What Happens When We Die. Here's What Buddhism Says!

The Buddha’s teachings offer the most satisfactory explanation of where man came from and where he is going. When we die, the mind, with all the tendencies, preferences, abilities and characteristics that have been developed and conditioned in this life, re-establishes itself in a new being. Thus the new individual grows and develops a personality conditioned both by the mental characteristics that have been carried over from the previous life and by the new environment. The personality will change and be modified by conscious effort and conditioning factors like education, parental influence and society but once again at death, it will re-establish itself as life in a new being. This process of dying and being reborn will continue until the conditions that cause it, the mental factors of craving and ignorance, cease. When they do, instead of being reborn, the mind attains a state called Nirvana.

How does the mind go from one body to another?

When a person is dying, he begins to lose conscious control of his mental processes. There comes a time when his actions and habits locked away in his memories are released. In many instances, there arises in his mind a mental image. This image is totally involuntarily and is produced by his karma or past actions. Thus depending upon the nature of the particular karma that produces this image, the person may see dark shadowy figures, frightening images, or he may see his relatives or perhaps visions of scenic beauty. Quite often, he will cry out at these visions or remark about them to his visitors. Even though the physical body may be weak these thought units are very strong as death approaches. When the body finally breaks down at the point of death these energies are released as mental energy. As energy cannot be destroyed they have to re-establish themselves in a new body thus causing the phenomenon of rebirth.

Think of it being like radio waves which are not made up of words and music but energy at different frequencies, which are transmitted, travel instantaneously through space, are picked up by the receiver from where the radio produces them as words and music. It is the same with the mind. At death, mental energy travels through space, is picked up by the fertilized egg of the future mother, is reborn as a new being and manifests as a new personality.

Thus it is important that a dying person is comforted and reminded of his good deeds. He should not be made confused and visitors should not overtly grieve in his presence. Neither should unfamiliar ideas like a new religion be introduced to him. The Buddha advises that when one is fearful, he should recall minding the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.

Is one always reborn as a human being?

No, there are several realms into which one can be reborn. Some people are reborn in heavenly planes, some are reborn in hell planes, and some may be reborn as ghosts and as animals. Heaven is not a place but a state of existence where one has a subtle body and where the mind experiences mainly pleasure. Some religions strive very hard to be reborn in a heavenly existence mistakenly believing it to be a permanent state. But it is not. Like all conditioned states, heaven is impermanent and when one’s life span there is finished, one could well be reborn again as a human. Hell, likewise, is not a place but a state of existence where one has a subtle body and where the mind experiences mainly anxiety and distress. Being a ghost, again, is a state of existence where the body is subtle and where the mind is continually plagued by longing and dissatisfaction. So heavenly beings experience mainly pleasure, hell beings and ghosts experience mainly pain and human beings experience usually a mixture of both. So the main difference between the human realm and other realms is the body type and the quality of experience.

“Those who imagine evil where there is none, and do not see evil where it is — upholding false views, they go to states of woe. Those who discern the wrong as wrong and the right as right — upholding right views, they go to realms of bliss.
~ Dhammapada 318, 319”

What decides where we will be reborn?

The most important factor, but not the only one, influencing where we will be reborn and what sort of life we shall have, is karma. The word karma means ‘action’ and refers to our intentional mental actions. In other words, what we are is determined very much by how we have thought and acted in the past. Likewise, how we think and act now will influence how we will be in the future. Just as radio waves will be picked up by a radio tuned to its particular frequency, the mental energies released at the time of death will naturally be re-established in a new material body that most suits it. Thus, the gentle, loving type of person shall be reborn in a heavenly realm or as a human being in a comfortable environment. The anxious, worried or extremely cruel type of person is reborn in a hell realm, or as an animal, or as a human being born in extremely difficult environment.


Not only is there scientific evidence to support the phenomena of rebirth, it is the only after-life theory that has any evidence to support it. During the last 30 years parapsychologists have been studying reports that some people have vivid memories of their former lives. Professor Ian Stevenson of the University of Virginia’s Department of Psychology has described dozens of cases of this type in his books. He is an accredited scientist whose 25 year study of people who remember former lives is very strong evidence for rebirth

Source: www.e-buddhism.com

Read more at http://www.theinfopost.org/2016/08/what-happens-when-we-die-heres-what

5 Laws of Karma.

The Laws of Karma can viewed as the Buddhist and Hindu version of the Golden Rule, which is basically that you should do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  This Golden Rule is stated by practically every religion in the world, as it teaches us that we are responsible for our actions.  

Buddhism goes a bit further, incorporating intention and thought, as well as spoken word and action.  Everything we feel, say, do, and every choice we make ripples through time, and these choices are our karma, whether they be good or bad.  Check out these five Laws of Karma:

Law of Neutrality – In the same way that gravity acts as neutral and constant force, the Laws of Karma apply to all beings equally, without exception.  It exists without favorite ones, without cursed ones; there are only the divine beings manifested by the Creator, and all of these beings are loved and cared for equally, deeply, and completely.

