Myths Surrounding Karma

There are many myths surrounding karma. Let us now dispel a few of them :

- Karma is not a form of divine punishment. Karma is simply the law. There is no punishment here, nor is there reward; there is merely consequence. How we live our lives today will determine, to a great degree, what our future will be like; it is as simple as that.

So, we must never look at karma as retribution for the deeds of the past. To do so would be to look at life in a very negative way. If errors need to be corrected, we should attempt to correct them. This is the responsibility which comes with freedom of choice.

- Karma should not be equated to negativity. People love talking about their bad karma and how they are suffering, today, for the deeds of the past. Again, karma is the law. There is neither good karma nor bad karma; there is only karma! The consequences of our past deeds may be very unpleasant, or they may be very rewarding. We determine that, not karma. Karma is what makes it all come about. Karma can be equated to atomic energy. In its raw state, atomic energy has great, but silent, potential. Once we tap into it, we can use it either to solve our energy problems or to destroy the planet upon which we live. So it is with karma. In itself, it is neutral; once we engage it, it takes on character, and we usually label it as good or bad.

- Karma must never be looked at in terms of "an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth." If we injure an individual, we do not necessarily have to be injured by that same person. We must deal with the fact that we injured another soul. How we deal with that is up to us. Those involved will very likely work out a strategy of karmic compensation. But karma should not be looked at as a means of revenge for the injustices committed by others. This perverted attitude concerning karma results only in one thing: a continuation of a vicious cycle of inflicting one injustice upon another because of what a person may have done to us. This solves nothing.

- Karmic relationships between people are complex and involve many different aspects, more than we generally realize. The problem arises when we constantly look at the people with whom we are involved and ask: what karma am I working out with you? You may not be working out any karma with that person. The question to ask is: what can I do to make myself a better and more loving person? If we worry too much about the "karma" of things, we fall victim to living our lives under the assumption that if we do all the right things, we shall free ourselves from karma's debt. This can be a selfish and self-centered attitude.

What are we attempting to say here? Very simply this: we should be fully aware of karma and its many implications and then leave it at that. We should strive to live our lives in light, love, and goodness, not because it will help wipe out karmic debts, but because we know that this is the way we should be. If we do selfless things for selfish reasons, our motives becomes selfish, and there will be karmic consequences to this.

Finally, we must never judge another person based on his or her life. Too often, we tend to look at the "lowly" and downtrodden as people who are having to suffer because of past deeds. Why a person chooses a particular earthly life is between that person and God and should not be subject to judgment. We must never equate bodily health and material comfort as indications of spiritual growth or achievement.