Mindfulness
How I Tapped Into the Infinite Power of Karma
The currency of life
To every action, there is a reaction.
Just as there is right and wrong or night and day, nature and existence have a way of creating balance. Whether you know it or not…you’ve got a running tally. Checks and balances. What does your spreadsheet look like and what does it all mean?
Karma: The force generated by a person’s actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person’s next existence.
Karma
You can’t see it, hold it, taste it… but it exists. Karma is keeping cosmic tabs on you, your friends, your loved ones, and your enemies. Actually, no one escapes her. Karma is woven into the makeup of our existence and is the equalizer watching over humanity.
The action
A few years ago, I made a late-night run to the local Dollar Tree store in search of movie snacks. Walking to the entrance I noticed an old man with a tattered shopping cart and two scrawny dogs laying loyally by his side. He was rummaging in a trash can. As I passed, one of the dogs turned, his ears folded back, his tail wagged shyly, and with an ever so sweet face, he just stared into my eyes.
It was a complicated surge of emotions I felt that moment. I kept my pace and walked into the store.
I was fortunate.
How lucky was I to be buying candy and heading home to curl up to a movie? I grabbed my candy but found myself still shopping. Chips, soda, dog biscuits, socks, canned peaches, beef jerky, trail mix, cheese sticks, and Lunchables. At checkout out, I asked that my candy be bagged separately.
Leaving the store, I walked over to the old man still hunched over the trash bin. His shoulders looked tired and sloped. His hair and beard were white as clouds but his face had a heavy dusting of dirt.
I remember thinking for just a second that he vaguely reminded me of Santa. Silly, I know.
I leaned over, held out the bag of food, and said, “This is for you”. He looked up startled, gently took the bag, and opened it. When he gazed back up at me a tear was running down his face and it had made a clean streak through the dirt on his cheek.
I hustled back to my car with my candy and realized that I too had tears in my eyes.
I surely don’t have a lot of money. But that night, I gave freely and with an open heart to someone who genuinely was in need. I sat in my car and watched him smile as he took out the dog biscuits. He looked so excited to be able to give his four-legged companions a treat too. It struck me that before he ate anything I had bought him, his first thought was to give as well.
The reaction
The next week, I was standing in line at the grocery store just across the street from that same Dollar Store. I had about fifteen items or so. Cash was tight that week. I was tired and hungry. All I wanted to do was go home and make something for dinner.
The cashier bagged my groceries and I gave her my debit card.
It was declined!
How brutally embarrassing. I stumbled to find a credit card fumbling through my wallet. Panic was setting in and there was a bit of a line behind me. Suddenly a voice from behind me said, “I got this”. I looked up to see a smiling woman paying for my groceries. I started to tell her please no, but she wouldn’t hear of it.
That instant made my heart swell. I felt my eyes tear up a bit. She smiled at me and said, “Just pay it forward”.
So this is karma
We are all one. There is no separation. My grandmother was a Christian. She believed that we should all do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I think of that often.
So how do we know when and what to give of ourselves?
Listen to that little voice inside your head.
We’ve all heard it.
Granted sometimes it’s muffled by the hustle of a busy day or the barrage of thoughts and mental to-do lists we keep chattering in our heads… but we know when we hear it. It calls out when It’s time to make a choice that’s important, maybe not important in any way we recognize at that moment, but in the bigger picture kind of sense.
Most associate that whisper of reason with our conscience. Actually, our conscience and karma work hand in hand. Having a conscience is an awareness that is built up over time. Buddhists believe it takes multiple lifetimes to hone a conscience. To have a conscience is to have wisdom. It’s that conscience, that absolute knowledge between right and wrong, and the choices we make, that brings about our karmic destiny.
Karma is a funny creature. She’ll circle back to you the very next day… or catch up with you in the next life. But rest assured, she never forgets. Ultimately, each and every one of us will get back exactly what we give.
“And, in the end, The love you take, is equal to the love you make.”
― Paul McCartney, The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics
The karmic cycle
Kyle Greenfield, the founder of The Joy Within, wrote “The “Karmic Cycle” refers to the patterns that your individual energy creates for you. When you create karmic energy (which you do all day, every day, the energy must return to you, in the same way that when you toss a ball up in the air, it must come back down.” We are all subject to this karmic cycle whether we acknowledge it or not.
The 12 karmic laws
How can I harness my karmic power manifesting positivity and fulfillment in my life?
Dr. Douglas M.Baker is a world-renowned esoteric lecturer. In his book, Karmic Laws, Baker explains, “Each human life is the result of a unique set of causes and effects — a condensation, as it were, of past actions, some of which stretch back over many lifetimes. To the student of the esoteric, our bodies — both inner and outer — are receptacles for creative as well as destructive energies and are the product of those cosmic laws of cause and effect known as karma”.
Jessica Estrada, a writer for Well+Good, offers an elegant breakdown of the twelve karmic laws below. According to Buddhist belief, following these guidelines will help one to achieve and maintain karmic balance and positive energy flow.