Law of Lessons – When we reincarnate we do so to learn what is and is not like love.  When moving through worlds of duality, we learn from experiencing the extreme opposites: good-bad, problem-solution, etc. until we are able to evolve into divine love, joy and awareness.  One walks the divine circle until their lessons are learned.

Law of Balance – The objective in learning lessons is to achieve a sense of balance.  Imbalances are what drive your personal cycle of reincarnation.  For example, whatever you bring hate to, is what you reincarnate to, so that you might have the opportunity to achieve balance.  Because you can only truly understand a thing when you become that thing; ceasing judgement and the harboring of unrealistic expectations.

Law of Expansion – Because everything in the universe is energy, the universe is constantly expanding from lower to higher vibrational levels.  And due to this constant expansion, change and growth are all but certain.  The universe grows by weaving its way through chaos, reorganization, and order in one long endless cycle of change and growth, executed in hopes of continuous improvement.

Law of Love – Karma comes full circle with love.  The entire purpose of Karma is to propel your soul on a personal journey of reincarnation through the universe, eventually bringing all of us into a state of divine love, joy and awareness.  Karma ceases when you have perfected your ability to love unconditionally.

Source: http://heartcenteredrebalancing.com/2016/02/14/5-laws-of-karma/

Have You Ever Thought Why Good People Die Early? Read What Lord Buddha Has Said About the Same!

How Does the Cycle of Life and Death Come About?

What is this cycle of birth and death? 

How does this cycle of life and death come about? 

What determines our improvement or deterioration? 

According to Buddhism, it is determined by our karma. Karma is the energy or influence that is left behind by our actions.

 Due to our past karma, we are born as human beings in this life. Similarly, the good and evil karma of this life and past lives will also affect our future lives. 

Many Buddhists think of ‘karma’ as ‘evil karma’ only. This is not true. The energy that is left behind by our actions or thoughts, be it good or evil, is referred to as ‘karma’. Our future is determined by our karma. Thus, the Buddha Dharma says, "We reap what we sow".

Between our past and present, which bad or good karma, will determine our next life? 

There are three situations as stated in the following:

a) Strong karma

When we are at the brink of death, the good and evil karma we have generated in our life will appear in front of our eyes. 

Usually we generate a lot of good or bad karma every day. At the moment of our death, if strong good or evil thoughts arise, they will determine our future.

For example, the memory of killing one’s own father is unforgettable. The thought will always be in one’s mind.

At the moment of death, this evil scene (karmic action) will appear in front of one’s eyes. 

Similarly, one who is very filial will see their own filiality and good deeds at the moment of their last breath. 

This is similar to a debtor. At the end of the year, all creditors will come and chase after the debtor for their money, and the debtor will pay the creditor who applies him the greatest pressure first.

b) Habitual Influence

Some people may have karma that is neither extremely good nor extremely bad. In these circumstances, habitual actions may become the major influence on their fate. 

Accumulated minor evil actions will produce an evil result. Accumulated minor good deeds will produce a good result. There is a saying;

"Although a drop of water is tiny, it may gradually fill a big container."

The Buddha also gave us an example: If there is a big tree that is leaning to the east, it will certainly fall towards the east when being axed.

The Chinese always say: "At the time of death, the ghosts that feel injustice will come and ask for one’s life." 

Those who killed pigs and goats will see pigs and goats, and those who killed snakes will see snakes. If we see these, we will have great suffering. 

We may tremble with intense fear, and lose our minds. In fact, the pigs, goats and other animals that have been killed would have been reborn according to their own karma. 

However, those who did the killing will tend to continue to act in an evil way. They will accumulate more evil karma. Thus, at the moment of death the karmic action (cows, snakes, pigs, or goats etc. requesting recompense of life for lives taken) will appear in front of us and we will receive retribution according to our karma.

There is a story about a person who robbed and murdered a rich man in the middle of the night. After the incident, he felt that the rich man was always following him asking for his money and life. 

In time the murderer was frightened to death. Later, it was found that the rich man was only injured and was still alive. 

This anecdote illustrates that evil ghosts do not come to ask for one’s life. The Buddha’s explanation of karmic action explains the result perfectly. 

Those who did evil will see suffering at the last moment before death overtakes them, and those who behaved well will be peaceful and happy at that last moment.

 So we should be careful about the habitual karma that we generate daily!

c) The Last Thought

Some people may not have accomplished great things; perpetrated particularly evil deeds; nor established distinct habitual actions. During the last moment of their lives such people may suddenly think of something. 

This last thought, whether good or evil, will influence their next rebirth. The Buddha’s teachings encourage those who are seriously ill to remember and to recite the merits of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and the merits of Dana and of following the precepts. 

This will help us to have good thoughts. Relying on the energy of these good thoughts, we may have a good rebirth. Some may generate a lot of good karma during normal times, but may be nervous or sad during their last breath. 

