Anusheh,

What a synchronicity!!!i logged at 4:05. Is synchronicity Karmic?

KARMA is the concept that always bewildered me. Till i came across few incidents to acknowledge the lila around me. Rather say me being the central figure in theLila proved there is a lot under the carpet. Hence I am again and agian reminded(with a zen stick) to have "acute awreness" for my being.

Infact may be now I can articulate how ones unrsolved KArma surface in the current sitautions as our immediate families.
Here lies my clue..once again thanks for torching my path.

Hugs
sahaya

Hi Sahaya

O.K the first synchronicity is that while you were probably writing this I was thinking about you and framing an e-mail in my head and suddenly I click on the blog and there you are.

Indeed understanding Leela is the first step to placing karma in its right framework. The next step is of course integrating that truth on a daily basis step--by-step which is the harder road and many fall by the wayside. But if 'witnessing awareness' and the Zen stick become key fellow travellers, and that too travellers whose company we rely on and begin to trust and enjoy, the road indeed becomes a fascinating adventure.

The stuff under tha carpet begins to reveal itself and loses its threatening quality, tragedy begins to rearrange itself as signposts, and family/immediate environment stops to mystify us as a bane and just appears as it is- a concentrated exam and one which we now know can and will end provided we decide to pass.

And you know better than anyone that you have it in you to ace your exams.

There I got to write the e-mail in this comment. Now if that is not wonderous synchronicity what is??

Love & hugs

Hi Sahaya

Good to see you here:-) Hmmm, I think synchronicity can be called karmic because it too originates as a desire in the mind (whether conscious or subconscious)which connects to a larger field and pulls your desire to you. Having said that what differentiates synchronicity from karma is that it is 'instantaneous' (whereas karma can be immediate or delayed). Need to think a little more on this but this what comes to mind immediately. Thanks for asking this question...you've got me thinking!

lots of love

Dear Anusheh,

Your post reminded me of something that Jasjit had written earlier on how our past lives actually get reflected in our present lives and if we are aware of them we can deal with the anxieties etc in this life itself.

Life keeps making us confront situations that try to make us aware of what qualitites we must let go and instead what we should take up if we are to find happiness and evelove as better human beings. We keep getting angry with others, with our life for putting us in such situation.

Recently have been facing certain ups and downs in my life and I have been wondering why? But since I've tried to become more aware of my mind things have slowly started becoming clear. It's our own feelings of insecurity, guilt, fear that keep drawing the problems towards us. We need to look into our own self and mind rather than go about screaming, sobbing, crying and shouting about the 'unfortunate' things that only seem to happen to us. For these are not unfortunate things but things that keep coming in different forms- sometimes as parents, as boyfriends, as colleagues, as strangers, as husbands etc. to tell us to look into ourselves and evolve from what lies unfinished in us.

Don't know if I made sense but thats how I feel.

Dear Anusheh, All,

How do you see animals and other sentient beings in the Karmic world view?

Since plants are considered biological life, would you include them too?

What about single cell organisms like the amoeba (which lives indefinitely succumbing only to 'mechanical' death).

And what about cows and the her of the blog, the pig :-)? No seriously, how does the state of an animal compare with humans and what determines transformations between species?

Finally, where does cloning - which is certainly possible now fit in?

I have had these questions at the back of my mind for a while and am yet to form an answer. I wonder if you or anyone else is aware of how these are treated with the karmic world view.

Dear Harvinder

Great question. I would very much like to know that too. Also I dont know if I agree with you Anusheh when you say that karma is not reward and punishment. Poverty for example seems like extreme punishment to me.

Dear Harvinder and Shagufta

This is how I see it. Everything is energy. This has been proven scientifically as well. All matter for example, table, chair, rock etc. broken down to the smallest particle is energy vibrating at different speeds. The human eye sees different forms because of the way that the eye translates different vibration speeds. This is relative as you may know i.e. a doughnut may look very different through a cat's eye than it does through the human eye. Given that, all perception of matter/living organisms etc. is entirely subjective.

In my opinion since karma is memory residing in pockets of consciousness (possible measured in terms of density) and since everything is energy I don't see why it should not effect both sentient and non-sentient beings.

As human beings one is particularly blessed because as thinking creatures we have the ability to transform and rise above karma. Animal and plant life on the other hand is perhaps trapped within the confines of karma until the natural end of that particular cycle, whichever karmic way it may manifest itself i.e. violent death, natural death, etc.

I dont know if human life can revert to animal/plant ...maybe Jasjit can shed some light on that as I would be interested in knowing as well.

Cloning would therefore also have implications for both the person who conducts it and the soul which arrives in that body. For no matter what science manages to engineer in the form of life there is a soul out there which comes into that form because its karma compels it to.

Shagufta there is no question of reward and punishment simply because firstly someone then has to exist who punishes or rewards you, so if you believe that there is a God up there then I guess you can perceive it as such. Secondly, the soul according to this theory is simply motivated by its own evolution to enter repeatedly into life in circumstances which are best suited to its growth. So at the time of birth for example, we choose our parents, the circumstances that we will be born under etc.

