We live in a universe which operates according to the law of cause and effect, which means that every action has consequences. Kick a ball in bare feet and the kinetic energy of the movement will cause the ball to move. Kick a brick wall in bare feet and the kinetic energy of the movement will probably cause one or more of your toes to bruise or break. Although the consequences that we experience in life can be as varied as the actions we take, the basic principle of cause and effect is constant.
The Karmic Principle, which is also known as the Law of Karma, states that the very same law of cause and effect also applies on a spiritual level, and that every action you take – or fail to take – as a spiritual being will be followed by corresponding consequences. The only difference here is that the chain of cause and effect can be harder to discern.
Think negative thoughts on a regular basis and you will probably act in a similarly negative way. Those negative actions, in turn, will reap negative results. Fortunately, the principle applies in a positive way too. Think positive thoughts on a regular basis and you will act in a more positive way, which will lead to more positive results.
The words positive and negative in this sense are, of course, quite arbitrary concepts which have no real meaning, for what is viewed as positive by one person might be perceived as quite negative by another, but that is a topic for another time.
Some traditions talk about the Karmic Principle only in relation to how a person experiences his current life, but others say that the principle works over multiple lifetimes, which means that you may, in this current life, be reaping the consequences of your actions in previous lifetimes. At the same time, the actions that you take in this current lifetime is setting the stage for the consequences you will experience in future incarnations.
Whether or not you, as a Seeker, believe in the idea of past or future lifetimes is really quite irrelevant, because the fact remains that the Karmic Principle is at work right now, irrespective of your views about what happens after physical death. That being the case, it makes sense to spend some time thinking about the principle and the role that it has played in your life to this point, and how you might work with it more mindfully in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.
Consider the following, being careful to listen to your intuition and recording your responses in your spiritual notebook:
– Every action has a consequence, so every effect that comes into being must have had a previous cause. What are some of the decisions you have made, words you have said and actions you have taken in the past that have brought you to where you currently are in life?
– What past actions do you regret, and why?
– What past actions are you pleased about, and why?
– What kind of actions (of thought, word and deed) have you been taking in recent days and weeks?
– What kind of consequences might those actions bring in the days and weeks ahead?
– What kind of consequences would you like to experience in the future?
– What kind of actions (of thought, word and deed) are most likely to result in you experiencing your desired future consequences?
By thinking carefully about the Karmic Principle in this very practical and down-to-earth manner, you can begin to live in accordance with it in a more mindful and productive way.
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