Tip of the week 33

Karma

These days, I'd be willing to bet that it's almost inevitable if you were to try to initiate a metaphysical conversations with your friends about Karma - this most fundamental of Buddhist beliefs, it would be almost impossible!

Why?

Because the focus of your discussion would inevitably, and very quickly deteriorate from serious and scholarly - to a light and whimsical discourse about the storyline of the latest episode of "My Name is Earl."

While some might find it disturbing to think that storylines from "My Name is Earl" might actually have a positive effect on the behavior of anyone, I happen to believe the exact opposite - that this show actually has the potential to do just that!

"You can't be serious," you say! Well, yes I am. Just stop and take a moment to think about it.

Karma and it's role in our Western Society.

Most religions in the world include some sort of impetus for good social behavior. For many Eastern religions, karma is that impetus. Karma decrees that positive and negative actions will be rewarded or punished (eventually).

While karma works like a mechanical law, our Western faiths usually entail a final judgment at the end of one's life. Good and bad actions are presumably tallied and leveled upon the soul at death.

The simple ethical basis of karma - that good engenders good and vice versa - may be the single most important force driving the growth in popularity of this New Age philosophy in the West.

The idea of Karma seems to be a good fit in our Democratic society. We Americans need to be in control and Karma suggests that self-determination is possible. The thought that our behavior can influence the quality of our future is therefore very attractive to us.

Karma - Simple and Straightforward

In general, it is believed that our actions affect the quality of our lives. Good deeds create good Karma and evil deeds create negative Karma.

Here in the West, our modern idea of Karma is not so much a spiritual reality; it's more like luck influenced by deeds. It's an appealing attempt to influence fortune - something seemingly beyond our control - with definite action. However, most people would agree that it's reasonable enough to believe that good behavior merits a reward and bad behavior warrants punishment.

We all want to believe:

· You reap what you sew

· He got what he deserved

· What goes around comes around

For most rational Westerners, Karma is a popular and a fairly legitimatised form of superstition. It's a convenient way to explain ostensibly random hardships, outright failure or success.

· My life is a train wreck -- it must have been my Karma!

· I didn't win the Lotto (again!) -- it must have been my Karma!

· I landed my dream job -- it must have been my Karma!

The current state of our America's Economy - It's our Karma, stupid!

That's my take on the economy today and I truly believe that it's just that simple. We've all been bad boys and girls. We've:

· Failed to remain true to the principals of our forefathers

· Plundered our natural resources

· Cheated and swindled our workers

· Bullied other nations around the world

· Neglected to uphold our individual responsibilities as citizens in a Democracy

Abraham Lincoln described democracy best as "government of the people, by the people, and for the people."

In my mind, America today is just like Earl Hickey -- the unfortunate star of the NBC sitcom "My Name is Earl" who was most recently hit by a car - again! And just like Earl, we Americans now find our collective selves in a similar coma -- lying there next to Earl in that hospital bed helplessly listening to those incessant declining beeps of our heart rate monitor.

What we all really need right now is to adopt the mindset of Earl's hapless dimwitted, but well-meaning brother Randy.

Despite his poor intellect (a doctor supposedly once told him that he was borderline autistic), Randy often says profound things and has proven to be extremely helpful to Earl Hickey (em…America) in his missions, (to right wrongs and apease Karma) though he is sometimes resentful when Earl's list forces him to make sacrifices.

Beginning to sound familiar?

Randy has a boyishly innocent nature. It is also revealed that he has an extreme fear of birds and he is afraid of the pope's mitre because he thinks there might be a chicken under it.

Randy trims Earl's toenails at night while Earl is asleep. And he currently holds the Camden County record for staring at the sun.

But in spite of all of his phobias and ideosyncricies, Randy is a loyal brother and basically a good pearson. He acts on instinct; often blurting out the truth - he just can't help it. And above all Randy never worries about being politically correct. Matter of fact, Randy's not sure he understands what "politically correct" means!

I truly believe that there's a little bit of Randy in each of us. And if we were all willing to admit it, than we could get on with the process of confronting our fears, celebrating our cultural diversity and fixing what's wrong with America once and for all.

America's Post 9/11 phobias……..

…. American's exhibit irrational behaviors perpetuated by the events of September 11, 2001 -- behaviors like:

· worrying that your Muslim neighbor might be a terrorist

· being afraid to fly for fear of being hijacked

· going to war under false pretense that doing so will make Americans safer at home

Granted, the events of 9-11-2001 completely denigrated Americans sense of security. Forever lost is American's eternal notion that all wars are fought on foreign soil.

But just as heinous a crime as crashing a jetliner into a skyscraper is using post 9/11 phobias to blackmail America's psyche to forward a particular personal or political agenda.

"Shine the light and watch the rats scurry!"

American's personal privacy has become one of the biggest post 9/11 casualties. Never before in the history of this country has the executive branch of our government been able to circumvent the laws of our Democracy with such impunity.

The rationale: in the name of protecting Americans.

I would be the first to admit that protecting our citizens is top priority, but I believe that it should and can be accomplished within the laws of our land and in total transparency.

Phobias breed irrational thinking and behavior and I believe it should be a felonious crime to manipulate those stricken by this mental disorder.

Yes, America's Karma is a mess and I'm sure that there are plenty of people who would agree. What's more, there are people all across the globe whose are of the opinion that we American's are simply getting what we deserve!

But there's a funny thing about Karma -- both good or bad -- it's not always perpetrator specific - sometimes there's collateral damage.

Before you begin on the journey of revenge, dig two graves. ~Proverb

But still, even with the abundance of ill-will that is currently being directed toward America and Americans by millions of people from around the globe, all is not lost.

It's possible to change our Karma simply by changing our actions.

There is a destiny that makes us brothers: none goes his way alone, All that we send into the lives of others comes back into our own. ~Edwin Markham

So here's my tip to Randy and to all of us Americans --

"Continue to be loyal to your brother, forget about being politically correct, always speak the truth and above all, eat more chicken!"

And if you'd like to know more your own personal Karma, here are a couple sites that will help:

http://www.truelifekarma.com/

http://uk.tickle.com/test/karma.html

See ya next time!