KARMA                                                    KARMA008.TXT
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       [TEXT EDITED AND REFORMATED BY DAS]

       When the soul leaves the physical body when the body dies, the soul
       does not die but lives on in another subtle body called the astral
       body. The astral body lives on another plane of consciousness called
       the astral plane. Here we continue to have experiences until we are
       reborn again in another physical body as a baby*.

       [* Editors note:or as another living creature...]

       The soul chooses a home and a family which can best fulfill its next
       step of maturation.

       [Editors note: This statement is often taken to mean that a soul makes
       "conscious decissions" on these matters....this is incorrect...
       the karma seeds inside the soul determine these things..this is a
       consistant declaration of the eastern scriptures and the teachings
       of the enlightened beings currently on the planet. Until a soul becomes
       enlightened there is karma created by thoughts and actions and at least
       most experiences a soul has while incarnated is determined by karma,
       not consciuosness decisions.]

       Hindus understand the natural growth of all humans as they experience
       evolution because they know these facts. After enlightenment, however,
       we do not have to re-experience the baseness of human existence but go
       on in evolution in our other bodies. As an example: After we graduate
       from school we don't have to-nor do we want to-re-enroll in the fifth
       grade. We are beyond that in understanding.

       What is karma? Introduction:

       Karma is another word we hear about quite often on television. "This is
       my karma." or, "It must have been something I did in a past life to
       bring such good karma to me." In more liberal schools of Hinduism,
       karma is looked upon as something bad. Just two days ago a Hindu guest
       from Guyana in South America came to visit us in Hawaii and mentioned
       that karma means "sin," and that this is what the Christians in his
       country are preaching that it means. Karma actually means "cause and
       effect." Here is an example: I have a glass of water sitting in front
       of me on a table. Because the table is not moving, nor is the glass,
       the water is calm. Shake the table, the water ripples. This is action
       and reaction, the basic law of nature. The process of action and
       reaction on all levels-physical, mental and spiritual-is karma.

       Here is another example: I say kind words to you, you are peaceful and
       happy. I say harsh words to you, you become ruffled and sad. This is
       karma. It names the basic law of the motion of energy. An architect
       thinks creative, productive thoughts, and draws plans for a new
       building. But were he to think destructive, unproductive thoughts, he
       would soon not be able to accomplish any kind of positive task even if
       he desired to do so. This is karma, a natural law of the mind. We must
       be very careful about our thoughts because thought creates and thoughts
       also make karmas, both good, bad and mixed. Here are three answers to
       memorize and later explain to beautiful souls who are seeking higher
       consciousness and look to you for mystical knowledge of the Far East.

       [Editor's note: example.. If its my karma to be married to a woman,
       have children with her and later in the marriage go through a divorse
       and have her take my children away from me, and in my current life I
       have no children, that karma can not manifest in my current life, so it
       will have to do so in another life.]

       Answer #1: Karma is one of the natural laws of the universe. It simply
       means "cause and effect." Our religion is made up of many natural laws
       of the universe. Karma is just one of them. (This is a simple answer
       for a casual seeker. After you have said this, smile and ask if they
       want to know anything more.)

       [Editors note: karma is not reward and punishment, its the universe's
       way of bringing everything in the universe to balance.]

       Answer #2: Karma is basically energy. I throw energy out through
       thoughts, words and deeds, and it comes back to me (in time) through
       other people. We Hindus look at time as a circle. I think professor
       Einstein came to the same conclusion. He saw time as a curved thing and
       space as well. This would eventually make a circle. Karma is a very
       just law, too, as it is equal in re-payment. Like gravity, it treats
       everyone the same.

       Answer #3: God does not give us karma. We create our own. Bad karma is
       because we have done something bad in the past to someone, and now
       someone is doing something bad to us. Good karma means that we have
       done something good in the past and now others are doing something good
       to us now. Because we Hindus understand karma, we do not hate or resent
       the people who do us harm. We understand they are giving back the
       effects of the causes we set in motion at an earlier time. At least we
       try not to hate them or hold hard feelings, by reminding ourselves of
       the law of karma.