Karma

So the concept of Karma, while seemingly ubiquitous, hasn't really been around in the Western world that long, though it has been heavily incorporated into Judeo-Christian religions and Western philosophy over the last 50 years. Anyway, while I was at the gym last week, waiting for Aviva to pick me up, I found this interesting discussion of karma in a yoga magazine, and I thought it was great, so I am going to share it with you ...

"There are 4 kinds of Karma, Black Karma, Black & White Karma, White Karma and No Karma. Black Karma is negative or destructive acts that are planned and then carried out. These Black Karmas leave a person in an ill state of mind. For example, if you plan to say something mean to a person and then execute the negative interaction, you suffer for the duration of all the negative effects making it a strong event. If you inadvertently say a similar mean statement without planning to say it, you suffer to a lesser degree.

Black and White Karma includes good acts that are carried out with selfish intentions. A wealthy person donates money so long as a plaque with his name is hoisted in front of the building. A person plays a great sports game and then boasts about their abilities in front of a crowd.

White Karma is good deeds that are offered for the sake of bettering humanity but with the self-awareness. The good person is driven to do good deeds and knows that they are doing good things for others. Their enthusiasm for performing the good deeds motivates them to seek our more ways to continue to do good deeds. There is a slight degree of attachment to the end result of "doing good" so the wheel of karma keeps spinning as the person is ready to act again.

No Karma indicates a deed done without any identification to the deed. The person cares for their body by eating healthy food but does so effortlessly. There is no feeling of missing the junk food, as the person is simply following the rules of health with no resistance. Fulfilling one's responsibilities is considered normal and not the subject of 'good' deeds. They simply act without attachment to their deeds. This leaves the sense of complete freedom because they are not impelled to have to do anything, not even good deeds. Another way of explaining this is that of being one with the flow of life. Having no karma ends the cycle of continued action and sets the doer free. "

Hokey I know, but I still found it really interesting. For my money, No Karma is the way to go.