Karma means slightly different things to different people. It’s a very deep philosophy that exists in a number of religions and spiritual groups around the world. Karma means the law of action, the law of cause and effect or ‘as we sow so shall we reap’.
“Pride comes before a fall”
Let us take a step back from focusing on the action itself and examine what it is that precedes that action. It is here that we can really make the difference and consequently in our actions and so in what we experience and what we make of the world around us.
So stepping back…
Everything I do stems from the consciousness of who is I. So who am I? How do I define my identity or describe myself? Are you first the ‘human‘ part or ‘being‘ part of a human being? How I define myself influences how I act and so my experience and what I make of the world.
How do I define myself?
Does it seem to you that we are all searching for ‘self-respect’? Feeling a lack of value within we very naturally gravitate towards ‘things’ external to us that are seen as the ‘things’ that add value to one (to fill in this need). We look around and see that to have x, y and z means that I will be valued, appreciated and successful. Which means…? I will be happy. Having attained x, y or z we then pat ourselves on the back (have pride in having x, y or z) further re-enforcing our value and happiness being dependent on having x, y and z.
There is nothing wrong in having x, y or z in themselves, it is only when we define our own and others worth by them and then develop pride in being the owner of x, y or z that the problem begins. Why…? Well, what what happens when something happens to x, y or z?
X, Y and Z?
We can in fact divide into four values, the 4 Ps.
P= possessions e.g. the house, car etc.
P= people e.g. who you know, the right relationships etc.
P= position e.g. the job, position, status etc
P= physical appearance
Are you aware how much you are/are not influenced by and define your self against these criteria? When we aren’t we become their prisoner. Does whether or not you have that car or relationship determine your happiness?
Re-defining myself
The 4Ps can be seen as being associated with the ‘human’ part of ‘human beings’. So how about the ‘being’ part? Why do this? Well, when I learn ‘to be’ and begin to define myself by my inner being and the possessions of my inner being I am no longer driven by the need to have the 4Ps. I re-discover the innate and unchanging value of the inner being, and no longer vulnerable I come to feel secure in myself.
Explore the nature of just being – step back and see yourself as the thinking, feeling and experiencing being behind the physical form. The being, the conscious entity that is I, is constant, it is not chasing after things or desiring anything as there is a feeling of inner peace and happiness, a feeling of naturally being secure and of being loving towards others. This is my true state of being, this is what life is really about. I have moved back into my original state of being no longer considering myself as something I’m not. The real me expresses itself through this amazing medium of the physical body. Knowing what I’m not is part of the process and becoming what I am.