This may cause evil thoughts to arise and hence result in a poor rebirth. This is analogous to a merchant who has done good business throughout the year but who does not manage his business affairs well during the closing period of the financial year and thus causes the whole year’s effort to be wasted.

When someone is about to die, whether they are young or old, we should try not to cry, as this may affect the dying person’s emotional state and cause them suffering. We should advise the person to let everything go and to think about the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, good acts of Dana, and other meritorious deeds that they may have done.

It is as if our business was not very good during the year, but because of skilful management during the crucial end of year period, we may nevertheless have a happy new year. 

However, we should remember that our daily effort is still important. It is not rendered insignificant compared to the last minute’s effort. 

If we habitually commit evil deeds it is hardly to be expected that we will have good thoughts at our death. If we habitually accumulate great merits, or have more modest tendency to do good, then with the assistance of others in recalling these merits during the moment of our last breath, we may have a better rebirth.

Read more at http://www.bloomingpost.com/2016/02/have-you-ever-thought-why-good-people.html#qDBpPyS42pec5fe8.99

The real version of Karma you might not know about.

AUGUST 20, 2015 ARJUN WALIA

Originally posted by Collective Evolution. Posted here with their permission.

Karma is a concept taught by various cultures throughout human history, and is an idea that dates back thousands of years. Despite its proliferance, the idea of karma seems to be generally misunderstood and  frequently tossed around without any real understanding of its true meaning.

What is Karma?

In the Bhagavad Gita (one text out of many from multiple cultures that speak of karma), there are constant dialogues about how to attain what’s referred to as “moksha”.  Moksha is the release from the cycle of rebirth; a sort of transcendent state or freedom from the world we currently know – a world in which our senses deceive us. It’s a state of bliss that can only be attained when we have freed ourselves from the web of Karma. Once we reach that point our soul is ready to move on to another experience that goes beyond rebirth.

According to Hindu philosophy, the only “higher” activity one can engage in other than performing selfless, fruitful action is the quest and cultivation of spiritual knowledge, contemplation and truth.

Let’s take a look at what karma really means:

“The Principle of Karma requires that the experiences of the individual being, based on his actions during the lifetime, are imprinted in the subtle body, which will therefore have to possess some organized structure of fine matter as mental state within it, and will accordingly be impelled to move to specific locations for rebirth. The principle of Karma is fundamentally based on this very concept that the deeds of today shape the future events for man – the most intelligent of beings is gifted with the discriminating ability in addition to the instinctive habits that all other creatures possess.” – Paramahamsa Tewari (source)

The general idea is that every time we perform an action a cause is created that will have corresponding effects.  Again, Karma literally translates to “action” or “deed” and included within that action are your thoughts and intentions. The karma principle makes it clear that the universe will respond to you in this life and/or the next. Actions have “consequences,” and thoughts do as well.

I personally like to leave out “good” and “bad” when it comes to the consequences of our actions. For example, a human being can have what we call a “good” experience or what is perceived as a “bad” experience. The truth of the matter is that they are experiences, regardless of how we perceive them and choose to label them. We can either choose to grow from these experiences and learn from others, untangling ourselves from the web of karma, or we can continue viewing them as “bad” (for example) and prevent ourselves from moving forward.

According to some Indian philosophies, like Jainism, Karmas are invisible particles of matter existing all around us. Our souls attract these karmas through various actions. For example, every time we get angry we attract karmas, just as when we are deceitful or greedy. Likewise, every time we kill or hurt someone we attract karmas. According to Janism these karmas form layers upon layers over our souls and keep us from realizing our true potential and our ability to hear our soul’s voice.

I find it very interesting that the philosophy and concept of karma is discussed in various ways by multiple cultures, religions and philosophers over a period spanning thousands of years.

Karma Yoga

Again, karma is all about action. In Hindu philosophy, it’s believed that purified minds will be the ones to partake in jinana yoga, what is also known as the yoga of knowledge. As mentioned earlier, this quest for truth and contemplation was believed to be a superior act of being as opposed to performing karma yoga (good deeds without care for their rewards or consequences, selfless acts), but both are paths to the same destination.

Performing karma yoga is all about performing acts that can benefit the planet(s), acts that stem from the heart’s intent strictly for  the benefit of the world(s) or others.  This is important to remember, because many can perform good deeds in order to benefit themselves, reap the rewards, get to a specific destination or to “look good” in the eyes of others.

Performing acts from an incorrect place within your heart is not  “doing your karma,” but rather, performing a selfish act in the disguise of good deeds – something that might actually cause you to accumulate more karma instead. Karma is all about the place you are coming from within, which brings me to my next point.

 The Difference Between Karma and the Mainstream Idea of It

When I refer to the “mainstream idea of karma” I am more so referring to the idea and energy behind the statement “they’ll get what’s coming to them” as well as the idea that performing good deeds will provide you with good rewards.

Although “good” deeds might come full circle and have positive fruition, just as “bad” deeds do,  karma has absolutely nothing to do with people “getting what’s coming to them” as a result of their “bad” actions. It’s about learning from your experiences, not about receiving the consequence of your negative action for the sake of receiving it. The focus needs to be on achieving personal growth as a result of your deeds; even if we are not consciously aware of it, there is growth occurring at the soul level.

