| The topic of this article is the concept of Karma, | | | | the Karma of the Individual, and thus it happens that |
| which is common to most Eastern Philosophies be it | | | | people lives are influenced by events completely |
| Hinduism or Buddhism. | | | | beyond their control. All these Karma's are |
| It is said that in the second watch of the night when | | | | inter-related and can be understood in its full |
| the Buddha attained enlightenment he gained a | | | | complexity only by an enlightened being. |
| different kind of knowledge, which complemented his | | | | The law of Karma gives us guidance as to how we |
| knowledge of rebirth - The Law of Karma. | | | | may lead our lives. When misfortune strikes we |
| Karma is mistaken in the West as a doctrine of Fate | | | | know that it will not last forever but will pass in time. |
| or Predestination. It is not so. The word Karma | | | | And we now know through the law of Karma that |
| literally means action - and the Law of Karma is the | | | | these are consequences, which have inevitably |
| infallible law of cause and effect, which governs the | | | | followed from our past actions. The attitude to have |
| Universe. | | | | when difficulties befall us is this - That this, which is |
| The doctrine of Karma has many implications as to | | | | happening, is the coming to fruition of our past |
| how we may lead our lives. In the first place it | | | | Karma. We do not see the suffering as a |
| means that all our actions will lead to its natural | | | | punishment- or do we blame ourselves and indulge in |
| consequence. We may not know what the | | | | self-hatred. Tibetans say that suffering is the broom, |
| consequence will be and in fact it may be delayed for | | | | which sweeps away our negative karma. We can |
| many lengths of time but the consequence will follow | | | | even be grateful that one karma is coming to an end. |
| inevitably. In Tibetan Buddhism the inevitable | | | | Eastern philosophy is full of stories of how bandits |
| retribution, which however is not obvious, is | | | | and murderers have overcome their bad karma and |
| compared to the shadow of a kite or an eagle as it | | | | gone on to become - monks and even saints. |
| searches for its prey. When the eagle is high in the | | | | Angulimala is an example. He had killed 999 people in |
| sky its shadow is not to be seen. However when the | | | | his previous life as a bandit. But he was won over by |
| eagle swoops to the ground to catch hold of its prey | | | | the Buddha and went on to become a monk and a |
| the menacing shadow appears. Similarly we are not | | | | sage. Similarly in Tibetan Buddhism the story is told of |
| aware of the consequences of our actions for most | | | | Milarepa. He was a sorcerer who killed many people |
| part but they will appear just as the shadow of the | | | | with his black magic for revenge or profit. Yet |
| eagle suddenly appears. | | | | through his remorse and hardships and penances that |
| The law of Karma is not confined to individuals - | | | | he underwent he went on to become to become |
| there is family karma, national karma, International | | | | enlightened - a figure of inspiration to millions. |
| Karma, the Karma of a city. All these are mixed with | | | | These are some brief remarks about Karma. |