Chapter 4
OUR INCARNATIONS
AND KARMA
In
this fascinating chapter, we shall again accept our universality and recognize
that we incarnate as many times as it takes to learn to develop our Divine Plan
and find out how to work out our karmic situations. The two are handled both individually and together as karma is
part of each incarnation. We thus face
that each is part of the whole.
Master
Hilarian expressed our Oneness thus:
"Many rivers run into the sea. If we see God as the sea, we will
know that different religions are the rivers. All religions come to the same
Godhead with different methods of getting there." (The unpublished papers of Mary Eleanore
Thedick.)
The
place of silence deep within that part of our mind located in our hearts is the
place of all Truth. It is the sea where
the rivers of God join for all of us and is in the center of our heart. There is also “gray matter” in the physical
heart just the same as in our cranium.
The great Master, Jesus, the Christ, teaches, "Truly, I say to you,
whoever does not receive the kingdom like a child shall not enter
it." To become as a little child
means to transfer consciousness from our head/mind area to our heart center.
We're
here in this incarnation consciously to become aware of as many things as we
can. It is our challenge to enlarge our
capacity, to send out goodness, and to receive celestial emanations. This doesn't take away our individuality but
we ask that our own special way of expressing ourselves shall be in touch with
our heavenly source. This will give
more fullness and satisfaction to our lives.
The
new teachings that are in fact as old as mankind are constantly being
rediscovered. They are the
"extraordinary" in our lives today.
KARMA is the first
"Extraordinary" at which we
will look. If we are spoken into Being,
we shouldn't think of karma as an awesome dark cloud that hovers over us. Our wonderful Creator wouldn't place
something like that above us!
What
then is karma? It is one of the great
principles of Truth expressed in this way: Every cause has its effect; every
effect has its cause; everything happens according to law. Chance is but another name of a law not yet
recognized. There may be many planes of
causation but nothing escapes the law.
The
Hindu people knew this in 1500 B.C.
They were a pastoral people of Aryan stock from a homeland near the
Caspian Sea who went through the passes of the Hindu Kush and spread Hinduism
throughout the land. Their sacred lore,
or Vedas, extolled the gifts of nature as gods, yet asked, "To which god
shall we dedicate our offerings?"
As in all religions, no matter how many divisions there are, still there
must be the ONE! "Truth is ONE,"
the Vedas proclaimed. "It is
called by different names but over all the many is Brahman."
Their
version of karma and reincarnation can mean rebirth in the form of a human or
other than a human.
Siddhartha
Gautama, born in 563 B.C. believed in reincarnation and karma. On his 35th birthday he sat down
under a pipal tree (a sacred fig tree) in a yoga position and vowed to meditate
until he "attained understanding."
That understanding which chastised his body fearfully made him a
Buddha. His four Noble Truths are
similar to the quality of relinquishment which is the complete turning over of
challenges to our highest Source and in that way it resembles many religious of
today. He believed firmly that we are
reincarnated until we reach Nirvana. To
the Buddhist, nirvana is a state of absolute felicity, characterized by freedom
from passion, desire and suffering, and attained through the annihilation of
the self or through the liberation of the individual from all passions and
desires.
Buddha believed
that his followers could overcome much karma while they were currently on this
plane.
The
Angel Azrael (Jibral in Islam) is mentioned in Jewish and Moslem mythology as
the angel who separates the soul from the body at death. This mighty one agrees that is one of his
purposes. He also calls himself the Angel
of the Harvest who brings to us the crops we produce from the seeds we have
sown; the products we’ve brought into being through our thoughts and
actions. Thus, he teaches, our karma
isn't something put upon us but is merely the result of our actions and
reactions.
Cause
and effect - law and order - are active on all planes of being - the physical,
mental, emotional and spiritual. There
is no need to fear this law. If we sow
good seeds in any area, we will reap a good crop or good karma: health,
intelligence, steadiness and a close feeling to our loving creator. This law operates on us as individuals,
families, and nations, internationally, on this side of the veil or the other.
There
appears to be a point of general belief that most view karma as something we
have to work out because we did wrong in a past life. There is some truth to this since we are frequently straightening
out things from other incarnations but it isn't as though we were bad boys and
girls or men and women who must be punished.
Rather, we simply didn't learn a lesson at some time so it is still
ahead of us.
