Karma as defined by Jane L. Robertson & Deborah Hughes in their book, "Metaphysical Primer" is actually nothing more than "cause and effect". And when we really take a close look at the Law of Karma, that is exactly what it shows us.

This is not some "New Age" thinking, oh no. It is illustrated in The Bible in Luke 6:31 "Do to others as you would have them do to you." This is also known as The Golden Rule.

What that Bible passage is telling us is that in order for us to be treated the way we wish, then we must treat others as we wish to be treated. Basically this boils down to a matter of respecting other's rights.

Now, according to the Law of Karma, we receive back that which we put forth. Hmm, sound similar to something else I just said?

Many people believe that if they do wrongs in this lifetime, they will pay for them in the next lifetime. Well I propose that there is a more immediate reaction and result that manifests itself in our current daily lives.

For example, a person cuts you off and you get angry, curse, give them the "finger", and just spew forth wilingly and profusely a torrent of negativity. And it's all aimed at the other person.

Say you are on your way home from work when this happens, and you fume all the way home about this " *@!$()_*$# idiot driver". By the time you get home you are in a very ripe mood and you walk in the house. Your spouse, or significant other, is already home sitting in front of the TV with the newspaper lying on the floor beside the chair. You immediately go into a tirade about how they should learn to pick up after themselves, and on and on it goes.

You have just entered the "Karma Zone."

As you continue to vent your frustration on your spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, house mate, room mate, significant other, whatever, you immediately get back from them what you are giving them. Well, perhaps not immediately, but for most people, you soon draw them into your negativity and at that point "it is ON!"

Rewind a bit.

You get cut off in traffic on the way home. You immediately feel the rise of anger within you and you let it surface. But instead of regurgitating a stream of profanities at this person, you decide to just let go of the anger, and say a silent prayer that this person does not cause someone harm.

You've just turned a negative into a positive, and when you get home you still find the same situation as above, but you walk in, kiss the person, ask them about their day, and begin your daily unwind from the "world of work". In the end you have no fight with your partner, you enjoy a fantastic meal with each other, then settle in for a night of watching TV, reading, talking, whatever pleases you both.

At the end of the day, you'll feel much better than if you had taken the negative route in this situation.

So Karma can and does have a more immediate effect on our lives than we sometimes give it. Does this mean we should be scared of the Law of Karma? Nope. By having the knowledge that this law does exist and is at work in our lives every minute of every day, we begin to focus on doing what our inner selves know is right for the situation.

Author: Gary L Glasscock MCLC, MSLC

http://www.articlesfactory.com/articles/metaphysical/karma-or-do-unto-others.html