Karma is an opportunity to move forward. If you see somebody hurting another person and then you see that aggressor hurt or suffer afterwards, it’s not your place to point your finger and say “karma,” or “they got what was coming to them.” Karma is accumulated so we can eventually rid ourselves of it, learn what we need to learn from this human experience, and move on. It has nothing to do with the energy of judgement and blame.

Furthermore, if you do good deeds while under the belief that good deeds will be reciprocated, you are completely contradicting the idea of Karma. Why? Because performing karma is all about action that comes from a selfless place within your heart, for no reward, for the good of the world.

If you have the idea in your head that you will somehow be rewarded, or you are engaging in acts of good will for others to see, or trying to move forward in your career or other aspects of your life, you might in fact be wrapping yourself up in even more karma. The most important thing to consider is the intent and the reasons behind your actions.

“Actions performed without desire for rewards with spiritual consciousness contribute to the fulfillment of liberation. When fulfillment is achieved one attains the ultimate consciousness and liberation is automatically included. By performing actions in this manner a living being becomes verily a being of non-action. Renunciation is relinquishing the desire for rewards attached to appropriate actions. Performing actions in spiritual consciousness without desire leads to liberation.” (source)

There is a quote I saw that was floating around the internet not long ago that stated:

“Karma, no need for revenge. Just sit back & wait, those who hurt you will eventually screw up themselves & if you’re lucky, God will let you watch.”

The idea that one can take joy in another persons misery is not at all indicative of the theory of karma. Judgement has no place with regards to the theory of karma. It’s all about lessons and opportunities for spiritual growth.

Collective Karma

“The universe that we inhabit and our shared perception of it are the results of a common karma. Likewise, the places that we will experience in future rebirths will be the outcome of the karma that we share with the other beings living there. The actions of each of us, human or nonhuman, have contributed to the world in which we live. We all have a common responsibility for our world and are connected with everything in it.” – The 14th Dalai Lama

Just as we accumulate karma as individuals, we do it on a collective level. Our actions as one giant human race will have consequences, and we’ve seen that time and time again. One of the biggest examples is how we are operating here on planet Earth, as well as our relationship with the environment and other life forms that share the planet with us.

I think it’s important to question what exactly we are doing here – what we are thinking and how we are acting, and to then examine what type of reality we are manifesting as a result of those thoughts and actions. After all, quantum physics is shedding light on just how important human consciousness is, and how factors associated with consciousness are affecting our physical material world. You can read more about that here.

I will leave you with this quote, as it is a completely separate topic yet still related to the idea of karma in some way.

“Broadly speaking, although there are some differences, I think Buddhist philosophy and Quantum Mechanics can shake hands on their view of the world. We can see in these great examples the fruits of human thinking. Regardless of the admiration we feel for these great thinkers, we should not lose sight of the fact that they were human beings just as we are.” – Dalai Lama (source)

**This is a very brief, condensed explanation of Karma according to Hindu Philosophy. Please keep in mind that the idea of Karma is present in various ancient cultures that have roamed the Earth through various stages of human history.

Source: http://thespiritscience.net/2015/08/20/the-real-version-of-karma-you-might-not-know-about-2/

The 12 Laws Of Karma.

What is Karma? Karma is the Sanskrit word for action. It is equivalent to Newton’s law of ‘every action must have a reaction’. When we think, speak or act we initiate a force that will react accordingly. This returning force maybe modified, changed or suspended, but most people will not be able eradicate it. This law of cause and effect is not punishment, but is wholly for the sake of education or learning.

A person may not escape the consequences of his actions, but he will suffer only if he himself has made the conditions ripe for his suffering. If he were to continue acting in such a way that the retribution cannot come about, because the conditions are not appropriate, then he may postpone the fruition of his karma. If he can suspend it until he is in the spirit world, then he may work at this particular karma in this intermission between death and next life. Or he may wait until another life in which he is more developed so that he can gleaned the educational value of this retribution. Conversely, his life could be so derelict that the blessings due to him cannot fructify until a later date or a subsequent life. All these fall into the category of suspension of karma to a more propitious period or life.



Ignorance of the law is no excuse” whether the laws are man-made or universal. To stop being afraid and to start being empowered in the worlds of karma and reincarnation, here is what you need to know about karmic laws.

The Law of Karma is the Buddhist and Hindu version of the Golden Rule, basically, that what you do to others will return and be done to you. It’s stated in similar terms in almost every religion in the world.

In the East, the law reads (in translation):

“For every event that occurs, another event will follow that was caused by the first, and the second event will be pleasant or unpleasant due to and indirect relation to its cause”

The belief teaches that the person who takes action is responsible for that action, if not in this lifetime, then in future lives. In effect, what you did in your past lives comes forward to your present life and determines the events you experience now.
Buddhism takes these beliefs much deeper, delving into intention andthought as well as spoken words and action. With everything we feel, say, or do, we make choices. Whatever you choose to do produce  ripples that travel through time. Those choices are our karma, good or bad.