It
is our privilege to ask our Creator what lesson we are to learn at this point
in our lives or else we can use our powers of deduction when we note that a
particular event happens over and over to us until we recognize the
pattern. At that point we can know the
situation as karmic and find the lesson we are supposed to learn. We are on a growing path to unite the Divine
Urge within ourselves with that of our Maker.
When
we find out what particular cause and effect we're working through, we should
use that Universal Mind within us. Tap
into it and receive help. We are to ask
in our own way – be our own intercessor.
Be
still!
Listen!
What do we hear?
Be
guided by what comes in meditation or through thoughts that occur at some other
time; perhaps from conversations with others or even from the work we are doing
with this text.
Each
one of us is on a Journey of the Soul that began when time did, when God
created. We shall stay on this journey
until we once again attain union with our Source.
If
there is law and order here, then this must also be true in our future lives
for there is nothing here which isn't greater in a higher life. Surely then, there must be discussion before
we begin our trip back here from the Inner Plane. We travel on this Planet Earth for a purpose, whether it is for
work or pleasure and we decided before we came what to do and where to go.
We
elect to be born, time after time. We
choose that for which we come in: we pick out a time and even a name by which
we'll be known after we get here and each of those things has a purpose in our
lives. It is up to us who shall be our
parents, as we bear in mind our purpose for this incarnation.
It
is our privilege to talk these things over with those angels and masters who
are in our particular expression on the other side. They will consult with us and offer advice if we like, but they
don't force their will upon us.
Shall
we call this Divine Plan or Karma? To
learn of either is to learn of law and order and of the pure qualities of
Faith, Strength, Wisdom, Understanding, Love, Power, the Divine Will,
Imagination, Law and Order, Renunciation, Zeal and Life. We may even learn that what appears to be a
karmic situation may indeed be a self-chosen, angelic path or one of service.
There
is a possibility we have chosen to incarnate to show others how to cope with a
particular need. If that is true, we
may have assumed that condition for our entry in order to overcome whatever the
difficulty may be so that others may be helped. This would continue our own growth by learning both from the
experience itself as well as from those others who are changed by their contact
with us.
We
are sure of our purpose before we decide to incarnate but our challenge comes
after we get here. The curtain of birth
is drawn and earth's vibrations are very different from where we were so we may
stumble around, going backward a bit, then forward. When we mature enough, we are willing to ask the Heavenly Host to
show us why we came. Our query is the
key to the receipt of assistance since a body of helpers wait for our request
before they give us help. This is a
natural reaction that we should appreciate for surely we wouldn't want them to
take over our lives and deprive us of our individuality. Alexander Pope says of those who intrude
where they aren't invited, "For fools rush in where angels fear to tread." (Essay on Criticism, Pt III, I.66)
One
of those who knew his purpose early and came to be an inspiration to others was
the Reverend Thomas "Tick" Watson.
He was an apparent victim of the polio outbreak of about sixty or so
years ago. Although on crutches for
many years and then in a wheel chair, he was a blithe spirit and a wonderful
channel for prayer and healing. With
his fine wife, Margaret, at the wheel, this pair traveled North America from
Canada to the southern border of the United States and from the eastern coast
to the western, time and time again.
What
a misnomer it would be if we were to say that this fine man had built a karmic
debt because he had caused someone to suffer in that same manner in another
life. How much more magnificent to know
that he came to share with others what can be accomplished under adverse
circumstances and be an example to those who need to learn how to live under
adverse conditions.
Another
splendid example of this was Glenn Harding, a well-known song leader in
spiritual retreats. He was diabetic,
yet lived a wholesome, happy life well into his 80's. When I last saw him he had the vitality of a man in his mid
50's. He knew the principles of
spiritual healing completely but chose to demonstrate that much energy and
strength could be evidenced despite the fact that he took insulin. He watched his diet from the time he was
young. He wanted his light to shine out
to others in this way and it was a mighty beacon!
Both
of those men rose above the ordinary and exhibited the extraordinary.
We
should be wary, then of judging any body, who has many problems by thinking,
"That one must have broken many laws and have a terrible karma to work
out." We dare not be that smug!
A
person may choose to come into a home with many disadvantages where much
patience must be expressed just to grow into adulthood without giving into the
many miseries of the family environment.
