Theory of Karma 2: More Detail

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Karma does not explain gyroscopic motions. Neither is karma designed to explain any of the other motions of "physical" objects in Newtonian mechanics or physics. For karma is a pattern and theory that does not apply to the so-called "physical" world of physics at all.

Indeed, karma dismisses and denies the existence of that world, within a mystical context. According to the mystical view, the "physical" and "external" world is really neither. For, as in the Bhagavad-Gita and the Upanishads, it is all-- the entire cosmos-- Mind only.

Karma is a principle created by, and that regulates, Mind. So, it cannot be taxonomized with the accuracy and material division so convenient to taxonomies of physical objects such as plants, animals, or minerals.

Still, given this great difference, there is some classificatory activity that can and does apply to karma. For example, a major division occurs in types of karma.

Karma is generally dreamed into being by the Spirit (Coremind, Lovemind, or God), but always modified by the contents of the Soulmind. This creative Power has been likened to a bright white light shone through a red filter. The light of creation is analogous to this white light; the effects of soulkarma are like the red filter. By the time that we experience the pure white Light of creation (created by a perfect Mind, hence, Itself perfect), we know only a world of imperfection (redness), because the purest, flawless, perfect Mind has been "shone" through the "filter" of the soul, and has thus absorbed all the karmic material of the Soulmind in the occurring dream.

The two most basic forms of karma are: 1) b-karma, or "boomerang" karma-- reflective or reflexive, that "automatic" karma created by previous behaviors, or caused by the omission of positive behaviors. This is the "karma" about which everyone knows, and which many believe to be karma's only form.

But a second type of karma-- v-karma-- also exists: This is voluntary, optional, or elective karma. This is a lifetime-experience dreamed up by the Spirit (working through the Soulmind), and it is selected or chosen voluntarily by a soul in order to learn, or accelerate, a particular lesson. A soul might choose a limitation, for example (karma is often this) in order to work on humility, healthy interdependence, cooperation, interior insight, or any number of other spiritual qualities or
characteristics.

Thus, when we perceive a person with even serious limitations, we do not have the right to suggest or assume that she misbehaved or hurt others in a previous life. For not all karma, by any means, is the common b-karma. Much is also v-karma. As examples, some of the most enlightened saints, masters, sages, and teachers have often suffered from limitations-- some of them quite serious-- of the physical body. And they were not healed or cured during a lifetime. It stands to reason that the sould can create a "v-karmic contract" in which it agrees voluntarily to come to earth with an imperfect body in order to learn. This is not the usual "rebound" or "boomerang" karma, but a new karma created by the soul's obsession with growth and development. The truth here is scary to the ego, but is this: The soul will do anything necessary in order to accelerate enlightenment. This includes the choice of an uncomfortable lifexperience.

In this type of experience (v-karma), the soul decides before birth to select a dna sequence that will result in a weakness or imperfection. Unlike the "boomerang" variety (b-karma), this karma needs to be designed consciously by the soul, with awareness. (Some b-karmogenetic factors can be totally unconscious, and thus, aware or conscious activities are not necessary, but only a relaxation into the Flow.)

Love, with its intrinsic forgiveness, is the only force in the cosmos that can erase the effects of reflexive karma (b-karma)-- the more common type. That is why Love, in its largest and most "generic" definition, is the most important lesson of these earthly lives. In erasing the effects of b-karma, Love returns us to the state that, in Christian theology, is called "grace." We were all originally created by Mind fully enveloped and immersed in grace, saturated by it. Grace occurs due to the simple will of Love, and human actions can neither detract from or add to grace. It is simply a gift given by Love, for Love's own sake, and for no other
reason. It cannot be limited by human error, nor elicited by an act of human will; it cannot be made richer (although our experience of it can) or poorer.

There are, of course, varieties of intensity in b-karma, for it is first and foremost a system of perfect equilibrium, implying perfect justice. B-karma-creating acts (bkca's) performed during childhood, which we might call "c-karma," are not as deep or intense as that created during adulthood.

Karma is created by only a voluntary, deliberate, or "pre-meditated" act. The motive for the act must be conscious, and it must be an act of intent or intention. Any intentional act can and does create b-karma. But no genuine error can ever create any karma: We are never responsible for honest errors, and, hence, they have no karmic "price" or value. So, errors do not produce karma.

Old Christian theologians distinguished between "deliberate" and "indeliberate" sins. The indeliberate or involuntary error, mistake, or "sin" has zero karmic consequences. No being is ever held responsible for what she does in ignorance or darkness.

But can it not be argued that all "sin" is a product of deeper ignorance and darkness? While this element and argument does have some validity, it is still a psychological fact that some behaviors/actions are deliberate, voluntary, and intentional. These are the ones alone that create karma.

If a person is foolish enough to be running down the hall with a sharp pencil, and trips, and stabs another, the runner, person a, will have no karma. But the victim, person b, is no doubt paying off a karmic debt by being stabbed, due to some time in which she likely stabbed another, voluntarily.

Since karma is created by the deeper mind (personal unconscious, or, deper, the Soulmind), there is nowhere to go to escape from your own mind. As the old cliche jokes, "Wherever you go, there you are." You simply cannot escape your own mind, and thus, your own dreamlife.

If the world were a series of independent objects and random situations, as is usually assumed (but being disproved by physics), you could theoretically escape karma if you were clever or smart enough. But since world emerges from mind, there is nowhere and no way to escape karma.

It is produced by a specific aspect of Soulmind called the "Observer." This very carefully and accurately records in detail every voluntary act, like a hypertech recorder. This recording is the primary function of karma, step one of two. The secondary aspect of karma occurs when this Observer "plays back" the material recorded. That is experiential karma. We could divide these two parts of karma as i-karma, which is the mental imprint of karma, and e-karma, which is the experience produced by the imprint on the mind.

You could further define karma by its power or intensity. Even c-karma can be so graduated. A karma with a value of 1 could be a very minor, but still deliberate and hurtful, event or behavior. On a scale of one thousand, a 1000-karmic event could be the worst imaginable, such as the voluntary murder of many. A karmic event with a value of a thousand would likely require more than one single life to repay, and to set the cosmos in balance.

On that one thousand scale, most karmagenic events might have a value of only between, say, twenty to 200. That is, they are not karmic monstrosities, disasters, or catastrophes. (These last two words share a root in "astro," for negative astrological influences.:) Most lies, for example, are but "little white lies." Not that lies have true size or color, but most lies, though harmful, are not significant enough seriously to damage or to destroy a life.

These are cumulative, however. If you tell two lies each with a karmic value of twenty (insignificant), you accumulate a total karmic value of forty, so your karmic value is forty. If you tell ten such minor lies in a lifetime, your karmic value is two hundred-- the same as a much more harmful lie.

Activities are rated according to their 1) deliberateness, 2) your awareness of their nature, and 3) the quantity of mental, emotional,physical, spiritual or social damage that they cause. There are here two types of karma: s-karma, which deliberately causes harm to yourself, and o-karma, which deliberately causes damage to others. Each activity is rated according to the hurt or harm it engenders. A mild s-karma could be created, for example, by over-indulgence in junk food known to be harmful. Mild s-karma can also be created by indulgence in laziness. Much o-karma can be formed by careless but deliberate dishonesty, or promiscuous sexual behavior (that which does not express Love). [Mystics are very practical, and define "evil" as "voluntary harm," and "good" as (including attempted) volluntary healing.]
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