Karma is Oblique
Contemplating a difficult concept
Karma is no cosmic bank account, where good deeds earn credits, and the bad earn debits. There is no cosmic bookkeeper who audits the books and ensures that eyes are exchanged for eyes, and teeth for teeth.
In fact, if, for example, Alice knocks Bob’s teeth out, Bob has no way of influencing Alice’s Karma. If he chooses to retaliate, he might influence is own, but not Alice’s. Only Alice has control over her own Karma.
On the one hand, there is something remarkably liberating about Karma, because no one else, not even some divine deity has control over your Karma. You and only you, have control.
On the other hand, complications arise on how Karma actually works.
Whatever you might have against the “Eye for an eye” concept of justice, you must accept that it is very simple both in definition (exactly one eye for one eye) and in enforcement (God, the Divine Bookkeeper, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or his Sri Lankan cousin the Jumping String Hopper Demon, or whoever or whatever it is that you believe in, will take care of it).
Karma, like I said, is more complicated and oblique. By oblique I mean that the relationships between actions and their Karmic consequences, are more indirect, asymmetric, orthogonal even.
Example 1: Giving
Suppose Alice treats Bob to a meal.
In a “Eye for an eye” setting, Alice’s cosmic bank account will be credited with a meal, which, at some future moment she could debit in the form of a meal for herself.
In a Karmic setting, what Alice acquires is not a promise meal in the future, but more a sort of habit or tendency to give. And as with all habits, this habit only strengthens with repetition and practice. And obliquely, Alice will find herself in situations where she can give more and more.
More cosmically, it is argued that after Alice dies and is reborn, she is reborn as someone who has even more opportunities to give: A philanthropist, for example. Or even some heavenly being with all manner of divine abundance.
You see how their relationship between action and consequence is oblique?
The consequence of giving is not getting. Instead, it is more opportunities for giving. And so, a giver, becomes, not a taker, but one with abundance.
Example 2: Restraint
Consider Alice, who practices patience and manages her anger diligently.
In an “Eye for an eye” setting, her restraint might be seen as a single transaction of not retaliating, perhaps earning her a future act of non-retaliation from someone else.
In the Karmic context, Alice’s efforts in controlling her temper build a habit of patience. This habit grows stronger with each exercise of self-restraint. As she continues this practice, she becomes naturally more composed and serene.
The oblique outcome here is that Alice may find herself in fewer situations that provoke anger, or she may influence others around her to be calmer, leading to a more peaceful environment. The Karmic consequence is not a direct repayment of patience, but a life increasingly filled with tranquillity and harmony.
Example 3: Seeking Knowledge
Suppose Alice dedicates herself to learning and sharing knowledge.
In an “Eye for an eye” setting, Alice might expect that the knowledge she imparts to others will be returned to her in kind.
In the realm of Karma, however, Alice’s dedication to learning cultivates a deep-seated curiosity and a habit of seeking wisdom. Over time, this habit not only enriches her understanding but also places her in environments rich with opportunities for learning.
The oblique Karmic result is that Alice may be reborn in a context where access to knowledge is plentiful, or she may attract like-minded individuals who further enhance her intellectual growth.
The consequence of seeking knowledge is not merely receiving information in return but fostering a lifelong and potentially multiple-lifetimes-long journey of intellectual enrichment.
Example 4: Compassion
Suppose Alice consistently shows compassion and kindness.
In an “Eye for an eye” system, she might anticipate direct reciprocation of kindness from those she has helped.
From a Karmic perspective, Alice’s acts of compassion develop a deeply ingrained habit of kindness. This habit transforms her character and influences her interactions, making her naturally more compassionate.
Obliquely, this transformation may lead Alice to attract supportive and loving relationships, or she might find herself in roles and places where she can profoundly impact others’ lives through her compassion.
The Karmic outcome is not a simple return of kind acts, but a life permeated with deeper, more meaningful connections and opportunities to express kindness.
In all these examples, the essence of Karma’s obliqueness lies in the transformation of habits and tendencies, leading to outcomes that are not directly transactional but are deeply rooted in the nature of the actions themselves.
Understanding this nuanced relationship helps in comprehending the true essence of Karma.
Thanks for Reading! 🙏
