Theos-Talk Archives (December 1998 Message tt00173)

A few extracts from SD re Karma:

"The ONE LIFE is closely related to *the one* law which governs the World of
Being - KARMA.  Exoterically, this is simply and literally "action," or
rather an "effect-producing cause."  Esoterically it is quite a different
thing in its far-fetching moral effects.  It is the unerring LAW OF
RETRIBUTION". (SD, I, 634).

"To make the working of Karma, in the periodical renovations of the
Universe, more evident and intelligible to the student when he arrives at
the origin and evolotion of man, he has now to examine with us the esoteric
bearing of the Karmic Cycles upon Universal Ethics." (SD, I, 637).

"Those who believe in *Karma* have to believe in *destiny*, which from birth
to death, every man is weaving thread by thread around himself, as a spider
does his cobweb; and this destiny is guided either by the heavenly voice of
the invisible *prototype* outside of us, or by our more intimate *astral*,
or inner man, who is but too often the evil genius of the embodied entity
called man.  Both these lead on the outward man, but one of them must
prevail; and from the very beginning of the invisible affray the stern and
implacable *law of compensation* steps in and takes its course, faithfully
following the fluctuations.  When the last strand is woven, and man is
seemingly enwrapped in the net-work of his own doing, then he finds himself
completely under the empire of this *self-made* destiny.  It then either
fixes him like the inert shell against the immovable rock, or carries him
away like a feather in a whirlwind raised by his own actions, and this is -
KARMA". (SD, I, 639).

"But verily there is not an accident in our lives, or a misshapen day, or a
misfortune, that could not be traced back to our own doings in this or in
another life", (SD, I, 643/644).

Best wishes,
Paul

>
> << Karma is the adjustment of effects flowing from causes, >>during
>>  which the being upon whom and through whom that adjustment is
>>  effected experiences pain or pleasure.
>
>
> I do not think one can call it a closed loop.  It is open ended.
> In other words when we find ourselves in a condition or
> circumstance our response to it either extinguishes, mitigates,
> or adds to the Karma that we will encounter in the future.
> As I see it, we are always involved in Karma and it is not
> compartmentalized except for purposes of understanding or
> analysis.  And such limits are always arbitrary and artificial.
>
> Karma is a continuous flow, one set of causes involving another
> set, and so on and on until we learn how to perform "necessary
> actions" which leave no trace of selfishness attached to them.  I
> think that it is the trace of self-interest that causes Karma to
> act to try to educate us into seeing that we have to be selfless
> and altruistic in all we do as we live.
>
> I think that is why we are invited to consider the universal
> ethics involved in all causative actions (feelings, thoughts,
> deeds) - they either are harmonious with Nature's laws or they
> are disharmonious and chaotic.  After all, we are a living and
> active part of Nature, and we cannot escape it easily.
>
> This is easy to say but hard to illustrate.  Also it sounds like
> we are de-humanizing ourselves.  It sounds like we are giving up
> our freedom of will, the freedom to decide (and take the
> consequences).  [  Just exactly what it is that "humanizes" us
> ? ]
>
> The question can well arise here:  are we the slaves of our
> environment, or are we kings and independent ?  Do we pilot our
> own ships or are we merely drops of water in an ever-moving
> stream that has objectives of its own in which we, as
> individuals, do not figure as more than occasional and very minor
> nuisances ?  WE are very important to ourselves - how important
> are we to others, and all the rest ?  If Nature is of the opinion
> that we are essential - hence, we exist -- then why are we given
> the independence to make errors ?  What are "errors ?"  Why are
> we supposed to be aware of "Nature's Laws (Karma) ?"
>
> The Universe is composed of far more beings with varying degrees
> of intelligence than we can presently enumerate.  Broadly there
> are those who have advanced further than we have, there are our
> contemporaries, and there are those who are behind us in the
> great program of education that "Evolution" or "Manifestation"
> represents (to me).  The "Whole" is composed of the interactions
> and interblending of these three broad categories of beings.
>
> All this is done under the Laws of Nature - which we so far have
> not been able to fully describe, although those that are used in
> the endeavors of Science have become well defined in so far as
> our present "matter" and its interactions physical,
> elector-magnetic and chemical are concerned.
>
> When we come to human interaction, psychology, sociology, and the
> moral laws that we sense govern society, we flounder.  Why should
> that be so ?
>
> I wonder if the psychology of antiquity, which Theosophy advanced
> over 100 years ago is not meant to be a tool for us to use more
> wisely.  For this we have to be able to separate the qualities of
> emotion from those of the mind.
> HPB in the Key to Theosophy (as also in the S D and elsewhere)
> gives the sevenfold nature of man perhaps for this purpose.  I
> have found value in its study.
>
> I have found the YOGA-SUTRAS OF PATANJALI to be very helpful, a
> also the APHORISMS ON KARMA which Mr. Judge recorded, a portion
> of which I quoted earlier.
>
> Hope this is of some help
>
> Dallas
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