Another
may have incarnated to help bring Peace or Light, Joy or Love to the
world. Those who are that brave usually
come in when there is a great lack of the quality they are to express. There may be suffering in their lives as
they serve. To work this way is often
called "earning one's crown" or "earning our jewels" or
"earning heavenly rewards."
Sometimes
we are unable to remember our purpose and our lives may be bitter. When we can recall our reason for entry, our
lives become fuller. We eventually know
our mission and regardless of what or whom we meet on the path, there is a
realization that God's work must be accomplished.
We
do have free will and can ask to incarnate to work out a karmic situation but
this is not necessarily why we come back.
There appears to be some small amount of growing possible on the inner
plane, but we seem to have a greater chance of learning "big" improvements on Planet
Earth. We may realize while on the
inner plane, for instance, that we are minus the quality of patience, or maybe
love, or forgiveness but there is little opportunity to learn. We may choose to come back in a situation
where the particular lesson may be learned.
If we succeed, the soul can grow faster and become more beautiful and
more valuable in the Universe's service.
A
friend had a strange learning in this area.
She accomplished it in the same group as the woman who learned to love,
for it was with the same group she did most of her spiritual growing. The first thing every morning was a
meditational time and she was always up as soon as her alarm went off. This morning she paid not attention. Her roommate, Jane, let her sleep for a
while and then felt she should be roused for neither would want to miss morning
meditation.
Jane
called her. She wakened long enough to
say to her, "You go on, Jane, I can't come. I'm having a baby” and was asleep again instantly. When she finally did awaken, the dream was
so clear she had to think about it and finally realized that what she had gone
through wasn't herself having a baby born to her, but was actually herself
being born again. The experiment in
heaven living which is what she felt these retreats were had brought new life
into her.
We
learned earlier that our mind chooses in the twinkling of an eye what our
response will be to each and every situation which impacts our brain. If the soul doesn't choose to travel the
path the Lord of Karma points out as being the one which will rid the negative
factors we've built up, then nature - Universal Mind's law - forces the soul to
confront itself. My friend is sure
that's a karmic path she shan't need to travel again.
If
we're willing to work with the Lord of Karma - with this Law of God - there are
ways our negative karma may be paid off.
This is the path of Grace, or the way of Forgiveness that the holy ones
have brought to earth for our use.
This
is how Grace can work. Let us say, for
instance, someone was especially cruel to children in a former life. If that incarnating soul will work with the
Lord of Karma, there may come an opportunity for him/her to work with the same
kind of group this time around. Perhaps
there will be an opening to work in a hospital where disabled children are treated. If the soul accepts this chance, the former
karmic debt is cancelled. The negative
side is wiped clean. No unpleasantness
is involved. Instead, there is the joy
of service.
The
paths of Grace and Forgiveness are still available even if we hadn't chosen a
special path before we incarnated. If
we recognize our need and turn it over to the Higher Being through whom we were
brought into existence, we can be taken off the karmic wheel. There are many angles of approach, then, for
the constant growth with which we are faced.
1. We may have picked a path of extra learning. We therefore know in our deep inner being
that we will have to grow a great deal spiritually before we make our
transition. 2. We may be on a path of service, content to
feel that we can overcome. 3. We may be on the karmic wheel having refused
the path that would have offered grace, forgiveness and release.
Somewhere
in this melange of possibilities, we have probably found the reason for our
incarnation and can nod, "yes, yes" in agreement with the premise
presented.
If
we have a karmic lesson and decide to accept the assistance of our Highest
Expression, here is a method that may be used:
Take
time to put on the protection that we were taught. See that we are completely covered. We will remember that asking first that a Living Wall of Flame
shall be built around each of us does this.
This guards us but doesn't injure any of us or any other person who
approaches us. It is generally unseen
by the physical eye but is extraordinarily effective.
The
second protection is the cleansing and recharging of our aura which becomes
contaminated by negative thoughts, either our own or others. This also needs recharged on a regular basis
just as we cleanse our physical body frequently.
The
third protection is the greatest and most powerful of all. We've said it is an individual protection
for all teachers, healers and spiritual workers. To this we would now add THOSE IN NEED OF REDEMPTION. For each of us, we say,
"In the Name of Universal Mind, I
put on the whole Armor of Light. On my
head is the Helmet of Holiness. I wear
the breastplate of righteousness. My
loins are girded with the Truth. My
feet are shod with Peace and enveloped in the flame of the Spirit of Almighty
God. In my left hand I hold the Shield
of Faith. In my right hand is the Sword
of the Spirit. The Sword of the Spirit
is the Word of God and the Word of God is unassailable. Only Good shall come to me.
