When humans think, speak or act, we are automatically allowing a force that will inevitably result in some sort of a reaction from the people around us. The returning force may be changed, manipulated and delayed in some way, but it is nearly impossible to get rid of that force altogether. In other words, a person is unable to escape the consequences of his or her actions, whether these consequences are good or bad.
Many of us would classify this social law of cause and effect as karma, but very few of us actually understand the true meaning of the ancient Sanskrit word. Karma is a key component of various religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Sikhism and Jainism. Karma means action and intent. A good action with good intentions creates good karma while a bad action with bad intentions creates bad karma.
Beyond the law of cause and effect, karma is somewhat of an abstract concept to many of us. Most of us understand karma in its simplest form: what goes around comes around. But just as Newton’s Third Law of Motion is accompanied by two other laws of motion, the law of cause and effect is only one of the many karmic laws. There is a total of 12 laws of karma, each of which inspires us to hold a more positive outlook on life and the pursuit of happiness.
Our intentions and actions are not meaningless, but every single one influences the world in some way. This is important because it changes the way we do things. For example, if we want to bring peace to the world, we might think we need to argue our point and make others agree with us or even fight for what we believe in. The laws of karma suggest that actually if we want to see more peace in the world, the best way to bring this about is by acting peacefully ourselves.
Understanding the 12 karmic laws has helped me put my life into perspective and learn to live in the moment, for the moment. I hope that this brief breakdown on the karmic laws will inspire you to lead a more satisfying and fulfilled life as well.
1. The Great Law
“As you sow, you shall reap.” This law is the most famous. In simple words, it means that whatever we put into the world will eventually come back to us. It can also be referred to as the Law of Cause and Effect.
2. The Law of Creation
“What we desire comes through participation.” The life we experience is created by our own intentions. Our surroundings will always be a part of us, so it is our job to make sure we are in environments where we can be the best version of ourselves.
3. The Law of Humility
“Refusal to accept what is will still be what is.” We cannot change that which we refuse to accept. By accepting and recognizing that negativity exists in our lives, we can begin to make changes to address the negativity. Only then can will we be able to fight the negativity with positivity.
4. The Law of Growth
“Our growth is above any circumstance.” The only way to change the world is to change ourselves. We should not attempt to control the behavior of others. When we change who and what we are within our heart our life begins to change too.
5. The Law of Responsibility
“Our lives of our doing, nothing else.” We must accept responsibility for our actions. When something is wrong we should look at ourselves rather than try to blame others. What surrounds us is just a mirror of ourselves. To change the outside world we must accept responsibility for what we have created and change ourselves for the better in order to see that change reflected in the world around us.As the old Mary Engelbreit saying goes, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.”
6. The Law of Connection
““Everything in the Universe is connected, both large and small.” Our past, present and future are all connected. No step—the first, the intermediate or the last—is more important than the other steps in the accomplishment of a task. All are equally necessary, required and significant for the success of a human being. Every action we take contributes to the whole. Therefore, actions are neither big nor small as all actions influence the whole.
7. The Law of Focus
“One cannot direct attention beyond a single task.” We cannot hold on to negative thoughts or actions and expect to achieve personal or emotional growth. We need to direct our full attention to any desired task that we hope to achieve. You cannot think of two things at the same time. When our focus is on higher values, it is impossible for us to have lower thoughts such as greed or anger.
8. The Law of Hospitality and Giving
“Demonstrating our selflessness shows true intentions.” You can’t just talk the talk, you must walk the walk. If you claim to value a certain belief, you must live your life in accordance with that belief. True personal growth is only attainable by living life with a selfless nature. You must live by the values that you hold dear. It is not enough to talk about patience, love and harmony while acting from impatience, hatred or fear.
9. The Law of Change
“History repeats itself unless changed.” History repeats itself until we learn the lessons that we need to change our path in life. In order to move forward, we must accept the past and learn its lessons. Only then can we move forward.
10. The Law of Here and Now
“The Present is all we have.” Looking back on the past regretfully or spending our time worrying about the future prevents us from being present in the here and now. To advance ourselves, we must focus on the life that surrounds us in the present. If we live in the past or the future, we are unable to take action in the only moment that action can be taken, which is NOW.
11. The Law of Patience and Reward
“Nothing of value is created without a patient mindset.” Patience and persistence are required to claim rewards of lasting value. True joy comes from doing what needs to be done with the knowledge that the reward for a job well-done will come in its own time.
12. The Law of Significance and Inspiration
“The best reward is one that contributes to the Whole.”As human beings, it is impossible for any of us to physically live forever. But during our time here on Earth, we can work to make the world a better place for all future generations.
If we follow these laws of karma, we can be assured that our contribution to the world will be a positive one. We will also reap the rewards of peace, love and happiness in our own lives.
