they
>>cause much suffering. But by some strange coincidence, none of the
>>countries that ratified the land mine agreement have hostile enemies
>>across a land border from them. For the countries that do, then the
>>evils of land mines pale before the possibility of being overrun,
>>enslaved, and slaughtered.
>
>Interesting that Tibet never used land mines to protect itself from China,
>even if they were threatened, and finally overrun and occupied by Chinese
>forces.
>
>There is no good reason to endorse the use of land mines.
>
>Rudy Don
>
>>
>> The United States government understands this, and that is why they do
>>not and will not endorse the land mine agreement.
>>
>> Bart Lidofsky
>>
>>M K Ramadoss wrote:
>>>
>>> At 08:02 PM 8/27/1998 +0100, you wrote:
>>> >mkr wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >>The recent success in banning land mines was possible because all the
>>> >>coordination between activists in various countries was done using
e-mail.
>>> >>I am sure there are other applications where it is showing its
>>> >>effectiveness as a tool.
>>> >
>>> >It is apparently very effective as far as pornography, paederasty, etc,
go?
>>> >I thought I heard a figure of 70%, but find it difficult to believe.
>>> >Perhaps it was 17%, which still seems high.  Does anyone know the
>>> >percentages of the different applications on the internet.
>>> >
>>> >Also it is potentially good for business.
>>> >
>>> >Also for the many shades of "spiritual" groups.
>>> >
>>> >Have the US actually ratified the land mines agreement?
>>>
>>>         Not yet.
>>
>>
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