Every belief system has their threat of punishment in order to keep us in line. For many western religions it is the promise of eternity in Hell. For others, like Hinduism and Buddhism, the promise that the sum of one’s actions in this life will decide their fate in future lives. Basically, behave badly and you’re likely to come back a banana slug. Karma.
Funny how the word ‘Karma” gets thrown around so much by people who are not Hindu or Buddhist. It’s taken on a new meaning when used in common language and is basically a shorter way of saying “what goes around, comes around.” Not in a future life, but in this one, since most of the people borrowing the word ‘Karma’ don’t believe in reincarnation. The notion is that everything will catch up to us and people will get what’s coming to them. This strongly held belief brings people comfort when they feel they’ve been wronged and can’t even the score. They have faith that Karma will prevail and people will get their just desserts in the end.
After all, isn’t that often the case? Watching the downfalls of corrupt public figures has become a favorite American pastime. Some people have a tendency to relish in the bad fortune of others when they feel it’s warranted; they claim it to be Karma catching up to them – the Universe at work.
I now have a better understanding of Karma and I can tell you that’s half correct. Remember that television show, My Name is Earl where Jason Lee’s character had a list of all the bad things he’d done and in every episode he sought to repair/fix/undo one of them in order to fix his Karma? Well, not everything can be undone, but Karma can be repaired. We all have this power.
According to Javier “LayArka” Perez-Karam, Founder of OurBusyMinds.com:
“Karma is no more than the habitual pattern with which we engage with reality. The actions we take, the words we say, and the thoughts we have, in a
way, define us, and shape the lens through which we experience our
lives.”
For example, if you lie a lot, those lies are going to shape who you are – you are going to become a liar. You’ll need to lie to back up your lies and eventually, you’re going to find yourself in a big old mess. Not because of some cosmic voodoo, but because that was the lens you were living your life through.
The word “Karma” is sanskrit for “action” and it refers to the law of actions and their effects. It is not meant to be used to suggest reward or punishment. It’s much more neutral and natural; do good things and good things will come. Do bad thing and bad things will come.
The amazing thing, though is that at any moment, we can change the lens! The actions we take, the words we say, and the thoughts we have shape the lens. These three create our mental habits or “Karma.” With each new act, word and thought, we can change the idea of who “we are” and how “things are.”
If the liar stops lying and begins to unravel his web, he can begin to switch his lens from that of “liar” to that of “honesty.” There will most likely be some fallout in the beginning, but over time, he will attract more honest people and live a more peaceful life. Less bad things will find him since he is no longer doing bad things. Like Bilbo Baggins said, ‘”Stay out of trouble and no trouble will come to you.” Karma.
If we want to be happier, we can begin by being happier for others, like I wrote in last week’s post, “Practicing Mudita.” If we have guilt over how we have handled some relationships and worry about that Karma, we can switch the lens and begin to work on improving relationships.
The people who worry most about their Karma are those who do not practice right action, right speech or right intention. Instead of worrying while continuing to view life through the same blurred lens, let’s switch out the lens for one that’s clearer and begin to live rightly.
Like wiping a dirty lens, we can begin to wipe away our Karma as long as we’re willing to see things differently.
great post!