Theos-Talk Archives (October 2001 Message tt00166)

I have been saying for some time, that karma is a much more complicated
subject than most Theosophists think. The discussion below seems to bear
this out.

When we do bad deeds, we produce bad karma that bind us, and Blavatsky calls
this "iron chains." When we do good deeds, we produce good karma that binds
us, and Blavatsky calls this "golden chains." She points out that both are
equally binding. She says, that "We should bear in mind that, in becoming
Karmaless, both good as well as bad karma have to be got rid of" (INNER
GROUP TEACHINGS p 10).

When we go good deeds with the intention or motive of bettering ourself,
having a better life next time, gaining good karma, etc., then we are,
indeed, being selfish. However, we have to be altruistic in order to gain
merit because such merit is an essential requirement on the Path.

The only way to resolve these points (that I know of) is to suggest that the
self (or our sense of a personal separate selfhood) is to blame. As long as
we believe we are a "self" helping "others" then we keep producing karma.
When we can act without such a sense of self (and this non-dualistic mode is
how an Adept acts) then we do so without producing personal karma. "Personal
karma" is a natural fallout from the belief in a personal self.

Jerry S.


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In a message dated 10/8/2001 11:47:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
micforster@yahoo.com writes:

> Theosophy teaches that we must be truly altruistic and
> unselfish so that we may prevent bad karma for
> ourselves. But is this not, in itself, being selfish?
>

Mic,

If one is TRULY altruistic and TRULY unselfish, then all of ones actions,
will, by definition, not accrue any personal karma. As long as there is no
intent for escaping personal karma in the motivation of an action, then,
TRULY noble and compassionate acts cannot be selfish. In these cases, the
lack of accrued personal karma is simply an unsought for byproduct of such
acts. It is not SELFISH.

Louis