Instead of seeing bad karma as punishment for actions in your past lives, you can better understand it as a lesson toward living in Oneness with all people and things. The Law of Karma – as simple as: You reap what you sow – extends from your past lives into your future lives. How you apply it in your present life determines your results.

1: LAW OF NEUTRALITY - Just as the “Law of Gravity” always works to pull things toward the Earth, these “Laws of Karma” apply to all equally, no exceptions. The universe is neutral: there are no favorite ones, there are no cursed ones, there are only divine beings created the Creator and all these divine beings are loved by Creator equally, deeply, and completely.

2: LAW OF AGREEMENT - The most terrible truth that anyone will ever learn while they are on Earth is… that they agreed to come here and to experience all that has, is, and will happen to them. The universe operates under this simple rule: all that happens is by prior agreement based on karmic justice between all the parties involved to balance past karma.

3: LAW OF LESSONS - We reincarnate to learn what is and is not like love. In the worlds of duality, we learn from experiencing polar opposites: “good-bad”, “problem-solution”, etc until we evolve into divine love, joy, and awareness. We walk the divine circle – where there is no saint without a past and no sinner without a future – until we learn our lessons.

4: LAW OF CAUSE & EFFECT - What you have done unto others in past lives or in this one (cause), weaves the karmic agreement of your present and future (effect). Consciously acting from loving kindness to yourself and others instantly reweaves the present and future karmic agreements into greater pathways of empowerment and unfoldment.

5: LAW OF BALANCE - The point of learning lessons is to achieve balance. Imbalances drive your personal cycle of reincarnation. “What you bring hate to, you reincarnate to” is how balance is achieved. For you can only truly understand a thing when you become that thing and cease to judge it, cherish unloving opinions, or harbor unrealistic expectations about it.

 6: LAW OF ATTRACTION - Your consistently repeated thoughts packed with your consistently felt emotions become magnetized and attract similar thoughts packed with emotions to manifest your desires into reality. Whatever thoughts and emotions you focus on the most – with the most intensity and the most time – whether intentionally or unintentionally, becomes your belief-karma. The more you invest in them with your focus, the stronger they become. Your belief-karma generates your thoughts, forms your attitudes, guides your actions, and creates your results.

7: LAW OF CONNECTION - You connect with the people, opportunities, and events necessary to manifest your desires if you allow, believe, and expect it will happen for you. Allowing means you open yourself to let manifestation flow to you by believing what you need to manifest your desires will come to you and by expecting if-when you take consistent and appropriate actions your desires will manifest into reality as you have asked.

8: LAW OF EXPANSION - Since everything in the universe is energy, the universe is always expanding from lower to higher vibrational states. Change and growth are inevitable because energy is always expanding. The universe expands through chaos, reorganization, and order in an endless cycle of change and growth to create continuous improvement.

9: LAW OF UNFOLDMENT
Your internal map of reality is always changing to reflect your personal state of learning and growth. Your map of reality is always being refined into greater levels of truth as your consciousness unfolds. Unfoldment is a gradual process so that you can learn life lessons at your own pace as you reincarnate through time.

10: LAW OF EMPOWERMENT - If you “let whatever happens be ok”, you are accepting the “default” pattern of karma. Empowerment comes from a conscious decision to take control of karma by accepting absolute and total responsibility for your life and by always consciously acting with loving kindness.

11: LAW OF ALL POSSIBILITIES - There is no end to the joy you can experience or to what you can create. For all the power to get what you want comes from within you. Every moment brings with it new possibilities and opportunities for action. Whatever you can dream, you can do, be, or have in the universe of all possibilities… this is your birthright as a divine being.

12: LAW OF LOVE - Karma begins and ends with love. Karma was created to propel you as Soul on a personal journey of reincarnation through the universe. Karma ends when you have perfected yourself in your ability to love unconditionally. The sole purpose of karma and reincarnation is to bring us all to a state of divine love, joy, and awareness.

Source: ttp://www.themindawakened.com/2014/04/the-12-laws-of-karma.html

12 Little Known Laws Of Karma That Will Change Your Life

What is Karma? Karma is the Sanskrit word for action. It is equivalent to Newton’s law of ‘every action must have a reaction’. When we think, speak or act we initiate a force that will react accordingly. This returning force maybe modified, changed or suspended, but most people will not be able eradicate it.

This law of cause and effect is not punishment, but is wholly for the sake of education or learning.

A person may not escape the consequences of his actions, but he will suffer only if he himself has made the conditions ripe for his suffering. Ignorance of the law is no excuse whether the laws are man-made or universal.

To stop being afraid and to start being empowered in the worlds of karma and reincarnation, here is what you need to know about karmic laws.

1. THE GREAT LAW

- “As you sow, so shall you reap”. This is also known as the “Law of Cause and Effect”.
- Whatever we put out in the Universe is what comes back to us.
- If what we want is Happiness, Peace, Love, Friendship… Then we should BE Happy, Peaceful, Loving and a True Friend.

