The meat of this post, was taken from:
http://www.anandaclaritymagazine.com/2011/06/karma-novak-god-yogananda/
The first premise is to recall that we are here for a reason. This reason isn't to find bliss in the physical life. The reason is to grow to God. To bring others to God. I do not mean to suggest this as a indoctrination, or door knocking crusade. I mean bringing others to God, by smiling, sending positive energy, loving them, and if asked - giving advice. But our reason for living is not to reproduce. It is to learn, grow and share.
So why do bad things happen?
What makes something "good" or "bad"? Our perception. The more we identify with the body, the more anything that "takes away" from the body is "bad" - but for those who are identified with the spirit, little "bad" occurs to them.
That said, we all have committed actions that will bear fruit for us. Each action we do, plants a seed. The result we will interpret as either "good" or "bad" depending on our perception. But if our perception is mainly physical, then we know that harming another will harm us. Loving another will bring love to us.
When I was a Buddhist, my Lama (Lama Marut of Asian Classics Institute) used to talk about "Our Enlightened Self Interest." This was a concept of doing those acts that will return in such a way to help us with our path towards self liberation.
We can think of it as the Golden Rule. Do Unto Others as We Would Have Done Unto Us. But it goes deeper. It's not about "I want to get rich, so I'll give money away" (which works actually), but this is about "I want to be enlightened - so I will do those things to return to me in such a way to achieve that result." Gaining money is nice. It may help our spiritual path - or it might kill it.
I recall a time, I gained a large sum of money, by giving my money away. This large sum of money was so distracting, I forgot about the spiritual path for quite awhile. We, like children, do not always know what's best for us.
But to change Karma, we can devote equal time and energy of the "bad" action, to a "good" action(s) to neutralize the result.
But what about the Karma coming? Results from actions in this life or from before?
The advice from the Article I linked to at the top, is this:
The first thing we usually do when something bad happens, is identify with it - and blame the source of the negativity. I went through this last week. Someone talked down to me, I blamed him for his actions. But, why was he there blaming me? Go deeper. It wasn't about my job. EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS A LESSON. This is true ESPECIALLY if you see a pattern. If you've had 5 bosses all do the same negative thing to you - there's some lesson you need to get through to end this cycle.
Again, taken from that link from Crystal Clarity:
This is of course, the lesson Jesus gave in Turning the Other Cheek. When everything is seen as "from/of God" then there's less bite to it. It becomes lessons for our best enlightened interest. Rather then punishment, or random cruelty.
The goal is to stop our reaction in the moment. To be so tuned to PRESENT TIME that we don't loose control. For me, this is the hardest part. I return to my senses after hours, or days - but I need to catch the moment and not react at all.
Live The Teachings:
Whatever your spiritual teachings are - live them daily. Embrace them and keep them close to your heart and mind.
I posted a few days ago, that last Friday I had this negative run in with someone at work. At first I did what everyone else did - I was angry with the negativity. Upset with the boss. Then I turned on Ananda Radio and listened to a rebroadcast from the Gita. It hit me:
Am I just someone who listens to spiritual advice? Or do I take it to heart? Do I live it?
I LIVE IT.
And so, at that moment I let go of my ego's desire for resentment.
http://www.anandaclaritymagazine.com/2011/06/karma-novak-god-yogananda/
The first premise is to recall that we are here for a reason. This reason isn't to find bliss in the physical life. The reason is to grow to God. To bring others to God. I do not mean to suggest this as a indoctrination, or door knocking crusade. I mean bringing others to God, by smiling, sending positive energy, loving them, and if asked - giving advice. But our reason for living is not to reproduce. It is to learn, grow and share.
So why do bad things happen?
What makes something "good" or "bad"? Our perception. The more we identify with the body, the more anything that "takes away" from the body is "bad" - but for those who are identified with the spirit, little "bad" occurs to them.
That said, we all have committed actions that will bear fruit for us. Each action we do, plants a seed. The result we will interpret as either "good" or "bad" depending on our perception. But if our perception is mainly physical, then we know that harming another will harm us. Loving another will bring love to us.
When I was a Buddhist, my Lama (Lama Marut of Asian Classics Institute) used to talk about "Our Enlightened Self Interest." This was a concept of doing those acts that will return in such a way to help us with our path towards self liberation.
We can think of it as the Golden Rule. Do Unto Others as We Would Have Done Unto Us. But it goes deeper. It's not about "I want to get rich, so I'll give money away" (which works actually), but this is about "I want to be enlightened - so I will do those things to return to me in such a way to achieve that result." Gaining money is nice. It may help our spiritual path - or it might kill it.
I recall a time, I gained a large sum of money, by giving my money away. This large sum of money was so distracting, I forgot about the spiritual path for quite awhile. We, like children, do not always know what's best for us.
But to change Karma, we can devote equal time and energy of the "bad" action, to a "good" action(s) to neutralize the result.
But what about the Karma coming? Results from actions in this life or from before?
The advice from the Article I linked to at the top, is this:
Detach yourself, control the reactive process, and live the teachingsDetaching:
The first thing we usually do when something bad happens, is identify with it - and blame the source of the negativity. I went through this last week. Someone talked down to me, I blamed him for his actions. But, why was he there blaming me? Go deeper. It wasn't about my job. EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS A LESSON. This is true ESPECIALLY if you see a pattern. If you've had 5 bosses all do the same negative thing to you - there's some lesson you need to get through to end this cycle.
Again, taken from that link from Crystal Clarity:
Suppose you were obeying the traffic laws, and someone ran a red light and collided with your car. If you blame that person, you’ve done absolutely nothing to change your karma. But if you detach yourself and think: “There’s something for me to learn from this experience,” you bring a positive reaction to it. Your positive reaction will help expiate the karma.
Detachment also means, being grateful for whatever comes. This is a hard thing to accept some times. I lost my first child in divorce... my ex-wife relocated to Europe with my child (when she was 1 year old.) My daughter is now 10 years old. I see her a few weeks each year. I haven't been able to afford seeing her the past 2 years. It's very hard sometimes... but there is a reason and a lesson. I'm grateful to God for the lessons He is giving me, to help me towards union with the Divine.
So the first step in detaching ourselves is: Don’t blame people or circumstances. Nor does it particularly help to blame yourself. Just accept what’s happening as coming from God for your own spiritual freedom.
This is of course, the lesson Jesus gave in Turning the Other Cheek. When everything is seen as "from/of God" then there's less bite to it. It becomes lessons for our best enlightened interest. Rather then punishment, or random cruelty.
The goal is to stop our reaction in the moment. To be so tuned to PRESENT TIME that we don't loose control. For me, this is the hardest part. I return to my senses after hours, or days - but I need to catch the moment and not react at all.
Live The Teachings:
Whatever your spiritual teachings are - live them daily. Embrace them and keep them close to your heart and mind.
I posted a few days ago, that last Friday I had this negative run in with someone at work. At first I did what everyone else did - I was angry with the negativity. Upset with the boss. Then I turned on Ananda Radio and listened to a rebroadcast from the Gita. It hit me:
Am I just someone who listens to spiritual advice? Or do I take it to heart? Do I live it?
I LIVE IT.
And so, at that moment I let go of my ego's desire for resentment.
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