KARMA #2

The overriding principles  determining our karma and which challenge our free will are: 

Fulfill your destiny.

Correct injustice – heal the planet.

Do no harm to any of the Four Beings of Nature.

Subordinate ego to the higher Self.

Practice love.

Be in joy and savor the opportunity of being in a sentient body and of fulfilling one’s task or mission.

 

DESTINY (See later Blog)

 

CORRECT INJUSTICE – HEAL THE PLANET

 

Our role on earth is to correct injustice.

 

This is also the essence of Karma yoga or service-oriented yoga. Karma Yoga is the path of action and service to others with mindfulness. This service can manifest in many ways and on behalf of any or all of the Four Beings; Talking, Wild, Growing and Still (including the planet Herself – Mother Nature – Gaia.) All these Karmic requisites should be done for their own sake, not for any reason of outcome.

 

Give without remembering,
Take without forgetting.
Give freely.
Receive openly.
Do all with gratitude.
It is the way of love.
It is the way of joy.  

Service when embraced by love will also create the gratitude emanating from joy.

 

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, then when?” Hillel

 

“The worship most pleasing to God is service to others.”

L. Boff

If we take our suffering and help others by alleviating their plight our own happiness will increase.

We are here to correct injustice through our God given destiny or core strength or strengths. Even if we are unsure what those are we can still help to heal the planet – whatever the service rendered, destiny driven or not.  Karma yoga helps to counter harm in the world  – the “Mother Theresa” or Schweitzer archetype or similar. 

“I do not know what your destiny will be but the one thing I do know is that the only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have learned and found how to serve.” A. Schweitzer

 Many of us will have to live in two worlds, the one that pays our bills and the other our signature strength or ideally our unique destiny. Either one should be done on behalf of the greater good. We may have to do the latter in our spare time. For example, if one always wanted to be a musician but never followed the path because of parental pressure or practicalities it is vital to again explore that talent and see where it takes one even if it is just for the sake of giving oneself and others pleasure. It is never too late.

“We make a living from what we get, we make a life by what we give.” W. Churchill

 

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy, I awoke and saw that life was service.  I acted and behold, service was joy.” Tagore

 

Once our basic needs are satisfied this kind of dedication should ideally be done without consideration for any material gain. If we also get paid for it, well and good. If done with a good grace, and with altruistic intentions all the better from a karmic view point especially if it involves our unique God given destiny. This service optimally is part of the Incorporation or Integration phase of the Hero/ine’s journey where we take the “grail” obtained during a rite of passage and then give it away.

 

“We are here to help others – what on earth others are here for – I do not know.”  W.H. Auden

 

“Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others …” A. Einstein

 

There are four basic archetypes each of which can have many manifestations; Healer, Teacher, Warrior and Visionary. Service can be performed through any of them. There are also four yogas, three others  besides Karma yoga. Bhakti or devotional yoga - love and dedication to the Supreme Being (as in the Sufi poets.) Jnana yoga, knowledge of the scriptures. Raja yoga, the most difficult, control of  the mind or the Royal path of the Buddha. Any and all of these archetypes or yogas can lead to service, helping the planet and countering harm if done with right intention.

When lacking direction the easiest way to manage this karmic challenge is to practice random acts of kindness. This creates Coherence within us, around us, even distant to us and above us in the supernal realms where these acts are appreciated.

DO NO HARM

 

The breath that is in all beings emanates from this sacred wellspring making us one – not the same. 

"We interare." Thich Nhat Hahn

"The fundamental delusion of humanity is to suppose I am here and you are out there." Roshi

 

We are all animated by the breath of the Creator, each of the Four Beings at a different vibration. We are all made of the same elements – dust to dust, ashes to ashes. The Infinite One loves all of creation.

“See yourself in others then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do?”  Dammapada