| News & Highlights | ||
| News Article # 1 by Bob | ||
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Three-Step Karma: |
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Most of the world's great religions are built upon three concepts, karma, reincarnation, and parinirvana. By way of definition, karma is experiencing both sides of a situation; reincarnation is the continuation of life; parinirvana refers to a condition of life after having gained the help of the first two. Since the experience of each of us is so very different, parinirvana has few features common to all. Once you get the first two forces, karma and reincarnation, working for you, a powerful personal ally will have been gained. Parinirvana can then arrive as a unique incident in its own time and way. Because they've been used for many centuries, these three terms often have elaborations attached, some quite colorful. In accord with my Taoist heritage, I've tried my best to strip away such material and provide only the essence. Karma refers to the consequences of what we do. Following the golden rule-do unto others as you would have them do unto you-is the easiest way to gain the help of karma and is the first step in its beneficial use. People often say, 'what goes around, comes around,' meaning that what we do is what we get. If you want a pleasant and productive life, you're much more likely to get it by behaving pleasantly and productively with others. The second step is the realization that people can best judge for themselves how to apply the golden rule, for accepting responsibility for self and allowing others to accept it for themselves is a necessary part of applying this rule. Sometimes people try to impose the golden rule by force or manipulation of others, and in so doing the effort usually causes more harm than good. Being responsible for self and allowing others to do the same may not be as simple as it first appears. Here is where reincarnation enters. If you can accept the idea that you've lived before (and will live again), it becomes obvious that you have done things you would not now do-most of us have, and we have also probably improved over time. Forgetting past lifetimes makes it easier to now live with ourselves and with others, thus illustrating the benefit of the veil of forgetfulness. Karma deals with our past errors in an impersonal manner and in a way making the punishments and rewards fit the old circumstances. By this means we are relieved of the responsibility for judging and correcting others and need be concerned only with our own behavior. When a person can admit that self has not yet achieved perfection, it may then be possible to recall past lifetimes and forgive self for whatever one disapproves. People can live very nicely without remembering a past life, for the system mercifully makes this possible. Thus, the only thing that's really essential is to act in accord with the golden rule and let others do the same. But if you want to go beyond those first two steps, the third step is to recall your entire experience. Yes, it may contain some agonies, but it probably also contains much of value and can largely explain why you are as you are and perhaps reveal some abilities you didn't realize you have. The recollection of past lives can tell you enough about yourself so you can begin to see something of the future. While the future is not fixed and depends upon choices people make, it is possible to perceive those things unlikely to change. By this means our appreciation of both past and future can be greatly extended, and I believe this helps make the present more enjoyable and rewarding. I consider karma, reincarnation, and parinirvana as parts of a system. By accepting these-not as a belief system but as working tools-anyone can learn to harness the power of the universe for one's own benefit and that of all. |
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| You may contact bob at bob@spiritway.com | ||
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