Theos-Talk Archives (April 2003 Message tt00062)

To:
Subject:
Monday, April 14, 2003

Re: KARMA justice, fairness, forgiveness


Dear Friend:

Lets together look at some of the principles that Theosophy offers, at
some of the concepts Theosophy says are basics:

1.	The Universe is a spiritual being and is UNIVERSAL. Nothing is left
out. There are no limits to the universe in terms of distance, time,
content. It is ALL.

2.	Every individual or particle in it has the same original basis --
the ONE SPIRIT. Hence, in essence we are all related as a close
family. The differences of individual outlook, of sentiment, of
physical body, etc...we sense now are the result of the restrictions
of the physical instruments (Personality) and education plays a large
part in this in terms of religion and politics.

3.	The Universe is highly complex. In order to cause all interaction
between its parts to be harmonious one law of HARMONY prevails
everywhere. It is the "golden Rule:" DO UNTO OTHERS As THOU WOULDST
HAVE THEM DO TO YOU." a wise man once said : "It is a harmony of
discords." Only a single Law prevails: honesty, fairness, generosity,
brotherhood. If there is any violation of this, then we harm some
aspect of the Universe and it reacts to show us our error. We may
call this suffering and pain -- but it is the result of the same type
and kind of suffering and pain that we had subjected anther or others
to. This continual fair and just and merciful interaction is called
KARMA -- reaction following the path of cause, always. But we don't
always recall the cause we set up, say in a past life.

4.	Reincarnation is the process of learning and of APPLYING universal
ethics and
morals. In a Universe of LAW there is no way we can hide or conceal
evil intents or actions. The immortal Spirit/soul returns again and
again to Earth like a pupil to his school room, to learn to think and
to discriminate between selfishness (and evil) and generosity (good).
These are the
eternal and unbreakable laws of the inner life of Nature (the whole
spiritual deific Universe).

Yes we can assist in helping a person to understand Karma and its just
actions. But we cannot assume another's burden. We each one make
their own changes, but there is always comfort to be given to assist
in this work by a generous soul. It is the duty of the parents and
elders to guide and discipline children and make them understand this
one law. The practice of brotherhood in the family in its relations to
all others has to be plainly visible to the children.

The responsibility to assist those who are impaired is primarily that
of the family -- but also of all neighbours -- who are the extended
family. This may be expected, but cannot be enforced.
Again, it is Karma rendering a situation where all can participate and
assist. But none is obliged to participate, and as a result, they
reap the karma of their choice without any interference or "judgment"
by others.

Our daily and momentary choices are forces, powers, and, are
inevitably going to be projected
into the future. We constantly choose what our future will be. Then,
when that arrives we are blessed if others near or remote assist in
making the situation more comfortable and bearable But, in the final
analysis we are the ones who chose the way in or out of such
situations.

If you can tell me how "forgiveness" works selfishly -- i.e. without
restitution to the victims we injured -- then I would like to know
abut it. The majesty of a fair and just law for all that renders
justice and not revenge is the way Karma appears to me. What about
the injured? are they not to receive recompense from the one that has
injured them? Who helps them ? Is it fair to leave them alone in
their sorrow? Is the wrong doer lacking in courage to admit he/they
are wrong ? and continue to hide their guilt? cowardly? Who
ultimately pays for wrong doing, or, for good actions?

How can "forgiveness" be considered unless an equal restitution is
PROMPTLY afforded to those who have been injured by us ? And WE HAVE
TO DO THAT WORK. Others cannot do it. Do we really think forgiveness
is possible? How would this be fairly administered? Who would
oversee this kind of administration? Can our prayers and sobs of
remorse (without due restitution to those harmed) cause any other
"power" to absolve our wrong doing? Have we learned the result of
evil practices ?

Have a look at these aphorisms:

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APHORISMS ON KARMA

(1)
There is no Karma unless there is a being to make it or feel its
effects


(2)
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.


(3)
Karma is an undeviating and unerring tendency in the Universe to
restore equilibrium, and it operates incessantly


(4)
The apparent stoppage of this restoration to equilibrium is due to the
necessary adjustment of disturbance at some other spot, place, or
focus which is visible only to the Yogi, to the Sage, or the perfect
Seer: there is therefore no stoppage, but only a hiding from
view.


(5)
Karma operates on all things and beings from the
minutest conceivable atom to Brahma. Proceeding in the three worlds
men, gods, and the elemental beings, no spot in the manifested
universe is exempt from its sway.


(6)
Karma is not subject
to time, and therefore he who knows what is the ultimate division of
time in this Universe knows Karma.


(7)
For all other men Karma is in its essential nature unknown and
unknowable.


(8)
But its action may be known by calculation
from cause to effect; and this calculation is possible because the
effect is wrapped up in and is not succedent to the cause


(9)
The Karma of this earth is the combination of
the acts and thoughts of all beings of every grade which were
concerned in the preceding Manvantara or evolutionary stream from
which ours flows


(10)
And as those beings include Lords of
Power and Holy Men, as well as weak and wicked ones, the period of the
earth's duration is greater than that of any entity or race upon it.


