Sometimes we think that karma is a mysterious condition that is inscribed on our forehead and we have to suffer its consequences for the rest of our life. In some spiritual traditions, karma is explained as something bad or something good that happens to you, like fate, and you have no control over it. So we are supposed to have “good karma” or we can have “bad karma”.

The Wisdom Teachings explain karma to be the result of the law of cause and effect. Karma is neutral. It can be seen as good or bad, depending on how you view your life. Things may seem bad from one perspective, but not so bad when seen from a different, more expansive perspective. Things may seem personal from one perspective, and global when viewed from another.

One thing for sure: karma compels us to make changes in our life. As we learn the science of cause and effect, we begin to put causes in place that result in what we do want and what is indeed good for us.

Someone once said to me: “When you plant potatoes, you get potatoes. So, why would you expect tomatoes and be surprised and upset when you get potatoes?” We get what we plant in life. We may see the results in this lifetime, or the results may manifest in the next lifetime. Whatever we put in place conditions our life and, by way of relationship, also conditions the lives of everyone.

Similarly, if we plant nothing, we get nothing!

If we live a life of higher principles, then everyone benefits from our choices. If we live a life of deception and ugliness, people around us will suffer as much as we will. For example, the global financial crisis is a reflection of a life lived completely against higher principles. The crisis is not simply one of financial mismanagement by the few, but a life that ignored higher values by a large number of people. All of humanity suffers the karmic consequences of depraved leadership and selfish living.

What are the higher principles of life? They are beauty, goodness, righteousness, joy, freedom, striving toward perfection, and service to others. If you exemplify these principles, the results will be reflected in your life and in all of life.

Karma is a pattern in our physical, emotional, and mental bodies that have been created by what we do. This is karma by commission.

Karma is also produced by omission, what we do not do. We may be afraid to do something, or we may think we are not needed, or we may think our work is not important or useful. For whatever reason, we refrain from doing something and we create conditions in our life as a result of omission. We may be insensitive to the feelings of others and wonder why our relationships suffer. Or, we may stay focused on our own needs and sensitivities and shrink back every time someone confronts us. Omission isolates us and keeps us at a “safe” distance away from both others and from our inner self. We will suffer the karma from this omission until we realize that we cannot be isolated from others nor from our inner being.

Karma also presents huge opportunities for learning the sacredness and beauty of life. It is life flowing all around us. I am often asked the profound question: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” People suffer and are born with challenges that try their very souls. These conditions are not meant to punish us, but are rather opportunities to learn the inner qualities of life. I have met men and women who face tremendous life challenges, losses, and grief and they are able to dig deep into their very being and learn how to cope, how to grow, and how to believe in the divine mysteries of life in ways that others can never understand. I met such a person recently. She had experienced deep loss and grief. Yet, she showed a depth and sensitivity to life that I had never seen before. I was awed and inspired by her. She came to talk to me and ask for my help; it was I who received a gift from her. For the rest of that day, I was in a space of wonder and inner search. I could not simply continue my work. I had to stop and take notice; she changed me. I asked myself: How would I respond to similar circumstances? She chose to respond to karma, and she became so deep and so mature and beautiful to behold.

We really do not know the exact sources of karma. Is it commission, omission, or life happening around us? It could be directly related to what we do and do not do, or it could be the tests brought to us by our Guardian Angel to help us grow in greater dimensions. Karma is often not personal at all, but related to the growth and expansion and maturation process of all humanity. We all face similar problems and we can grow through them.

How to deal with karma? Certainly not by fear and blame. It is deeply wounding to our heart to continuously blame our life on our bad karma and succumb to it. It is just as deeply hurtful and opportunistic to say to someone that this or that condition is their fault, their karma. The best way to deal with karma is to learn about the law of cause and effect and learn how to put causes into place that will result in what we want, truly want. If you don't know what specifically to do about your challenges, then serve and give to anyone who needs your help so that your spiritual savings account is filled up. This builds inner strength; it brings blessings and healing to you. Then, when you face a challenge, you can draw on that “bank account,” the source of your true inner strength.

Karma teaches us the unity of life, the unity of all peoples and relationships. It teaches us how we are connected to all of life in an organic whole. Our life is a tapestry of many threads and colors and weaves. This tapestry is woven and it grows, life after life. It follows us in the subtle planes and into the manifested planes. We can never escape the results of our life choices or actions. We can never escape by ignorance. And, we can never escape the life that others weave around us. Life will teach us, and eventually, we will make conscious choices that help us soar into a higher consciousness and learn to live a life that is connected and unified.

Here is a link to a short YouTube clip on what is karma.

Enjoy!
Gita

1. Karma and Reincarnation by Torkom Saraydarian.
2. YouTube clip is taken from an all day Seminar presented by Gita Saraydarian on the topic of Adaptation to Higher Values presented in November 2008.