Where is the question of punishment or reward then?

Just my ramblings.

Chaitali

Makes perfect sense. I think you've got the law of cause and effect down pat! I guess it is a great challenge to not begin to blame everyone and everything for our state of affairs because we are so used to doing that and it's so convenient to not take responsibility for our actions. Needs constant awareness to keep stepping out of this mindless dance of finger pointing, until we can truly exist in a state where everything is experienced as a mirror to our own being.

On second thought I don't see why human form can't revert to plant/animal life, if that's the level you've clogged up your energy to.

hi Jasjit,

Thanks for the insight into unknown.

If a human soul reverts back to being a plant then the higher chances are that soul is v conciously choosing to grow. Inspite of the deeds comitted in the human body.By desiring to be a tree it will reclaim the lost ability.

I hope i have been able to put forth how i see evolution of souls.

I srongly have been experiencing the progression of a sapling. Yet at the same time i have my doubts. I say even the most potential seed requires the basic needs to grow like water, light, at times Khaad(manure). The sapling mignt not grow without a mali to watch.

Pls comment.

regards

Anusheh,

Forgot to tell you - this was an excellent post that has come at the right time for me. And like Sahaya it's a karmic post for me too.

Dear Shagufta here are some thoughts that came into my mind that I would lke to share with you.

I have met many people in Kolkata who despite their poverty are so happy, jovial and always laughing. Every year I go to Kolkata I meet them and every year I am amazed by the high spirit that they keep despite their poverty. The reason they have not taken their poverty as a sign of punishment. One couple I know have three children, the father works in a factory which due to the union has been shut for over three four years and even if it does open it is only for a a month or two. Yet the kids have all cleared their school and are in college doing pretty good. The mother never laments on their poverty. Infact she always tells me that the love that they share with each other (she and her husband) overrides the challenges of poverty.

The moment we do something with the intention in mind that we will be rewarded, or that if I do such and such a thing I will be appreciated we are directing our actions outward, towards others. And when that reward/appreciation does not come we feel hurt, angry and blame the other for not appreciating the self sacrifices that we have made etc etc.

If we judge ourselves for our actions, that is learn to appreciate our actions on our own and not depend on others, I feel the pain, hurt will be a lot less. And thats what Karma is about- making one realise ones own actions.

Chaitali thanks...I guess this post like everything else is fulfilling its own karma too :-)

how can you say that koran and bible also believe in karma. do you have evidence?

Here's some evidence Kalam, but of course you can do a search yourself on the net and make up your own mind. Better still why not read the Quran and the Bible. First hand information is somehow always best:-)

"Mischief has appeared on land and sea because of (the meed) that the hands of men have earned, that (God) may give them a taste of some of their deeds: in order that they may turn back (from Evil). (Quran, 30:41)"

"In Job 4:8 it says, “Even as I have seen they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.” And in Psalms 126:5 it says, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” And in Luke 12:24 it says, “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?"

Hi Chaitali,

I agree with u..

When the pain persists there are chances that the next moment the joy over rides us.

Hello Everyone!

Dear Anusheh,

A Great read! ... Put in such simple words.
And some nice comments from fellow bloggers too :)

The part that appealed to me was -
"... each individual is responsible for the way his/her life turns out. The sole architects of their past, present and future."

True! I've realized that we don't really need to look around & outside. We just need to look back and see the patterns in our actions and learn from them. Without blaming anything/anyone and with some conscious effort we can resolve our shortcomings and avert the future mistakes. Thus resolving the Karma we carry with us.

And while we do that we should also try to live thru the eternal moments of life each day - Karma in the present.

Would like to read more about the different forms of life their relation to Karama.

A few lines I felt like quoting from somewhere:

"Life is a wheel of changes, but changes are life
And someday we will have to say goodbye, but our spirit will survive
Love is phasing, love is moving, to the rhythm of your sight
In the darkness, I get closer to the crossing point of light
Reason is lasting, passion is living, and dying is teaching us how to live ..."

Enjoying each read and the feeling of having learnt something with each read :)
Love you all :)
Surya

Anusheh

Simple and comprehensive post. Well-said!

Chaitali

Excellent articulation on karma and dot on.

Shagufta

The question of rewards and punishments karmically should perhaps be looked at more in terms of cause and effect, like a generic balancing system, rather than punitive actions by a policing Lord and then maybe its easier to integrate.

Good Morning Sahaya, Harvinder and All

To attempt the issue of inter-species karmic conectivity. Anusheh has answered it comprehensively and I would just add. It is perhaps easier (and more scientific)to look at our 'selves' as energy discs/clusters. At any given moment we carry a number of energy discs which reflect as anger, jealousy, victim self, ambitious, compassion, spiritual wisdom etc. within our body and mind they reside together ruled under the one identity/ego which we know as our self. The mind is the charioteer if you will of this group of 'selves'(perhaps the reason why many of us feel multi-phrenic and schizophrenic etc within). Its the play of light/dark within us which rules us through the uneven terrain of sometimes feeling we have won our inner darkness and sometimes lost to it.