“Thus
clad, I stand, joyfully expectant, ready to do the will of that which Created
me. Amen."
We
think a moment about the completeness of this coverage and appreciate the
opportunity to use these words.
We become still.
We
relax into a meditative mood, permitting our muscles to become easy and all
tensions to leave our bodies. We are
safe enough to be in tune with the highest forces that can help us.
We
invite in the Lord of Karma, our Guardian Angel, the Angels of Beauty and
Balance, and any special others we feel may help us with the work that is
supposed to be accomplished.
1. Recognize that the matter we want clarified
is karmic. Perhaps a person continually
irritates us by smoking near us. Or
someone near is a constant challenge with other actions. Or we are unable to get or hold a job. We put our own recognition factor into this
and understand that whatever is bothering us is probably a karmic situation
which needs to be resolved.
2. The rule as given says, "Confess to
your Creator.” That sounds so stern,
but really means, "Tell the Creator all about it." We tell him that we're irritated; that we
know we shouldn't be. Admit that it's
our responsibility to get the situation cleared up, if only because we’re souls
that have advanced enough that we don't want to wallow in karmic swill. Let the Great Being know that we can't do it
by ourselves.
3. In the quietness, speak aloud to the person
who bothers us, just as though they were actually there with us. We explain our irritability. It is our privilege to take the initiative
and the responsibility because we really know better than to let them get us
riled up. Ask them to forgive us for
reacting to their actions. Even though
we may feel it is they who are irritating us and not we them, the job is still
ours because we aren't supposed to blame another for our actions or reactions.
4. In that same quietness, permit that absent
person to have time to respond to us, just as though he/she were right there
with us.
Perhaps
we will mentally pick up a response from the other but on the other hand, we
may not.
That's
all right. It isn't our job to know
what they would say. We are just to
give them a chance to answer.
Wait
a bit for this to happen.
5. Make an offer of reparation in the stillness.
We are to bring to mind that we have to accept responsibility for our reaction
to their actions, so it is US who must be willing to make amends. We are imaging what need the other may have,
whether it is spiritual or material.
When
something concrete comes to mind, we offer to fill that need and do so at the
first opportunity. Maybe it can be
filled through a prayer of intervention or transmutation. If it is a physical or material need, find
some gracious way in which to atone.
6. Turn once more to Almighty God through our
own channel. Ask that our efforts shall
be recognized as sincere.
Give
thanks that the whole situation has been healed. Allow our hearts to sing in joy as we KNOW THE WORK IS DONE AND
DONE SATISFACTORILY.
We
accept our own release. Karma cannot
hold another nor us when the power of Universal Mind is used to heal.
7. Give thanks generously to our Creator. Step forth in the Love, Life and Light of
Holiness within us.
8. REJOICE THAT WE ARE FREE OF OUR KARMIC
DEBT. THE OTHER PERSON NO LONGER HAS
ANY POWER OVER US. OUR REACTION AND THE
SITUATION ITSELF WILL BE PLEASING TO US.
Karma,
then, is a law of justice that brings the results of our thoughts,
desires and actions to us.
It isn't a punishment, but an adjustment and it isn't
always stern.
If we sow good seed, we reap good
karma. This is a law. One follows the other.
An old poem whose
author is unknown puts it thus:
We shape
ourselves
The joy or fear
of which
The coming life
is made
And fills our
future atmosphere
With sunshine or
with shade.
Thus
we learn that not all troubles and sufferings in our lives are karmic. We may have asked to serve in a particular
way in order to strengthen a lesson or even to relearn one. Karma isn't a sentence imposed upon us but
is a learning opportunity.
We
are open to recognize this. When we do
so, the sting leaves.
We
remember that the creativity of Universal Mind helps us attain self-mastery and
achieve the mystical extraordinary which allows the specialness to become a
natural part of us as we grow into union with the creator.
This
growth must be from within in, out.
There isn't an outward way to attain this spiritual power, neither by
ceremony or posture, by the way we dress nor what we eat. The only way is to live the life and express
the spiritual power from our inner and it will evidence on the outer.