2. THE LAW OF CREATION

- Life doesn’t just HAPPEN, it requires our participation.
- We are one with the Universe, both inside and out.
- Whatever surrounds us gives us clues to our inner state.
- BE yourself, and surround yourself with what you want to have present in your Life.

3. THE LAW OF HUMILITY

- What you refuse to accept, will continue for you.
- If what we see is an enemy, or someone with a character trait that we find to be negative, then we ourselves are not focused on a higher level of existence.

4. THE LAW OF GROWTH

- “Wherever you go, there you are”.
- For us to GROW in Spirit, it is we who must change – and not the people, places or things around us.
- The only given we have in our lives is OURSELVES and that is the only factor we have control over.
- When we change who and what we are within our heart our life follows suit and changes too.

5. THE LAW OF RESPONSIBILITY

- Whenever there is something wrong in my life, there is something wrong in me.
- We mirror what surrounds us – and what surrounds us mirrors us; this is a Universal Truth.
- We must take responsibility what is in our life.

6.THE LAW OF CONNECTION

- Even if something we do seems inconsequential, it is very important that it gets done as everything in the Universe is connected.
- Each step leads to the next step, and so forth and so on.
- Someone must do the initial work to get a job done.
- Neither the first step nor the last are of greater significance,
- As they were both needed to accomplish the task.
- Past-Present-Future they are all connected…

7. THE LAW OF FOCUS

- You can not think of two things at the same time.
- When our focus is on Spiritual Values, it is impossible for us to have lower thoughts such as greed or anger.

8. THE LAW OF GIVING AND HOSPITALITY

- If you believe something to be true,then sometime in your life you will be called upon to demonstrate that particular truth.
- Here is where we put what we CLAIM that we have learned, into actual

9. PRACTICE. THE LAW OF HERE AND NOW

- Looking backward to examine what was, prevents us from being totally in the HERE AND NOW.
- Old thoughts, old patterns of behavior, old dreams…
- Prevent us from having new ones.

10. THE LAW OF CHANGE

- History repeats itself until we learn the lessons that we need to change our path.

11. THE LAW OF PATIENCE AND REWARD

- All Rewards require initial toil.
- Rewards of lasting value require patient and persistent toil.
- True joy follows doing what we’re suppose to be doing, and waiting for the reward to come in on its own time.


12. THE LAW OF SIGNIFICANCE AND INSPIRATION

- You get back from something whatever YOU have put into it.
- The true value of something is a direct result of the energy and intent that is put into it.
- Every personal contribution is also a contribution to the Whole.
- Lack luster contributions have no impact on the Whole, nor do they work to diminish it.
- Loving contributions bring life to, and inspire, the Whole.

Source : livebuddhism.com

O Karme - Paul Brunton

Volně zpracováno podle knihy: Zápisky Paula Bruntona - Svazek 6. EGO OD ZROZENÍ KE ZNOVUZROZENÍ

Zdroj: http://www.matrix-2001.cz/clanek-detail/5186-o-karme/

Mnohokrát jsme svědky toho, že nevinní lidé trpí díky činům zlých a sobeckých lidí. Většinou to pokládáme za nespravedlnost aniž bychom si uvědomili, že i ti, kteří jsou nevinní, pravděpodobně ve své minulosti prováděli zlé skutky. Z televizních zpráv i z tisku se velmi často dovídáme o lidech, kteří způsobují utrpení jiným. To svědčí o jejich neznalosti vyšších zákonů, neboť těmito činy v podstatě trestají sami sebe. Světová idea zaznamenává veškeré činy skrytým způsobem a zrcadlí zpět patřičné důsledky. Vše funguje podobně jako ozvěna.

Ve všech lidských záležitostech existuje spravedlnost, kterou však běžně nelze spatřit. Víra, že z nás sejme nějaký spasitel břemeno našich hříchů, je nesprávná. Svalovat důsledky naší nedbalosti na Boží vůli je nepřijatelné. Každý nese zodpovědnost sám za sebe a vše, co vykonal v oblasti činů nebo myšlenek, bude zpět vrženo na něj. Správné nebo nesprávné použití naší svobodné vůle v přítomnosti, rozhoduje o událostech našich budoucích životů. Život je moudrý, když nám vrací důsledky našich činů. Tím nám umožňuje těžit z chyb, kterých se dopouštíme a uvědomit si, co je třeba v našem charakteru změnit.

Celý lidský život je pod vládou zákona karmy. Z tohoto pohledu každý z nás vytváří svůj vlastní osud a musíme jen sami sobě děkovat nebo se obviňovat z toho, co prožíváme. Chceme-li pochopit důležitost utrpení v životech lidí, musíme správně pochopit princip karmy jako sílu uvedené do pohybu našimi skutky. Zasloužený trest je tvrdou formou výchovy. Proto je karma spíš výchovná než trestající. Naše nesprávné jednání dopadá zpět na nás stejně tak, jako naše dobré činy utvářejí zpětným odrazem dobrý osud. Tento zákon morální zodpovědnosti je nevyhnutelný a platí stejně ve vztahu k jednotlivcům i k celku. Je to neosobní síla, kterou nemůžeme změnit svými modlitbami.

