Karma is a concept too often misused and misunderstood.
“noun
The totality of a person's actions and conduct during successive incarnations, regarded as causally influencing his or her destiny.
The law or principle through which such influence is believed to operate.
Fate or destiny resulting from one's previous actions.”
Karma has nothing to do with justice, merit, or even good and evil.
Karma is merely the consequences of actions. The effects of choices, the results of actions.
Karma rights no wrongs, nor does karma make wrong right.
Karma is cold and impersonal.
Karma corrects nothing.
Karma brings no balance.
If anything, Karma is the result of imbalance.
When all is in a state of perfect balance, nothing can happen.
Nothing. No movement, no action, no purpose, no cause, no effect.
Movement, action, can only occur when there is imbalance.
The way I understand it, Karma is Entropy.
Entropy is the result of an imbalance of forces.
Justice is an idea. Justice is a belief.
Justice is personal.
Our idea of justice is entirely subjective.
Justice, is not ever about restoring balance. Justice is about vengeance.
That is the brutal fact.
Punishment restores nothing.
How does imprisonment of a murderer restore what was destroyed?
How does execution of a murderer bring the dead back to life?
How does torture of a wrong doer, bring balance?
The truth is, Justice and punishment, does nothing other than provide a vehicle for vengeance.
Revenge. Nothing else.
When one seeks revenge for an injury, one becomes the wrong themself.
When one executes a murderer, one becomes a murderer.
That is a fact.
Killing cannot restore a life.
Extrapolate that idea.
Economic restitution for theft.
Balance, would be restoring what was stolen.
Adding punishment, ie, fines, imprisonment, etc, restores nothing.
It does however, steal.
Taking by force, or subterfuge ( subterfuge is force, imposing ones will, desire, by any means is use of force.) is theft.
A thief steals, takes that which is not their own, against the will of another.
Taking more from the thief than was stolen is theft.
Stealing from a thief, makes one a thief.
Killing a murderer, makes one a murderer.
An eye for an eye, creates a world of the blind.
A world in darkness is the karma received.
YESHUA,
Did not teach vengeance.
YESHUA, taught forgiveness.
HE repeatedly said, “ Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord GOD.”
Deuteronomy 32:35
Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;
Their foot shall slip in due time;
For the day of their calamity is at hand,
And the things to come hasten upon them.’
Romans 12:17-19
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have[a] regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”
Mathew Chapter 5:
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
I cannot summarize it better or more concisely.
How do we become free from the cycle of vengeance?
Mercy, Forgiveness.
YESHUA'S message is hard.
Yet HE lived by HIS words.
HE did as HE commanded.
Remember, His last words on the cross?
“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
He asks forgiveness and mercy for the wrongs done to him.
They lied about Him, They slandered Him, they tortured and imprisoned Him, they Murdered Him.
HIS response was, forgiveness.
“Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43
HE forgives a “thief” a bandit,
A bandit, that most likely was both murderer and thief.
“It is finished!” John 19:30
The example, the point and purpose of HIS coming, teaching, and existence here on earth is finished.
The purpose?
To demonstrate MERCY.
To demonstrate Forgiveness.
To demonstrate the effects of Law, Justice,
To teach us. To lead us away from vengeance.
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46
Did GOD save HIM, from the consequences of sin?
No.
Did GOD remove the effects of sin?
No.
Sin is the cause.
Sin, is Anything, any choice, desire, or action that creates division, separation, between us, and GOD and consequently between each other.
Karma, is merely the effects of choices and actions.
None, no one is free from consequences.
“Into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Luke 23:46
HE surrenders His spirit unto GOD,
A willing sacrifice.
HE, paid the cost of the Law.
He quoted from
“For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God” (Psalm 31:3-5). "
There.
That's the final point.
The law, justice, vengeance does not and cannot redeem or restore.
Only Mercy, Forgiveness, Love,
Can free one from the cycle of law, and vengeance.
How do we escape Karma?
You cannot.
Karma is the effect of cause.
All actions, all choices have consequences, both intended as well as unintended.
Karma is a natural function , like gravity.
Like gravity, Karma sucks.
One can choose to be free from the chains, the enslavement of vengeance.
One can choose to be free.
Enslavement is a choice.
YESHUA,
Began HIS ministry with the message,
“ I have come to set the captives free.”
Free from what?
Wrath and vengeance.
The wrath of GOD, The Vengeance of GOD,
And here , now,
The Wrath and vengeance of man.
To quote myself,
In my clumsy paraphrase.
“Love is the answer,
Love is the key,
Love is the reason,
Love is the means,
Love is the purpose,
The reason to be.”
