On karma
Karma is one of those things which, on the face of it, is kinda fantastic: that our world, and what we experience, is a function of what we put into it. By doing the right thing, i.e. the good thing, we create a good world which we inhabit, therefore our life is good. By doing the wrong thing, i.e. the bad thing, we create a bad world which we inhabit, therefore our life is bad.
Yet upon reflection and a bit of knowledge of our minds & brains, it holds up quite well. Our life experience--what we see, feel, touch, taste and smell--is inherently a function of our senses being interpreted by our brain. If we do a wrong thing, then by extension our minds will be colored by those thoughts, which would affect how we perceive the world, therefore our world has changed. Even though the empirical world hasn't changed, our experience of it has, therefore the world from our unique viewpoint has also changed. Put out bad things, get bad things.
Now lately I've been in a bad place mentally. However, over the last couple weeks I've been slowly working my way back to "normalcy." Today, that normalcy was upset by a proverbial activated grenade getting tossed into my lap. Now it must be said that I don't mean this event(s) have been/will be strong enough to send me on a short one-way trip down to What Dreams May Come. Thankfully, it's not that bad. However, it is bad enough that it certainly affects my thoughts. But karma may play a role here.
Many years ago I did some things which I'm not proud of. What's happened to me lately reminds me somewhat of that time. Now I'm seeing it from the other side--I'm seeing and feeling what I imagine the other party felt at the time. And it hurts. Hurts badly. I think this may be paying my karmic dues for something I did a long time ago.
Then again, this could also be me projecting onto something else for things I did and/or didn't do. Psychology is a wonderful thing. Humans have an enormous capacity to protect their minds, even if it means self-delusional behavior and thinking.
Anyway, I'm in an ill mood. I'm betting this is just a mood and not a means of life.
Yet upon reflection and a bit of knowledge of our minds & brains, it holds up quite well. Our life experience--what we see, feel, touch, taste and smell--is inherently a function of our senses being interpreted by our brain. If we do a wrong thing, then by extension our minds will be colored by those thoughts, which would affect how we perceive the world, therefore our world has changed. Even though the empirical world hasn't changed, our experience of it has, therefore the world from our unique viewpoint has also changed. Put out bad things, get bad things.
Now lately I've been in a bad place mentally. However, over the last couple weeks I've been slowly working my way back to "normalcy." Today, that normalcy was upset by a proverbial activated grenade getting tossed into my lap. Now it must be said that I don't mean this event(s) have been/will be strong enough to send me on a short one-way trip down to What Dreams May Come. Thankfully, it's not that bad. However, it is bad enough that it certainly affects my thoughts. But karma may play a role here.
Many years ago I did some things which I'm not proud of. What's happened to me lately reminds me somewhat of that time. Now I'm seeing it from the other side--I'm seeing and feeling what I imagine the other party felt at the time. And it hurts. Hurts badly. I think this may be paying my karmic dues for something I did a long time ago.
Then again, this could also be me projecting onto something else for things I did and/or didn't do. Psychology is a wonderful thing. Humans have an enormous capacity to protect their minds, even if it means self-delusional behavior and thinking.
Anyway, I'm in an ill mood. I'm betting this is just a mood and not a means of life.