Understanding Karma

Karma

Thoughts are the Seeds of all Actions

It is a common misunderstanding that Karma is the retribution or the good fortune metered out to us as a direct result of our actions.

The theory of Karma is that every action we make be it physical, mental or vocal sows a seed in our memory. In other words it stays with us for the rest of our lives.

For example if we are nasty to somebody and cause hurt. Later on the memory of it will replay in our minds and we will recoil and feel guilty. Even though the event has passed, the memory lingers.

Over time we may be able to repress the memory and push it down with all the other bad memories. That can have harmful repercussions that are  not good for you at all.

This memory and response is called a Karmic formation and will continue to affect you in an adverse way as long as you are unaware of how to react to it.

Through developing mindfulness and awareness it is possible to gradually decrease the effect of karmic formations by learning not to react to them by simply observing them and letting them pass away like clouds in the sky.

The opposite is true of good actions and the pleasant effect that the memory of them has on us. Its ok to feel good about the kind things you have done as you build up the good feelings and loving compassion inside you.

When we realize the actual consequences to our selves of our thoughts words and actions then we become a lot more responsible. Selfish or not this must be a good thing.

Of course there is so much more to karma and the effects of our actions on all levels to all things, as we are intrinsically part of the greater whole.