KARMA #5

CORRECT INJUSTICE – HEAL THE PLANET

It is clear that all these karmic principles are interconnected especially.

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

(Subordinate ego to the higher Self.

Practice love.

Gratitude, being happy and savoring the opportunity of being in a sentient body.)

At the end of the day we are here to co-create with the Great Spirit by manifesting our destiny with the purpose of helping to heal the planet.

Our role on earth is to correct injustice.

 

This is also the essence of Karma yoga or service-oriented yoga - 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. Karma yoga is at the heart of all "yogas."

 

“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 also increases. Its a paradox built into the soul as a default. The more we give the more we get...

We are here to correct injustice preferably 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.  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

 Most of us 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 to help and heal others.

 

“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, as long as that alone is not the reason. If done with a good grace, and with altruistic intentions all the better, from a karmic view point. This service is also 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

 

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, and even distant to us and above us in the supernal realms where these acts are appreciated.

DO NO HARM

(Ahimsa)

Correcting injustice and doing no harm are inseparable. They are separated here for didactic reasons. Ahimsa is a vital part to healing the planet. If we cannot help heal it we can at least try not to harm it. When we create duality harm may follow. This has never been more clear than it is today when the planet seems to be divided into winners and losers and we seemed to have lost our moral compass. We are meant to coexist with, but not assimilate the dark. The only way to overcome evil is with good.

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." Yasutani Roshi

 

We are all animated by the breath of the Creator, each of the Four Beings at different vibrations. 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

 

Indigenous peoples always relied on one another in the past embracing the idea of non-duality. When I visited the San Bushmen in 1987 - when some were living in the old way - I thought I had dropped into a Buddhist sanga. They were non-judgmental, had an unconditional positive regard for each other and seemingly an unconditional love for the children. They were humble and there was an attitude of one for all and all for one. This was not only practical because we are communal beings and need to get along but it was also spiritual. This philosophy as well as their pure hunter-gatherer existence allowing them to attain advanced levels of consciousness, in their out of body healing trance states as well as their dreams which could be prophetic.

The native Quechua also had their philosophy of 'Ayni' originating from the Incas, meaning 'today for me, tomorrow for you' where they helped each other with life's challenges.

The Southern African Bantu peoples embrace the concept of Ubuntu; 'I am only a person though other persons.'

It is also true sometimes for some Westerners but usually only during tragic circumstance where our better angels come to the fore.

Sadly with Western influence indigenous tenets are disappearing.