Karma: What Does It Mean?
Karma. We all hear this word banded about and most people think it means something along the lines of “What goes round comes round.” Really, it has many meanings, and some are much deeper than that! I once heard it likened to Newton’s Law of Motion: “For every action there is an equal but opposite reaction.” Every negative action, word or thought we put into the universe will come back to us. On the flip side, every positive action, word or thought we give out will come back to us too.
In some western schools of thought there are 12 laws of karma. Some of them seem like common sense at first glance, but others are a little more complex!
- The Law of Cause and Effect
What you give is what you get. The big thing here is to treat others as you wish to be treated, you then will not evoke the negative side of karma, only the positive.
- The Law of Creation
Things around us do not just magically appear. We have to participate in life and create opportunities. If you have created something you do not like, remember this is a reflection of your inner state, so ensure you surround yourself with things that you want to have in life and this way you are true to yourself.
- Law of Humility
If all we see is nastiness, negativity and hate then we are not focused on a higher level of spirituality. We will be what we see. If, however, you change what you see, refuse to focus on the negative, turn it around and see the positivity and beauty in life, then your life will reflect what you see and feel. We have to change within for the outside to change.
- The Law of Connection
We are all connected. Everything is connected. There is not one thing or one person who is above or more than the next or last. All are needed for tasks to be completed. Every step taken is of equal importance and significance.
- The Law of Focus
This is about being focused on one thing and living life by that one thing only. The simplest way of explaining this is that if you are spiritual and you focus on the beauty and positivity of life, you should focus less on lower thoughts and emotion, such as anger, hate, revenge or avarice.
- The Law of Responsibility
If you feel that something is wrong in your life then there is. We have to take responsibility for our own lives and not blame others for things that we perceive are wrong.
- The Law of Giving and Hospitality
This is all about demonstrating the truth that you believe in. What you believe in you must live by and put into practice. Basically, don’t be a hypocrite!
- The Law of Here and Now
You can’t be in the present if you’re constantly looking back. Nor can you be in the present if you are constantly looking forward to the future. It’s easy to be anxious or worried if you’re facing away from the present.
- The Law of Patience and Reward
Try to be patient and enjoy what you are supposed to be doing and the reward will come in good time. This law is all about acknowledging and believing that rewards are given for hard work. Anything worth having is worth working hard at. Nothing comes without hard work.
- The Law of Change
This is one that a lot of us fall foul of. If we revisit a situation it’s important to remember we cannot live in the past, nor can the past be in our present. History shouldn’t repeat itself otherwise, we will have the same outcomes and nothing new is learnt. I always equate this one to relationships. If a relationship breaks, the only way forward is for something to change, otherwise the same outcomes will occur. History will keep repeating until we learn the lessons of the past. So, if you find you are making the same mistakes, ask yourself why.
- The Law of Growth
You and you alone are responsible for yourself: Your own actions, your own words, your own thoughts and your own deeds. All you have is yourself within your own spirituality. If you wish to grow then you must accept yourself and change what needs to be changed; only you hold yourself back from spiritual growth, not anyone else. When we change inside, it will reflect on the outside.
- The Law of Inspiration and Significance
You get back what you put in. Everything has a value but this is defined by the true intent and energy that is put into it. If you put love and goodwill into your action, this will inspire and therefore be significant. If you do not put love or good into your actions and just do something half heartedly, this will not inspire and will lack the significance to impact on anything.
I hope this gives some clarity on the Laws of Karma. Remember do good and you attract good karma. It’s not all bad!
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