A Lesson in Karma

I often butt heads with my younger brother about the subject of Karma. Well, come to think of it, I often butt heads with him on many topics. I live with an overall 'knowing' of certain things in life. He lives with a black-and-white, have-to-see-to-believe approach. (Shhh ... don't tell him, but he's SLOWLY coming to the 'other' side. His confessions of hearing a 'voice' in his head telling him not to do something JUST before it happens, and seeing a Spirit or two give it away. Baby steps. Teeny, tiny baby steps.)

When we talk about Karma, he argues that it doesn't exist because he may have done something to someone, and that exact thing doesn't happen in return to him. That's the problem. Karma isn't necessarily "an eye for an eye." For example, let's say that for years you 'cheated the system' by lying about income or filing for public assistance untruthfully. Don't be surprised if many years later you find yourself losing your home or your car, seemingly out of nowhere. Don't be surprised if you feel your world crumbling down on you and you can't seem to understand why. That, my friends, is Karma.

Dictionary.com defines Karma as such:

kar·ma 
  –noun
1. Hinduism, Buddhism . action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation: in Hinduism one of the means of reaching Brahman.
2. Theosophy . the cosmic principle according to which each person is rewarded or punished in one incarnation according to that person's deeds in the previous incarnation.
3. fate; destiny.
4. the good or bad emanations felt to be generated by someone or something.

So, you see, just because you may have used or abused someone or something, you can't expect those exact same things happening to you. But, you can however, expect something, not so pleasant in return at some point in your life.

Karma works in the positive sense also. Living your life, honestly, truly doing good and feeling good about what you do can reap positive rewards for your life.

It's really not that hard to appreciate what you have, not envy what you don't, be kind to others, always remember "The Golden Rule," and be the best person you can be. Go ahead and try it. I dare you. Then, sit back and start to notice all of the great, unexpected things that start happening in your life.

Karma is elementary, Dear Watson, elementary.