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Karma or consequences?

Considerations on Karma

By Peter RosePublished 3 years ago 4 min read
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Karma or consequences?

Consideration of Karma

There are many people on this planet who understand and accept that; unless in defence of self, or those connected by love or loyalty; any human who deliberately and consciously does harm to another human; is usurping that individuals responsibility for themselves. The harm doer, in this situation, then forcibly becomes responsible for the well-being of the person they harm. Hence the circle of Karma starts.

When harm is done to another during the defence of self or those connected by love or loyalty; the responsibility- and so the karma- is with the attacker, not the human doing harm as part of defence. The warrior who does no deliberate harm to the innocent, is thus spared circles of bad Karma due to their defensive actions in combat.

Retribution, even as revenge, inflicted on a person who has done deliberate and consciously harm to another human; is a ”difficult” area for evaluation. If there is a degree of prevention (of future or further) acts of harm; then there has to be just cause-- that of defence. Defence that prevents further acts of harm. Thus punishment of crime should not initiate a fresh circle of Karma.

If our “wrongful” behaviour in a past life, leads to people in the present life, causing us distress; as part of our Karma, is this setting up bad Karma in the future of those causing the distress? How is such a circle to ever be closed? Will it result in ever widening, ever increasing, levels of wrongful behaviour? If the harm we suffer is due to Karma, which is a consequence of actions in a previous life, then we have to accept it. If a person is involved in causing us that harm, their motivation will indicate if a new circle of Karma is being opened or an old one closed. If their motivation is defensive that closes our old circle but if their motivation is spite or greed, they both close our old circle and open a new one on themselves.

One possible explanation of why this should not happen is; when we declare ourselves, or think of ourselves, as being “adult” human beings; we become responsible for our own well-being and happiness. If we then try to make others responsible for our own happiness, consciousness and wellness; then we are abdicating our personal responsibility and so rejecting the purpose of being a living human. If we then claim they have failed to make us happy and should be blamed, punished, for failing, we are attempting to dump our Karma on someone else, If Karma exists and has a purpose, trying to avoid it will not be possible.

Although there are many opinions about Karma, most seem to think any Karma effect is felt in the next reincarnation, the next earth life as a human. But what if Karma is spiritual? This would mean that the positive or negative Karma generated in one earth life, has to be dealt with by the spirit during its next “between earth lives” phase. The very basic concept of reincarnation is that there is a non physical part of a human, call it the spirit, that lives on in an ethereal state before the next incarnation. So there is no reason to suppose that this is a dormant period in the development of the whole person. In other words, how you have lived your physical life will determine how your spirit is treated when it separates from the physical body. This could be the origins of the ancient notions of heaven and hell but with the additional concept of a new earth life which comes after a period in either of these ethereal conditions.

Most of the “problems” we humans encounter are the consequences of past decisions and actions. These may not be decisions or actions we personally have taken. They may be consequences of decisions made by forefathers or even governments. The consequences of decisions made before we were born, or before we reached an age with the capacity to control our own lives, have a huge bearing on our lives yet can hardly bring our personal Karma into play. Unless of course, Karma has to be played out only during earth lives and is not something which can be dealt with while in spirit, between earth lives.

When you care for another human, mentally, physically or emotionally; then you become involved in their problems and their happiness, their Karma. How this affects your own Karma will depend on your motivation and the sincerity of your actions. It needs to be remembered that words are actions when caring or teaching.

Our modern world is one of constantly changing interactions and reactions between so many different individuals. Families and tribes are no longer able to find pathways to redemption and peace, by themselves. Each family, each tribe, even each religious belief system; is now irreversibly connected to all the other tribes and beliefs. Karma get confused and buried under a flood of interactions. Simplifying this to enable each individual the time and space to solve the riddles in their own minds takes effort. Paradoxically it is the effort of making no effort, it is the need for an empty mind, stillness and silence.

If the consequences of our attitudes and actions in this earth life are to be applauded or punished while in spirit, then this requires a new consideration. It would concur with the Christian belief that we get our reward, for being good, when we die but it also asks the question about any reincarnation starting again neutral, free of Karma. Each cycle of physical life and then spiritual ”life” is separated from previous cycles.

spirituality
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About the Creator

Peter Rose

Collections of "my" vocal essays with additions, are available as printed books ASIN 197680615 and 1980878536 also some fictional works and some e books available at Amazon;-

amazon.com/author/healthandfunpeterrose

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