Karma and Reincarnation - Introduction

Enough of love. Now time for some logic. Begining a series on what Karma is all about and how it is linked to Reincarnation. Note: Again I claim no authorship on the discussions that follow on Karma and Reincarnation. Its all based on the books I have read and my own experiences, and my own understanding (very limited) of how the Universe functions. By the way, no one other than the Master Creator can claim authorship of this Divine Law called Karma. Its the principle (purpose?) behind this whole creation and the reason why you and I are on this web page.

One of the first and most dramatic illustrations of karma can be found in the Mahabharata. Arjuna the warrior is preparing for battle when he realizes that the enemy consists of members of his own family and decides not to fight. His charioteer, Krishna, explains to Arjuna the concept of "duty" among other things and makes him see that it is his duty (karma) to fight.

Karma means "deed" or "act" and means the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction that governs all life. Karma is not fate, for we all act with free will creating our own destiny. Upanishads say that, if we sow goodness, we will reap goodness; if we sow evil, we will reap evil. And this principle is not limited to Hindus but deeply rooted in other cultures. Bible refers to “as you sow so shall you reap” and there is an old English saying “ He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword” and “Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you".

Karma is not punishment but simply a consequence of our actions. The effects experienced are also can be somewhat mitigated by actions and are not necessarily fated but can be changed. That is to say, a particular action now is not binding to some particular, pre-determined future experience or reaction; it is not a simple, one-to-one correspondence of reward or punishment across lifetimes.

Karma refers to the totality of our actions and their reactions in this and previous lives, all of which determines our future. Karma is the reason for reincarnation(s). Karma connects our different lifetimes and ensures continuity. I love this law because I am an accountant and understanding it makes it easier. Yes, its about accountability. If simply put, it tells us to treat others as we would want to be treated, it’s a very simple law, but gets phenomenally complex when you start trying to unravel how something so simple actually works. Acrosss different lives and why we dont (and should not) have any knowledge of our past karmas (that are relevant) in our current lives. (To be continued)