Theos-Talk Archives (July 2002 Message tt00091)

July 8, 2002

Karma, Skandhas, Cause/Effect --


Dear Friends, and M and J:


May I break in ?

Any choice we make, Theosophy says, makes a Karmic link. It is
inevitable because of the energy and the power we expend and impress
on all that surrounds us, starting with our own physical bodies.

In fact we could with justice say that our present existence
represents the cumulation of all decisions we have made in this life
(up to now) and also of "unfinished business" from our past lives.
(But the "past lives" aspect may be disputed by those who see no
continuity in living, and are satisfied with a "One Life" condition
that leads to no particular future. I would call. that futility.)

As an example of this reasoning, the ancient community of Jains in
India, hold that our existence is due to the many aspects and forms of
Karma which have attached themselves to us ( taking us to be Spiritual
and Mind beings in a progressive evolution). Of course if this is
rejected as a concept this answer means nothing. Those aspects of
substance and Karma conjoined are what are called the "Skandhas," or
"Samskaras." [ Units of life impressed with the force of a person's
thoughts and desires. ] To the Jains the object of the wise man in
the present life, is to receive these effects and try to balance them
with understanding and equanimity. The reason for this is that the
future of the individual, will be ever more harmonious, and finally
the portals of Moksha, or Nirvana open before that Spirit-Soul ( which
they hold we are in our core-nature.) It seems that their concept of
a future beyond that is not definable in our terms, but of necessity,
the door of reincarnation closes for that Spirit/Soul and it vanishes
from our ken.

Theosophy, however is found saying that even the Nirvanees have to
"return" to the human life-stage at some remote future time, when the
rest of humanity has caught up with those fore-runners. ( see SECRET
DOCTRINE Vol II 79 bottom, also II 94, 233, 275, )

These aspects of Karma, which we have formed in the past, are the
eddies and snags we instituted when in that past of ours we either
assisted and harmonized with NATURE, or broke its laws and rules, --
either knowingly, or ignorantly. We reap their effects as snags or
benefits as we progress in our lives. They form the link of
cause/effect/cause that ever concatenates, one leading to the next -
as in a chain.

There is a general tendency to believe the rest of Nature is
insensitive and merely a support to our living, either individually or
collectively. This cannot be so, since the cooperative aspect of
nature prevails and supports in animation good, bad and indifferent
individuals, considering their type of motivation.

Te concept of motivation is an important one, because the whole set-up
of our world and universe, and of our life from moment to moment,
reflects this cooperative and interactive aspect of existence, as a
few moments of reflection reveals. ( At least it does so for me, as I
cannot visualize isolating myself as external and separate from this
environment -- the air, water, food and shelter which support my
physical existence. Of course others may think differently, but I am
not sure that there criteria, taken as a whole, makes complete and
viable sense. [ The idea of a "Personal God," and the idea that one
can "escape punishment" for evil done, are two of these. ]

Our self-image as IDEA means (at least to me) everything to our own
growth and progress. This IDEA is important to realize, to grasp. It
provides us with a mental base for reference as t past, and something
from which we can proceed in a future we have a hand in designing.

If we have a "self-idea" -- as to who or what we are, then we have
adopted that particular pattern of a combined mix of "likes and
dislikes" (emotions and desires) coupled with the MIND capacity to
imagine, think, remember, and forget.

But these are of course subservient to the REAL MAN -- the PERCEIVER,
the THINKER, and the OBSERVER who is unchangeable and immutable in us.
It is the real eternal human being.

This is something we prove to ourselves every moment we make a wish,
or paint an imaginary picture of what we would like our future to be,
or think about some past experience.

We are always detached from our records, our experiences, or hopes and
fears. They form the fabric of our consciousness at a lower level
than the FACT of our BEING.

We, THE BEING are the progressing, questioning, adventuring, seeking
SELF.

That's as I see it from my study in Theosophy.

Best wishes,

Dallas

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