Karma

If there’s a God, or a Buddha, why DOES bad stuff happen to some totally innocent people and good stuff happen to some that totally don’t deserve it?

What is Karma is a bit like asking what is good. It’s a little complicated, but in its simplest form makes sense. I’ve learnt that simply put, it’s something like this. In a vibration-based universe, emotions, like sounds, create vibrations and as we are bio-electrical beings with an energy field, the vibrations we create stay connected to us.

The simple expression of Karma for me is, if one thinks, does or says anything that is in any way negative (judgemental, disparaging, derogatory, disrespectful, unkind, deceitful etc.) – a negative vibration is created and attached directly or generationally to the being that created it. That stays in your Karmic bank account until cleaned up or ‘balanced’ by a good thought or deed, or a simple act of sincere contrition (or for Nichiren Buddhists by chanting). This is why we feel so good when we act out of kindness or apologise. We’ve made someone feel better and done a little clean and polish to our Karma.

Another angle is, according to the universal Law of Attraction, negative thoughts and vibrations attract more of the same – negative. (If you can’t stop thinking about how little money you have, it’s unlikely great fortune will quickly find you – you are not tuned to that). If you’ve been a dysfunctional, narcissistic, train wreck most of your adult life you’ve probably collected quite a bit of negative karma and attracted a whole lot of heartache. That will keep playing out for you – lifetime after lifetime until you work out how to balance your own Karmic books. Below are a few tips.

Prayer, chanting and acts of kindness towards ALL beings starts cleaning and balancing your Karma.

What I’ve learned is there are many ways to cancel out any unintentional bad Karma. This first one is the ancient Hawaiian practice of H’oponopono. It doesn’t specifically speak of Karma but the forgiveness and trauma removal process is the same work needed for Karma removal. This is a great description of the technique

Another way, insisted upon by the Nichiren Buddhists, is to chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo – it is said to be the sound of the encapsulation of the path to enlightenment. There are many excellent Youtube videos to chant along with. Here is one. It is fast, but true chanting should be like galloping horses. Go with it – after a while you will disappear into it. This is said to clean your Karma.

Here’s another tip. If you adopt the belief (this will really help you as well) that EVERYONE is a potential Buddha, it’s a lot easier to resist the temptation to judge and disrespect anyone – even those lying politicians you love to hate. The Law of Attraction goes on to say, the more we are okay with everything, the more okay things we will let into our life. This doesn’t mean that you suddenly become okay with lawlessness (the common law is clear – do not cause injury, loss, deceit in your dealings or breach the peace and you are good). It means that complaining about everything won’t make anything go away, quite the opposite – it will only attract more of it to you. So…..

Be on guard!

It’s a lot to understand for a newbie. We inherit family Karma, we watch TV in a society that applauds competition and conquest, craves drama and loves conflict. One minute you’re minding your own spiritual business and next minute you’re agreeing with the couple on Gogglebox who think that so and so is a total nonce and should be locked up………I mean, they’re not even real people…they’re actors! (the ones being criticized) The same happens on the street when you see a really overweight person eating chips, and before you’ve got hold of yourself you’re making stereotyping judgements. That person may be crying into those chips from emotional pain for all we know, or cannot afford better food. However, there you are, disrespectfully creating more negative Karma to clear. Do you see, it can happen easily?

The other thing that happens is the mainstream media – their job is non-stop fear porn. If everything is fine they will search for a vaguely unsubstantiated report from a minor academic that says water can kill you (or suchlike – yes, it will if you drink a gallon). Another good tip for a while or longer is to stop watching television or reading papers. It’s now theatre, simply not true – just there to attract viewers.

This doesn’t mean you can’t have an opinion. However, compassion tells us that everyone is facing some kind of internal struggle – these polarising days more than ever. Yes, an obese person eating chips may be a sitting target for ‘salad dodger’ jokes but would  ‘poor thing’ be more appropriate, or accurate. Not as funny, I grant you, but better for your Karma.

Summing up.

Remember earlier when I wrote that a thought is just a belief you keep thinking – well, keep saying to yourself, everyone is a Buddha in potentiality. Also that everyone can follow the Way (TAO), and everyone can attract the life of their dreams. Also add that I’m really lovely – and I finally like me! (Not me – YOU). Add some feeling into that (i.e. find the best feeling thought in that conversation) – and in a short time you’ll see a change, positive things will start to happen, and people…..you just have to work out how to start and maintain the ‘feeling better’ about stuff process. Soon you’ll know what is karma because you’ll start feeling better about things – and yourself. My course will help you walk through it.