| The topic of this article is the concept of | | | | people lives are influenced by events |
| Karma, which is common to most Eastern | | | | completely beyond their control. All these |
| Philosophies be it Hinduism or Buddhism. | | | | Karma's are inter-related and can be |
| | | | understood in its full complexity only by an |
| It is said that in the second watch of the | | | | enlightened being. |
| night when the Buddha attained enlightenment | | | | |
| he gained a different kind of knowledge, | | | | The law of Karma gives us guidance as to how |
| which complemented his knowledge of rebirth - | | | | we may lead our lives. When misfortune |
| The Law of Karma. | | | | strikes we know that it will not last forever |
| | | | but will pass in time. And we now know |
| Karma is mistaken in the West as a doctrine | | | | through the law of Karma that these are |
| of Fate or Predestination. It is not so. The | | | | consequences, which have inevitably followed |
| word Karma literally means action - and the | | | | from our past actions. The attitude to have |
| Law of Karma is the infallible law of cause | | | | when difficulties befall us is this - That |
| and effect, which governs the Universe. | | | | this, which is happening, is the coming to |
| | | | fruition of our past Karma. We do not see the |
| The doctrine of Karma has many implications | | | | suffering as a punishment- or do we blame |
| as to how we may lead our lives. In the first | | | | ourselves and indulge in self-hatred. |
| place it means that all our actions will lead | | | | Tibetans say that suffering is the broom, |
| to its natural consequence. We may not know | | | | which sweeps away our negative karma. We can |
| what the consequence will be and in fact it | | | | even be grateful that one karma is coming to |
| may be delayed for many lengths of time but | | | | an end. |
| the consequence will follow inevitably. In | | | | |
| Tibetan Buddhism the inevitable retribution, | | | | Eastern philosophy is full of stories of how |
| which however is not obvious, is compared to | | | | bandits and murderers have overcome their bad |
| the shadow of a kite or an eagle as it | | | | karma and gone on to become - monks and even |
| searches for its prey. When the eagle is high | | | | saints. Angulimala is an example. He had |
| in the sky its shadow is not to be seen. | | | | killed 999 people in his previous life as a |
| However when the eagle swoops to the ground | | | | bandit. But he was won over by the Buddha and |
| to catch hold of its prey the menacing shadow | | | | went on to become a monk and a sage. |
| appears. Similarly we are not aware of the | | | | Similarly in Tibetan Buddhism the story is |
| consequences of our actions for most part but | | | | told of Milarepa. He was a sorcerer who |
| they will appear just as the shadow of the | | | | killed many people with his black magic for |
| eagle suddenly appears. | | | | revenge or profit. Yet through his remorse |
| | | | and hardships and penances that he underwent |
| The law of Karma is not confined to | | | | he went on to become to become enlightened - |
| individuals - there is family karma, national | | | | a figure of inspiration to millions. |
| karma, International Karma, the Karma of a | | | | |
| city. All these are mixed with the Karma of | | | | These are some brief remarks about Karma. |
| the Individual, and thus it happens that | | | | |