Karma je neoddělitelnou součástí univerzální síly. Je součástí rovnováhy vesmíru, přináší zpětný odraz a záznam. Vůle karmy je přítomna ve všech událostech našeho života. Je odrazem našeho vlastního konání, příčina uvedená do pohybu vůlí, ale rozhodně ne výsledek. Karma je utvářena našimi činy, udržovanými myšlenkami a také tím, co intenzivně pociťujeme. Nauka o karmě nás učí, že příčiny svého současného údělu musíme hledat ve svých myšlenkách a činech vykonaných v tomto životě nebo v minulých vtěleních. Všechny události, kterými procházíme, nemusí být karmického charakteru, mohou být pouze tím, co v daném okamžiku potřebujeme pro utváření charakteru, vývoj nebo nápravu.

Všechny karmické tendence nejsou ve vědomí přítomny současně. Některé musí ještě přejít z potenciálního do aktivního stavu. Činnost zákona vyrovnání je prováděna způsobem, který je mimo lidské chápání. Objevuje se náhle jediným tajemným zásahem. Každý čin je odražen zpět na toho, kdo ho vykoná, a stejně tak je každá myšlenka odražena zpět ke svému zdroji. Vyhnout se tvorbě špatné karmy vyžaduje předvídání následků činnosti, postoje nebo názoru. Pokud se nejsme schopni poučit ze své zkušenosti, budeme muset přijmout lekce, které nám udělí nově vytvořená karma.

Určitá forma rovnováhy je vklíněna mezi dva druhy karmy. Špatná karma může být zmírněna nebo dokonce překonána, ale stejně tak dobrá karma může být omezena nebo dokonce smazána. Nezvratný zákon vyrovnání ovládá náš život, vytváří dobré či špatné výsledky z příčin a vyrovnává naše dobré nebo špatné skutky s jejich následky. Pokud ve své činnosti zvolíme nesprávný cíl nebo budeme mít nečestné přání, pocítíme utrpení jako následek své volby. V každém špatném činu je již obsažen jeho nepříjemný zpětný účinek. Jesliže neodstraníme příčinu svého utrpení, tak nás naše další činy povedou do ještě větších nesnází.

Hledající zaplatí za své nesprávné intelektuální chování a nesprávné morální počínání neúspěchem v poznání pravdy. Lidé, kteří neberou svůj život příliš lehkovážně, se učí z lekcí utrpení, když se rozhodnou nedopustit se podruhé téže chyby. Utrpení, které jsme sami na sebe uvrhli, by nás mělo vést k přijetí spravedlnosti, vyznání svých hříchů a změně našeho chování. Filozof snáší utrpení s důstojností, neboť si uvědomuje, že je v něm ukryto nějaké poselství, kterému se má naučit. Jakmile nastoupíme cestu skutečného hledání, naše karma se zrychlí. Různé části mysli a charakteru jsou přinuceny k činnosti a to je nutné pro náš rychlejší pokrok.

Zákon karmy není žádnou východní náboženskou fantazií, ale je zákonem, který učí člověka zodpovědnosti a přijetí důsledků vlastních činů. Je stejně pravdivý ať v něj věříme nebo ne. Velká část našich vnějších strastí a nesnází pochází z chyb a slabostí charakteru. Takto se stáváme objetí svých dřívějších činů a pošetilostí. Kdyby si lidé uvědomili, že zákon vyrovnání je stejně platný jako kterékoliv zákony jejich země, zřejmě by byli ve svém konání více opatrní. Nedocházelo by k vědomému nebo dobrovolnému ublížení jiným lidem, protože by si uvědomovali , že tím ublíží sami sobě.

Pokud se u nás objeví výčitky svědomí nad zlem, které jsme spáchali a povedou až k pocitu lítosti, existuje možnost, že bude zmírněn nebo vymazán záznam těžké karmy milostí Nadjá. Pokud chceme změnit svou karmu, musíme změnit své postoje k lidem, věcem a také vůči sobě. Jestliže se nám podaří určitou negativní kvalitu ve svém postoji nahradit kvalitou pozitivní, určité karmické důsledky, které jsme si sami přivodili, mohou skončit samy od sebe. Ve svém vlastním životě i životech ostatních můžeme vypozorovat souvislost příčiny a následku.

Karma nemusí být vždy nepříjemná, neboť se nám vrací i to dobré co jsme myslili a vykonali. Dobré jednání v minulých životech přináší příjemné dobrodiní v životě současném. To, čím budeme v životě procházet a v jakém prostředí budeme žít, určuje naše individuální i kolektivní karma a částečně to ovlivňuje i potřeba duchovní evoluce. Nesmíme si vysvětlovat karmu jako něco, co nyní utváříme a co se bude uvolňovat v budoucích inkarnacích. Ona je nejvíce činná v našem současném životě. Přináší nám to, co je nezbytné pro náš vývoj. Uvolněná karma se projevuje událostmi, které mohou vypadat jako náhody.