1. The great law
Also known as the law of cause and effect, the great law is what comes to mind for many people when considering what karma means. It states that whatever thoughts or energy we put out, we get back — good or bad. “It’s like sowing and reaping,” says Jennifer Gray, a certified professional life coach. “If you plant love and kindness, you shall get that in return.”
2. The law of creation
The law of creation is all about — you guessed it — creating. You don’t just wait for good things to magically happen in your life; you have to actively go out there and make things happen. Gray points to the Oprahs, and Beyoncés of the world as prime examples of people who embody this karmic law. “They have used their talents, gifts, and abilities to bless the world,” she says. “They are constantly creating something, not just for the benefit of themselves but also for the benefit of others.” So, the power to create your ideality lies within you.
3. The law of humility
In order to change something in your life, you first have to accept what currently exists. That is the premise of the law of humility. This is one trait, Gray points out, that many highly successful people embody. “They are strong, kind, generous, and very humble people,” she says. “But when they all started on their paths, they had to accept certain things about themselves and society.”
So know that no matter where you start if you’re able to own your story and the facets of it that are completely out of your control, you can also own the path for what’s next. A happy, healthy, successful future is yours for the taking.
4. The law of growth
As its name suggests, the universal law of growth is about expansion, namely within ourselves. Gray says that as we grow, change, and evolve internally, our external reality will change and grow as a result. This is where personal development and reading self-help and spiritual books can come into play. And the growth never ends — there’s always new things to learn, shift, and heal.
5. The law of responsibility
The law of responsibility is about taking ownership of everything that happens in our lives, including the not-so-good stuff. “We are responsible for how we choose to live our lives — not anyone else,” Gray says. “We are responsible for how we show up in the world, how we allow others to treat us, and how we treat other people.” In order to put this law into action, take responsibility for the part you play in every situation you have.
6. The law of connection
The law of connection states that everything and every person is connected in some way. For example, Gray says that although the past you, the present you, and the future you may seem entirely different, they are all still you. Everything you’ve experienced has led to the next thing and the next thing and the next thing. It’s all linked up. And we’re connected to other people, too.
“As we help, teach, love, honor, and respect ourselves, we do the same for others,” Gray says. “The connection is always there. We just have to be observant and tune into it.”
7. The law of force
Although some of us may claim to be pro multitaskers, the inclination to do everything at once often just slows us down. The law of force states that you cannot put your energy toward two things simultaneously. “When you focus on one thing at a time, you accomplish much more, and with better results,” Gray says.
8. The law of giving and hospitality
This law of karma is all about selflessness, being giving to others, and practicing what you preach. It’s about ensuring that you’re not simply saying and thinking good thoughts but that you also walk the walk and follow those beliefs with action. Let’s say, for example, that you believe in donating to charity. So, then, the law of giving and hospitality states that when the opportunity to donate presents itself, you follow through and actually donate, rather than simply advocating for it to happen.
9. The law of here and now
As you can likely guess, the law of here and now is all about being present. “Most of us live our lives thinking about the past and what we did wrong, playing that same old recording in our minds,” Gray says. “If we live in the here and now and are attuned to what we are doing, seeing, tasting, smelling, and feeling, we won’t be so disconnected when we are interacting with others, eating a meal, watching a movie, or just spending time by ourselves. You will notice that the energy is different, and the experience is more engaging and rewarding.”
10. The law of change
If you’ve found yourself experiencing the same situation over and over again (maybe you’re attracting the same type of undesirable partner, for example), that is the law of change in action. It’s the universe’s way of nudging you to learn a lesson.
The pattern, Gray says, will continue to repeat itself until you learn from the experience and do something differently in order to evolve into a better version of yourself and stop the vicious cycle. The problem is that so many people are thinking too much and not feeling enough. “To change the pattern and the problem, we must be able to connect thoughts and feelings and then proceed to adjust and make changes accordingly,” she says.
11. The Law of Patience and Reward
This karmic law essentially translates to “hard work pays off.” Consistent work, that is. It’s about showing up and doing the work and not giving up on your big goals, even when you don’t see any progress made toward them quite yet. So, Gray recommends living in accordance with this karmic law by knowing that achieving great things requires time and persistence, not giving up, celebrating yourself, and savoring every little milestone you achieve along your journey.
12. The law of significance and inspiration
The law of significance and inspiration tells us that we all have value to give. Our unique gifts are meant to be shared with the world and will make a positive impact. So no matter how seemingly small and unimportant our contribution to the world may seem, it is important. Tap into this karmic law whenever you need a boost of motivation. But remember, you only get back what you put into something.
Go forth in positivity and light.
It’s my sincere hope that you’ve found this article helpful and inspiring. We are ultimately in control of our own destiny. So, take charge of your karma. Don’t just be a passenger in this life. Fill this world with every ounce of love and compassion you can muster… and watch just how sweet your own existence becomes!
My name is Jamie Golob. I’m a writer, artist, and lover of life, motivated by the collective experiences and stories of the creative community. My mission is to illuminate and preserve the beautiful complexities of what it means to be human. Sign up for my Living Wanderfully newsletter for more great content like this delivered straight to your inbox each month.
If you liked this article you may also like:
