KARMA
A Study in
Karma
by
Annie Besant
Published in
1917
Causation
The idea of
causation has been challenged in modern times, Huxley, for instance, contending,
in the Contemporary Review, that we only knew sequence, not causation; he said
that if a ball moved after it was hit by a bat, you should not say that the
blow of the bat caused the movement, but only that it was followed by the
movement. This extreme scepticism came out strongly
in some of the great men of the nineteenth century, a reaction from the ready
credulity and many unproved assumptions of the Middle
Ages. The reaction had its use, but is now gradually passing away, as extremes
ever do.
The idea of
causation arises naturally in the human mind, though unprovable
by the senses; when a phenomenon has been invariably followed by another
phenomenon for long periods of time, the two become linked together in our
minds, and when
one appears, the mind, by association of ideas,
expects the second; thus the fact that night has been followed by day from time
immemorial gives us a firm conviction that the sun will rise tomorrow as on
countless yesterdays.
Succession
alone, however, does not necessarily imply causation; we do not regard day as
the cause of night, nor night as the cause of day, because they invariably
succeed each other. To assert causation, we need more than invariable
succession; we need that the reason shall see that which the senses are unable
to discern – a relation between the two things
which brings about the appearance of the second when the first appears. The
succession of day and night is not caused by either; both are caused by the
relation of the earth to the sun; that relation is a true cause, recognised as such by the reason, and as long as the
relation exists unchanged, day and night will be its
effect. In order to see one thing as the cause of another, the reason must
establish a relation between them which is sufficient for the production of one
by the other; then, and then only, can we rightly assert causation. The links
between phenomena that are never broken, and that are recognised
by the reason as an active relation, bringing into manifestation the second
phenomenon whenever the first is manifested, we call causation.
They are the
shadows of inter-relations existing in the Eternal,
outside space and time, and they extend over the life of
a universe, wherever the conditions exist for their manifestation. Causation is
an expression of the nature of the LOGOS, an Emanation of the eternal Reality;
wherever there is
interrelation in the Eternal which demands succession for its
manifestation in time, there is causation.
______________________
KARMA
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Preface
Theosophy and the Masters General Principles
The Earth Chain Body and Astral Body Kama – Desire
Manas Of
Reincarnation Reincarnation Continued
Karma Kama Loka
Devachan
Cycles
Arguments Supporting Reincarnation
Differentiation Of Species Missing Links
Psychic Laws, Forces, and Phenomena
Psychic Phenomena and Spiritualism
Quick Explanations with
Links to More Detailed Info
What is Theosophy
? Theosophy Defined (More Detail)
Three Fundamental Propositions Key Concepts of Theosophy
Cosmogenesis Anthropogenesis Root Races
Ascended Masters After Death States
The Seven Principles of Man Karma
Reincarnation Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott William Quan Judge
The Start of the Theosophical
Society
History of the Theosophical
Society
Theosophical Society Presidents
History of the Theosophical
Society in Wales
The Three Objectives of the
Theosophical Society
Explanation of the Theosophical
Society Emblem
The Theosophical Order of
Service (TOS)
Glossaries of Theosophical Terms
by
Annie Besant
THE BUDDHIC AND
NIRVANIC PLANES
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Annie Besant Visits Cardiff 1924
An Outstanding
Introduction to Theosophy
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Elementary Theosophy Who is the Man? Body and Soul
Body, Soul and Spirit Reincarnation Karma
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