Karma

Karma


In the bathroom of the yoga studio where I teach, there’s a sign that reads:

 “Dear Karma,


      I have a list of people you might have missed". 

Don’t you love the idea of Karma?  Karma comes from the Sanscrit term for act or deed.  Informally, it’s the idea that the energy you send out into the universe will come back to you – good for good, evil for evil.  The idea of Karma makes things easier when we have to deal with someone else’s unpleasant behavior.  We can take a deep breath, think Karma, and smile.

Did you know there is scriptural precedence for the idea of Karma? 

At the end of Alma’s life, as he’s giving counsel to his son Corianton, he speaks about resurrection and restoration.  He notes that the resurrection will not be a restoration of good for evil, but “good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just” (41:13).  Then he pleads with his son to be merciful, “judge righteously, and to do good continually” (41:14) and promises that if he does this, he will receive his reward – mercy and justice and righteous judgment restored to him.  And here’s the clincher:

“For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored” (Alma 41:15).

Doesn't that sound like Karma? 

In Hindu philosophy, Karma also encompasses the idea of reincarnation, or multiple lives…that individuals experience the consequences of their actions from previous lives.  So interestingly the ideas of resurrection and restoration appear again. 

In our LDS theology, while we don’t believe in reincarnation per se, we do believe that we lived before we came here, and that we will live again after we die.  And we do believe that there are consequences of our actions from our premortal existence that impact us now, and of course that our actions here on earth will impact our standing after we are resurrected.  Think of reaping what we sow.

That's Karma.

For Hindus and Buddhists, Karma is a universal law, somewhat like Newton’s law – for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction – there are consequences, good and bad for all of our acts.  These are set up to help us learn, and be more mindful and more compassionate of others. 

And part of the idea of Karma is that if we don’t learn from the consequences of our actions, we are doomed to repeat them, experiencing the same consequences over and over and over, perhaps across several lifetimes.   For me, this aspect of karma was manifested in my church callings – For several years, and across many different wards, it seemed I was always called to be the secretary.  After this went on for a while, I wondered if there was something I needed to learn, perhaps about organizational skillsJ.  Grumbling just a little, I began to work on these personally.  I developed a filing system of sorts, a better way of managing mail and bills, and I began to work more diligently on order and neatness at home.  While this is still a work in progress, I have to say that my callings have varied considerably since, and I think I’m on the right track.

Another facet of the principle of Karma is that the things coming to you are a reflection of who you are.  If you radiate kindness and wisdom, you are likely to get these reflected back to you.  This is also true in a negative sense – if you put out mistrust and fear, maybe even hatred, those may be the emotions reflected back to you by others.  It’s like the Golden Rule – do unto others as you would have others do to you.  The Karma of the energy coming back to you can give you feedback about yourself.  It provides an opportunity for self-reflection and maybe even motivation for change. 

Most critically for our relationships, I think Karma reminds us to focus on forgiveness and repentance rather than on retaliation and retribution.  We allow for the fact that someone else (God) will be the judge.  Isn't that a good thing?  Do we really want to shoulder that responsibility?  Honestly, some days leaving the judgment to God feels like an act of faith.  But He who is merciful, powerful, and omnipotent sees all things, and is much more capable of righteous judgment than I am!  Thankfully, we're also promised He will eventually right all the wrongs and "wipe away tears from off all faces" (Isaiah 25:8).  




Karma reminds us that we are connected.  That our energy, our actions, the course of our life matters, and that eventually there will be a restoration - and a judgment.  That sometime following the ending of our lives, all will be made right by our perfectly loving and merciful Father.