Theos-Talk Archives (April 1999 Message tt00033)

In a message dated 4/5/99 1:13:48 AM, Peter wrote:

<<So it seems to me that when we say
that we can eliminate our past Karma by forgiving ourselves or that we can
eliminate future Karma just by not having expectations of reward and
punishment, this is a very superficial view of Karma.>>

I would never say "eliminate Karma."  I checked back, and I did not write 
"eliminate."  Not to quibble.  But the point is not to "eliminate" karma 
anyway, but to break the bonds that hold us to limited perception, limited 
compassion.  I do agree that forgiveness of ourselves may well open the door 
to new and better Karma, rather than carrying around baggage year to year 
from which springs not one but an ongoing chain of "causes" each leading to 
karma.  In the Voice of the Silence HPB writes, "look not back or thou art 
lost" (I may be paraphrasing).  To constantly rehearse one's deeds without 
forgiveness is to keep the causes in motion, to keep repeating the act 
mentally as it were.  But I don't think forgiveness, whether personal or 
impersonal, "eliminates" karma.

Nor do I think giving up expectations and attachments to ordinary mundane 
categories eliminates Karma either.  The Adepts warn that Their every act 
opens  the door to an equal and opposite act from Their opponents, 
particularly on the material plane, which is *one* reason They avoid 
paranormal phenomenon unless necessary.

But I do submit for consideration that the general understanding of Karma 
among Theosophists is simplistic, and in a word, linear (not "wrong" 
however).  You write:

<<I sense an almost infinite complexity of our Human Nature and all the 
interelationships we have, and have had, with life on the unseen as well as 
the visible planes.  I marvel at the fact that this complexity and 
interelationship with all life has existed over many  many lifetimes, back to 
the dawn of Humanity on this planet and beyond.  I also keep in mind, as HPB 
points out, that our individual Karma is inextricably connected with that of 
the nation and of the whole world, just like the individual atoms are all 
part of the one Body - and this too extends backwards and forwards through 
time.  >>

This *is* complex.  But I suspect it gets even more so.  I strongly suspect 
that our linear perception of time is misleading, and thus karma is not 
merely past acting on future, but NOW.  All now.  Our limitation, our 
relativity is now, and our transcendence is now.  I propose that there is no 
other time than this now anyway.  

And the karma adhering to individuals, nations, and greater systems is also 
misleading and illusory, because in very truth none of those "exist" either, 
all being made up of constellations of energies and perceptions, categories 
and names.  For instance, what is the karma of "America"?  When does it 
start?  Who are the "Americans"?  What are "their" actions?  I propose that 
only insofar as there is a perception "America" is that karma effective.  One 
who may live in America but perceives no "America" will not share in or 
experience that collective Karma.

Likewise for the individual.  One who perceives the category "individual" or 
"self" and acts as "self" -- receives the karma of "self."  One who perceives 
no self, acts as no self -- receives the karma of no self.  In this way again 
I propose that our "expectations" condition and to a large extent determine 
the karma we perceive that we experience.  Can there be action when there is 
no actor?  When one recognizes that one is nothing more than the 
conglomeration of the seven principles, that there is no "person" there -- 
would such a one experience the same karma as one who perceives a self, even 
for the same actions?  Even while acting, and perceiving no "self," setting 
causes in motion that have no "causer" -- what is the karma?

I think this begins a deeper understanding of karma than merely the law of 
compensation, regulating actions among entities.  When the concept of 
"entities" breaks down, the nature of action and compensation becomes subtle 
indeed.  I write this not as one who personally originates such a theory, but 
from study of the Buddhist texts, particularly Perfection of Wisdom 
scriptures, which illuminate some of the subtleties of HPB's teachings. 

-- THEOSOPHY WORLD -- Theosophical Talk -- theos-talk@theosophy.com

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