(11)
Because the Karma of this earth and its races
began in a past too far back for human minds to reach, an inquiry into
its beginning is useless and profitless.


(12)
Karmic causes
already set in motion must be allowed to sweep on until exhausted, but
this permits no man to refuse to help his fellows and every sentient
being.


(13)
The effects may be counteracted or mitigated by
the thoughts and acts of oneself or of another, and then the resulting
effects represent the combination and interaction of the whole number
of causes involved in producing the effects.


(14)
In the life of worlds, races, nations, and individuals, Karma
cannot act unless there is an appropriate instrument provided
for its action


(15)
And until such appropriate instrument is
found, that Karma related to it remains unexpended


(16)
While a man is experiencing Karma in the instrument provided, his
other unexpended Karma is not exhausted through other beings or means,
but is held reserved for future operation; and lapse of time during
which no operation of that Karma is felt causes no deterioration in
its force or change in its nature


(17)
The appropriateness
of an instrument for the operation of Karma consists in the exact
connection and relation of the Karma with the body, mind, intellectual
and psychical nature acquired for use by the Ego in any life


(18)
Every instrument used by any Ego in any life is
appropriate to the Karma operating through it


(19) Changes
may occur in the instrument during one life so as to make it
appropriate for a new class of Karma, and this may take place in two
ways: (a) through intensity of thought and the power of a vow, and (b)
through natural alterations due to complete exhaustion of old
causes


(20)
As body and mind and soul have each a power of
independent action, any one of these may exhaust, independently of the
others, some Karmic causes more remote from or nearer to the time of
their inception than those operating through other
channels


(21)
Karma is both merciful and just. Mercy and
Justice are only opposite poles of a single whole; and Mercy without
Justice is not possible in the operations of Karma. That which man
calls Mercy and Justice is defective, errant, and
impure


(22)
Karma may be of three sorts: (a) presently
operative in this life through the appropriate instruments; (b) that
which is being made or stored up to be exhausted in the future; Karma
held over from past life or lives and not operating yet because
inhibited by inappropriateness of the instrument in use by the Ego, or
by the force of Karma now operating.


(23)
Three fields of
operation are used in each being by Karma: (a) the body and the
circumstances; (b) the mind and intellect; the psychic and astral
planes.


(24)
Held-over Karma or present Karma may each, or
both at once, operate in all of the three fields of Karmic operation
at once, or in either of those fields a different class of Karma from
that using the others may operate at the same time.


(25)
Birth into any sort of body and to obtain the fruits of any sort of
Karma is due to the preponderance of the line of Karmic
tendency.

(26)
The sway of Karmic tendency will influence
the incarnation of an Ego, or any family of Egos, for three lives at
least, when measures of repression, elimination, or counteraction are
not adopted.


(27) Measures taken by an Ego to repress
tendency, eliminate defects, and to counteract by setting up different
causes, will alter the sway of Karmic tendency and shorten its
influence in accordance with the strength or weakness of the efforts
expended in carrying out the measures adopted


(28) No man
but a sage or true seer can judge another's Karma. Hence while each
receives his deserts, appearances may deceive, and birth into Poverty
or heavy trial may not be punishment for bad Karma, for Egos
continually incarnate into poor surroundings where they experience
difficulties and trials which are for the discipline of the Ego and
result in strength, fortitude, and sympathy.


(29)
Race-Karma influences each unit in the race through the law of
Distribution. National Karma operates on the members of the nation by
the same law more concentrated. Family Karma governs only with a
nation where families have been kept pure and distinct; for in any
nation where there is a mixture of family - as obtains in each
Kaliyuga period - family Karma is in general distributed over a
nation. But even at such periods some families remain coherent for
long periods, and then the members feel the sway of family Karma. The
word "family" may include several smaller families.


(30)
Karma operates to produce cataclysms of nature by concatenation
through the mental and astral planes of being. A cataclysm may be
traced to an immediate physical cause such as internal fire and
atmospheric disturbance, but these have been brought on by the
disturbance created through the dynamic power of human
thought.


(31) Egos who have no Karmic connection with a
portion of the globe where a cataclysm is coming on are kept without
the latter's operation in two ways: (a) by repulsion acting on their
inner nature, and (b) by being called and warned by those who watch
the progress of the world.


-- W Q Judge

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Best wishes to you,

Dallas

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-----Original Message-----


Dear D---s,

Thank you for your in depth explanation of Karma. May I ask if the
thought and intention is only to help another along the way, is it
possible to change another's Karma and lead that soul to a more
beautiful life?

If someone is mentally ill, doesn't the soul of the mother in that
experience have the responsibility to help that soul find its way?
Where can one make the differentiation between the Karma chosen by the
individual soul and the life that results from the traumatic events of
childhood?

Is there any hope of forgiveness in Karma?


Whatever light you can shed on this would be greatly appreciated.

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