We have seen that the reasons of our
comfortable or uncomfortable situations lie in the activities undertaken
by us during this or earlier lives. This automatically assumes the theory
of rebirth. It is the law of nature that we reap as we sow. This reapi ng
does not necessarily occur in the same life. The Law moreover is not
restricted to the physical activities. It applies to our persisting
tendencies and instincts as well, even though they may not be translated
into action. Whatever thoughts we may reli sh, even in the midst of
mountains or within a remote cave, would have their consequences. No one
can escape them. Appropriate consequences of our physical activities and
of mental attitude are invariably extended to us. It is not possible to
deceive the nature. Consequences have to be borne sooner or later and no
one is immune therefrom. This law of Karma in spiritual science is not
different from the law of cause and effect or that of action and reaction
in physical sciences. In spiritual field its scop e is extended to the
realm of emotions and feelings as well.
This law of Karma and theory of
rebirth need not be brushed aside as a fancy of spiritual thinkers. Recent
psychological research bears testimony to their validity. The modern
psychologists have been increasingly veering to accept it. Dr. Alexander
Cannon during his experiments of age regression observed that the causes
of his patients’ phobias lay in earlier lives. Reasons for such ailments
in many cases could be traced back even to the Roman period. After
surveying the results of 1382 reincarnation sitt ings, as he calls them,
he writes as under in his book entitled ‘The Power Within’.
“For years the theory of reincarnation
was a nightmare to me and I did my best to disprove it * * * and I have to
admit that there is such a thing as reincarnation. It is therefore only
right and proper that I should include this study as a branch of psyc
hology, as my text bears witness to the great benefit many have received
psychologically from discovering hidden complexes and fears which
undoubtedly have been brought over from past lives.
This study explains the scales of
justice in a very broad way showing how a person appears to suffer in this
life as a result of something he has done in a past life through this law
of action and reaction known in the East as Karma. * * * A person canno t
see why he suffers one disaster after another in this life, yet
reincarnation may reveal atrocities committed by him in lives gone by.”
We can consider ourselves fortunate
that we could obtain, as part of
our heritage, what science has been
revealing now. Most of us have,
in background of mind, the
consequences of what we have been doing
now. That helps us in restraining our
emotions and we can stay more
or less tolerant in adversity. We do
not tend to react very violently
even when hurt physically or
otherwise. It is therefore worthwhile to
examine the impact of this theory of
Karma for the broad spectrum of
society
If every one knew that one day he is
surely going to bear the consequences of whatever he does or thinks, no
one would dare to indulge in any thing that would hurt others. All
conflicts and wars, disputes and violence, enmity and vengeance,
parochialism a nd selfishness would come to an end. If one ponders
rightly, he can realize that hatred, jealousy etc. may or may not hurt the
person against whom they are aimed at, but they surely hurt the user;
since his sense of discretion and equanimity gets obscured by being
overcome with defilements. No one in that case would harbor any evil and
everyone would abide by the code of conduct that is beneficial to the
society. Even if someone gets any way hurt by others, he would be inclined
to consider it as a consequ ence of his own past evil Karma. Instead of
adversely reacting, he would therefore bear it with a sense of equanimity.
The world would in that case turn into a sort of paradise.
Unfortunately all people are never
going to realize it and the living beings have to bear the brunt of evils
generated from passions and different types of evil instincts. The seers
have brought out the truth that every being is governed by the inviolable
law of Karma. Realizing that meritorious deeds would be ultimately helpful
in pursuit of happiness, one can try to ensure one’s own future well-being
by making use of his ability and resources for the benefit of all. The
nature has left to us whether to abide by that law and stay happy by
extending happiness to others or to learn the lesson hard way by
undergoing the miseries and pains arising from evil Karmas.
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