Joel wrote:If you look over what I wrote, I said that "for myself, I examine my participation, conscious or unconscious, in all that befalls me." Not exactly a "state of denial" as far as I can tell. I can take responsibility for myself, as many people in the world do, without considering whether "as you sow, so shall you reap" is a universal law.
The point of understanding it as a unversal law is that it forms a cornerstone of moral understanding and behaviour for the individual, something they can build on and which strengthens their being. Without its acceptance behaviour and morality easily become compromised, despite the good intentions of the self.
What I think is the difference between your position (if that is the right word) and mine, is that I have no handy explanation for the underlying cause if something bad happens to someone. It it remains a mystery to my limited eyes.
I don't accept it because it provides any handy explanation. I accept it because I understand it to be true, and it's proven in my own life experiences. I find it valuable to gain insights into the workings of the world and karma. It's by this understanding I can become truly useful when circumstances arise, as against just being a good samaritan with good intentions.
Your view seems to be one of believing in a kind of divine justice, if not meted out directly by God, then by some
universal law. God is the benchmark of my potential, never the judge or executor of justice.
By knowing the universal laws I am at least informed in the choices I make. When I choose to ignore them I bring about my own punishment.
"What about earthquakes? What about epidemics? What about when an airplane crashes" I had asked Jagdish Chander. His answer was simple: "people who commit the same crime are in the same jail." That is what I mean about "overarching philosophy." Something that seeks to explain everything, and brooks no departures. I think I am justified in using boldface here to emphasize that if you believe something like this, then yiou will never, ever see injustice because you believe it cannot exist, or that there is always some explanation.
This is where your thinking is wrong, Joel. Truly understanding this philosophy develops your capacity for compassion, so seeing injustice much more clearly. There maybe people who use their philosophy to insulate themselves from seeing injustice, but that's not a charge I'd level against most Brahmins I knew. Even the tyrants I've mentioned in other posts demonstrated an understanding of karma in relation to their behaviour that I was comfortable with. It was their blind spots I could do without.
The more I get to know people who are homeless, impoverished, diseased, persecuted, etc., the more I discover that they are not dramatically different than I am. I find no grounds to conclude that they have done bad to deserve their fate, and that I have done good to deserve my relatively comfortable existence. God may know that what you say is true. As an ordinary person, I don't see anything in those people that I can judge.
I did not get any impression Dadi Janki was passing any judgement in her comment. I don't feel any need to judge people. I consider less fortunate than me for whatever reason. Understanding why they might be in their situation is a completely different thing. It's not a case of good and bad, but circumstance that they, or I, have arrived at where we are.
I think that's what rubs me the wrong way about this purported universality of karma: If something bad happens to you, you must have done something wrong, because there is no suffering without cause. To me this smells of judgment.
There is no suffering without cause, as their is no success without effort. If something 'bad' happens to you it will be because, wittingly or unwittingly, you've created the opportunity for it to occur and have a negative effect on you. In about my second year in Gyan I was driving a colleague to rehearsals when we were sideswiped by a truck (my side of the car). My colleague was hysterical while the event was occuring. Not for a moment did I feel in danger or disturbed. My colleague was unable to function for most of the day. I relate this to illustrate something 'bad' happening, one person suffered, the other did not. It was also a good lesson in the power of Yoga and detachment for me.
I am unable to distinguish this from the callous self-righteousness of those who would tell a rape victim (or secretly aside to themselves), "you must have brought it on yourself."
It sounds like you've created an obstacle of conflict and struggle for yourself over the issue. It's good you're thinking about these things though.
Early this morning, I saw myself sitting in a hall with many people, and a woman dressed in black in the front. She was an astrologer or clairvoyant. "I am just an ordinary person," I struggled to say, waking myself up in the process. I think I am proud of myself for getting off at least this particular high horse: that I am privileged because of my good acts and enlightened knowledge from God.
You well maybe priviledged in those ways, and acknowledging it is very different to adopting a superior position through that awareness.
If accepting the universality of "as you sow..." were really so potent a truth, we should see people believing in karma to be suffering less.
Suffering is born of ignorance, and the behaviour and attitudes that develop from that ignorance.
I see no less suffering among BKs, or Buddhists, or Christians.
I don't know many Buddhists. The Christians I know lead fruitful, purposeful lives. But I saw less suffering through ignorance among BKs than any group, religion or community pursuing spiritual practice.
I left the BKs after an extensive personal survey showed me that many people who had no such philosophical orientation were at least as wise, mature, creative and fulfilled as my BK family members.
I don't disagree with you there. I had a similar reason for choosing to disengage from BK lifestyle as well. I found I was more comfortable working with other limitations than within the Brahmin heirachy constipation point.
As for "throwing the baby out with the bathwater," it is myself I have kept (the baby, my own life) while letting the water of so-called knowledge find its own level.
I wasn't directing my comment at you, Joel. I totally agree it's sensible to find your own level and happiness within what you've learned. You seem to be achieving that. At the same time I'd be remiss not to share what I've learned to be most valuable, agreed with or not.
Even if you disagree with me about "as you sow...." perhaps you will see that I am finding what I want for myself. As an actor, I think you learn to accept and appreciate the variety of people in the world, including all of their beliefs and
emotional lives.
The point of the 'As you sow ...' analogy, is that it operates at a level nearly every one can understand. It's easy to remember and build greater understanding on.
Best wishes to you.