I recently spent a little time in India and was touched by the warmth and wisdom of the locals with whom I spoke. Their commitment to family and to high ideals was paramount. Many of them also believe in karma and live their lives accordingly. Wanting to learn more about it, I found a book entitled The Law of Karma by Harish Chandra, Ph.D. in a most astonishing place. It is called the Sheroes Café, where the workers are women who had been abused and deformed by (former) friends, family members and strangers, often by having hot oil thrown in their faces. The reasons for committing these horrendous crimes were various and only recently are the perpetrators being brought to legal justice. It was humbling to see the victims working and talking with the patrons of the Café, willing to share their journeys and their increasing feelings of self-worth. I happened to see the book on the shelf and took it up to the register, only to be told that it wasn’t for sale but that I could have it. I handed her Indian rupees anyway and thanked her.
This book explains the underlying basis of the spirit of karma, which I understand to be that we humans have the freedom to perform a karma, which a Sanskrit word meaning all of our acts and deeds both practiced and spoken. It can also even include one’s thoughts. Karma is thought to affect self and others in a positive or negative manner, either now and/or in the future. It can also be defined as “we reap what we sow” and one is guided by “do unto others what one wants others to do.”
Karma can affect one directly or indirectly. Because we have maximum freedom (to act and think), we have enormous responsibility. The law of karma, then, is steady encouragement to be on the right track in life. We should constantly be seeking a better quality of karma. The law has given rise to ethical and moral living in the present time, because now is when we feel its effects, yet it is eternal. The law also states that a devil person’s repeated and unrepentant evil acts will strike that person in a devastating measure. One does not know when or how bad karma will come back.
We have the freedom to choose our karma out of our free will. There are no tricks for escaping your bad karma and there is no forgiveness for it. There is only the remedy of changing one’s behavior in order to perform good karma; the reward will then be to receive good karma.
The law of karma is far more complex than what I’ve summarized here, but I find the theory so compelling. We see all around us people engaged in evil behavior, often enjoying quick gains. Eventually, however, they will experience a catastrophic reversal in some manner. The people engaging in good karma are resilient, feel less pain, and enjoy much pleasure in life. Basically, we should always follow good conscience. There is no place for hypocrisy in the law of karma. If you give joy and happiness to others, you will get it in return.
The application of the law of karma to our everyday lives is obvious and seems relatively simple. Yet, it requires conscious thought and positive action in order for it to occur. I urge us all to actively pursue good karma. Those who pursue bad karma, such as the evil people who disfigured the women at the Sheroes Care, do so at their peril. This is basic, yet so enormous.