Since as Anusheh has already explained that all is energy (all thought, emotion even) there is a natural law of the energy which we contain. Its source is ultimately 'empty' value free neutrality. Which basically means it is flowing towards its nature of emptying out its illusory games in the physical body, having played them all. To illustrate, like a river flows instincteively towards the sea- irrespective of how many times it veers off course, falls into ponds, gets damned, overflows etc- the final point is the sea. The veering all over the earth, from its source in the mountains all the way down to the sea is its journey. Just like the world is for us.

When a soul readies for birth it in essence becomes a set of clusters (discs) which are 'unresolved' and floating if you will waiting to resume their journey back in body. Unfinished desire is the only link which connects these clutsers back to re-birth. In that sense no being is really 'reborn' exactly the same. Instead some dominant desires get together, collect the requisite cluters available to live out that 'karma' and take form.

Animal clusters are lower level discs of consciousness or primal selves. For instance at any given time we carry many animal instincts within us-like some are as courageous as a lion, or attached to the 'gutters' of thought/emotion like roaches and rodents etc or free and majestic like eagles.
Carrying these selves within the lighter/higher enrgy discs are meant to help cleanse/clarify these selves beyond animal instinct/desire for humans have choice/intellect. when we are not able to do this within a life and some or all clusters in effect are veering to a greater animalistic self then at the time of death this is what happens. Death is technically a great dispersion and birth an aspiration of energy discs. So as the various unresolved discs disperse, they reassemble (or become available to) in a more dense animal karma.

This in effct is the karmic inter-species connection IMO. However I realize this post is long and dense so rather than ramble on I will wait to clarify if someone has a question.

Sorry about the loooong post. :-)

Sahaya

To answer your question on needing a 'maali'. Yes but then the entire comsos is geared towards nurturing us and has every ingredient we can possibly need to flower. The question is that we cannot see the world, our environment as in fact being perfectly designed for the blossoming. This is where the mind comes in with its whinny psyche and complains that the garden best suited for its growth is elsewhere. You see (as you have known personally too) as your consciousness changes so do the gardens. All that you need comes your way (in miraculous ways -and that by the way is synchronicity). The catch is- not what your mind desires neccessarily but what your being needs for its evolution. Acceptance of that truth needs crushing of the wilful ego and quieting the angry mind. More than that I feel it requires a total shift of premise where you begin to 'trust' the Universe and its 'agents' as being completly benevolent and mindful to your individual life. You know Sahaya I have discovered when this 'trust' is ABSOLUTE all is then possible.

I also want to add that the most exotic flowers grow in deep, unmanned forests where no 'maali' has ever set foot. And they are precisely so exotic for they have trusted the dark, deep mystery of the forest to lead them to their light, their flowering. :-)

love

Jasjit,

Your post to Sahaya is like the magic words that opens the door to the hidden treasure!

I must say quieting the angry mind is a tough job but then it's not impossible either.

Jasjit the following sentences really stood out for me from your posts above. Beautiful, succinct and great words to remember. Thanks so much.

"Death is technically a great dispersion and birth an aspiration of energy discs."

"the most exotic flowers grow in deep, unmanned forests where no 'maali' has ever set foot. And they are precisely so exotic for they have trusted the dark, deep mystery of the forest to lead them to their light, their flowering."

Dear Jasjit, Anusheh, Chaitali - together with Sahaya, Harb, Harvinder

You guys have really created a knowledgebase of sorts on Karma and all there is to it. It connects well and I've got to see so many things more clearly than I used.

Thanks all,
Best regards,
Surya.

Dearest Surya,

How simply and effectively you manage to put your wisdom across. Loved those lines you quoted...thanks for that.

Lots of love

Dearest Anusheh,

Your openness is really inspiring :)
Lots of love :)

Anusheh - I see this as the time you should get ready to receive what you deserve - True Happiness & Fortune and who knows - maybe something else that you've wished in some way :) [ :( Don't know why I said that - Just said it anyways]

Jasjit, Anusheh, Shubhosree, Chaitali,
Love & Regards to You all for everything I've learnt via this bus.

I am really humbled whenever I think of all I've got from this place :) [I wish there was a smiley for a bow :P ]

:) [.]

Dearest Surya

Thank you and may it also be a time of great wisdom and grace for you and a knowing deep within that the entire universe conspires to keep you safe and happy:-)

Good Morning all! :-)

Dear Anusheh,

Loved reading your piece. KARMA - I owe a lot to understanding the Law of Karma after having come to IFSHA. It truly made sense. Put things into perspective for me!

It did weigh on my mind though (something similar to what Sahaya said) that where does destiny come into play? But eventually I learnt that we create our own destiny as well :-)

Love to all ...

ps: where is Aachi? All well I hope!

Good morning Shubhz

Thanks. Well as I see it destiny is karma. The only difference being that when we use the word destiny we think that its out of our control and just something that happens to us as engineered by some force out there, whereas karma tells you that it originates from you and therefore returns to you.

Dont know where Aachi is? Maybe he's travelling or just really busy. Hope all is well too.