Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2016 19:21:54 GMT -5
Thanks to John Moore who first showed this to me via Facebook. I dug around and found this version from in5d.com which is a website which deals witha rather far-out collection of things, calling itself an 'esoteric database'. Anyway, please allow me to put on my Professor's hat to briefly share my understanding of the term 'karma':
First of all,what karma is NOT: It is not revenge. It is not "What goes around comes around". It is based on ancient teaching in India which pre-dates Buddhism, whose meditation practice techniques we borrowed in our MBSR. Karma makes sense if you understand that the ancients held a belief that all of reality -- nature, mankind, the universe, are interconnected, part of a whole; and this is not a metaphor or symbolic -- everything IS everything in that belief system. So...since all is interconnected -- and interdependent -- what one part does affects the other parts. So, the principles of action and cause and effect are at the core of Karma. This popular list is a very good expression of the tradition as I understand it. As for being laws, well, I'm not so sure that word does the job. Maybe 'dynamics, principles' would be more accurate. It's up to you. Dana Lewis
First of all,what karma is NOT: It is not revenge. It is not "What goes around comes around". It is based on ancient teaching in India which pre-dates Buddhism, whose meditation practice techniques we borrowed in our MBSR. Karma makes sense if you understand that the ancients held a belief that all of reality -- nature, mankind, the universe, are interconnected, part of a whole; and this is not a metaphor or symbolic -- everything IS everything in that belief system. So...since all is interconnected -- and interdependent -- what one part does affects the other parts. So, the principles of action and cause and effect are at the core of Karma. This popular list is a very good expression of the tradition as I understand it. As for being laws, well, I'm not so sure that word does the job. Maybe 'dynamics, principles' would be more accurate. It's up to you. Dana Lewis
The 12 Laws of Karma
1. The Great Law : “As you sow, so shall you reap.” This is also known as the “Law of Cause and Effect.”:
If what we want is happiness, peace, love, and friendship, then we should BE happy, peaceful, loving and a true friend.
Whatever we put out in the Universe is what comes back to us.
2. The Law of Creation
Life doesn’t just happen. It requires our participation.
We are one with the Universe, both inside and out.
Whatever surrounds us gives us clues to our inner state.
Be yourself, and surround yourself with what you want to have in your life.
3. The Law of Humility
You can’t change something if you refuse to accept it.
If what we see is an enemy, or someone with a character trait that we find to be negative, then we ourselves are not focused on a higher level of existence.
4. The Law of Growth
“Wherever you go, there you are.”
For us to grow in Spirit, it is we who must change, and not the people, places or things around us.
The only given we have in our lives is ourselves, and that is the only factor we have control over.
When we change who and what we are within our hearts, our lives follow suit and change too.
5. The Law of Responsibility
Whenever there is something wrong in my life, there is something wrong in me.
We mirror what surrounds us, and what surrounds us mirrors us; this is a Universal Truth.
We must take responsibility for what is in our life.
6. The Law of Connection
Even if something we do seems inconsequential, it is very important that it gets done as everything in the Universe is connected.
Each step leads to the next step, and so forth and so on.
Someone must do the initial work to get a job done.
Neither the first step nor the last are of greater significance, as they were both needed to accomplish the task.
Past, Present and Future are all connected.
7. The Law of Focus
You cannot think of two things at the same time.
Because of this, when our focus is on Spiritual Values, it is impossible for us to have lower thoughts such as greed or anger.
8. The Law of Giving and Hospitality
If you believe something to be true, then sometime in your life you will be called upon to demonstrate that particular truth.
Here is where we put what we CLAIM that we have learned into actual PRACTICE.
9. The Law of Here and Now
Looking backward to examine what was or forward to worry about the future prevents us from being totally in the here and now.
Old thoughts, old patterns of behavior, and old dreams prevent us from having new ones.
10. The Law of Change
History repeats itself until we learn the lessons that we need to change our path.
11. The Law of Patience and Reward
All rewards require initial toil.
Rewards of lasting value require patient and persistent toil.
True joy comes from doing what we’re suppose to be doing, and knowing that the reward will come in its own time.
12. The Law of Significance and Inspiration
You get back from something whatever you have put into it.
The true value of something is a direct result of the energy and intent that is put into it.
Every personal contribution is also a contribution to the Whole.
Lackluster contributions have no impact on the Whole, nor do they work to diminish it.
Loving contributions bring life to, and inspire, the Whole.
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There are many versions of this on the internet. This one is from in5d.com, an 'esoteric database'.