Většina lidí nehledá pravou moudrost pokud je jejich život snadný a bezstarostný. Mnoho lidí bývá přivedeno k zájmu o Hledání působením karmických sil, které je z jejich duchovní netečnosti probudily díky zklamání, ztrátě a bolesti. Teprve nesnáze a utrpení způsobené jejich vlastní karmou je přinutí hledat vyšší smysl života. Vytváření karmických následků se nevyhneme ani tehdy, pokud se budeme úmyslně snažit vyhnout činnosti, protože důsledky jsou vyvozeny z toho, čeho jsme se dopustili stejně tak jako z toho, co jsme opomněli udělat. Pokud se sami nepřimějeme k vlastní kázni, život to za nás učiní později a také bolestněji.

Nemusíme trestat nikoho, kdo se vůči nám proviní, neboť víme, že síla karmy to učiní za nás. Každý, kdo páchá bezpráví, ten hromadí své chyby a hříchy tak dlouho, až na něj jednoho dne udeří karmická odplata. Působení odplaty zasahuje nejen ty, kteří konají zlo, ale také ty, kteří opomíjejí vykonat správný skutek, i když je to daleko menším karmickým hříchem. Nebudeme-li jednat v pravý čas správným způsobem, musíme počítat s tím, že nám to může přinést odpovídající následky. Část karmy také zasáhne ty, kteří jsou těsně spjati s osobou, která ji vyvolala. Karma se může jevit jako trestající nebo odměňující, ale ve skutečnosti je neutrální.

Příroda je velice moudrá a spravedlivá, když nikoho nezvýhodňuje, ale dává nám to, co si zasloužíme. Časem se naučíme přijímat vše co se nám stane, jako nejvyšší vůli. Nebudeme naříkat nad ranami osudu, protože již dříve utvořená karma nejde zastavit a její důsledky budeme muset protrpět. Jednou pochopíme, že zlo a chyby, které jsou výplodem našeho ega, jsou příčinou nesnází, které nám přináší tento zákon vyrovnání. Některé události, které nás postihnou, nesouvisí s karmou z minulých životů, ale náleží příčinám započatým v současném životě.

Každý z nás vláčí napříč inkarnacemi břemeno nahromaděné karmy. Není důležité jak je těžké, ale jak jej neseme. Každý člověk během svého života učiní mnoho nesprávných rozhodnutí a pak trpí jejich následky. Pokud se poučí z těchto lekcí, vyhne se mnohým nepříjemným zkušenostem ve svém příštím vtělení. Jak by bylo užitečné znát výsledky svých činů v době, kdy jsme je prováděli. Mohli bychom se tak vyhnout mnohému utrpení, neúspěchu a zklamání. S přibývajícími životy karma sílí nebo slábne, podle toho do jaké míry se odpoutáváme od ega.

Přijetím zákona karmického vyrovnání můžeme předejít mnohému utrpení, uvědomíme si zodpovědnost za svůj osud a nebudeme ho již pokládat za dílo náhody či rozmarnosti boha. Lidé, kteří jsou bez zájmu o Pravdu a poznání, ovládáni svými touhami a naivními cíli, kráčejí dlouhou a pomalou cestou. Volí si cestu poučování karmou a pokud si myslí, že mohou procházet životem aniž by akceptovali vyšší zákony, nevyhnou se důsledkům svých činů. Musíme být zodpovědní za své činy i myšlenky a přijmout jejich spravedlivé následky. Lidé trpí karmou, kterou si způsobili svým vlastním chováním. To však neznamená, že je musíme ponechat jejich osudu.

Karma je nezvratná rovnice mezi chováním a následkem, myšlením a okolím, mezi charakterem a předurčením. Každý z nás je stále souzen a život sám ve spolupráci s karmou je naším soudcem. Nejsou to pravidla a zákony, které vymyslel člověk, co vládne této zemi, ale je to zákon karmy. Již od raného dětství bychom měli být poučováni a vedeni k odpovědnosti za utváření příčin, které mají za následek utrpení. Život nám dluží a vrací jen to, co jsme mu dali. Pokud by lidé díky nauce o karmě pochopili, že není jedno zda konají dobře nebo špatně a probudilo by to jejich mravní zodpovědnost, pak by byla potvrzena její praktická hodnota.

Paul Brunton: "Karma vstupuje do hry, jen když je karmický vtisk dosti silný, aby přetrval. V případě mudrce, protože jedná se životem jako se snem, protože se na něj dívá jako na jev, jsou všechny jeho zkušenosti jen na povrchu. Jeho hluboká vnitřní mysl zůstává nedotčena. Proto si z nich netvoří karmu, proto může, když odchází z těla při smrti, navždy skoncovat s kruhem zrozování a smrti."