KARMA
A Study in
Karma
by
Annie Besant
Published in
1917
Man and His Surroundings
Man affects
his surroundings in innumerable ways, which may all be classified into three modes
of self-expression: he affects them by Will, by Thought, by Action.
The developed
man is able to draw his energies together and to fuse them into one, ready to
go forth from him, and to cause action. This concentration of his energies into
a single force, held in suspense within him, in leash ready for outrush, is
Will; it is an interior concentration, one mode of the triple Self-expression.
In the subhuman kingdoms, and in the lower divisions of the
human, the
pleasure-giving and pain-giving objects around the living creature draw out its
energies, and we call these multifarious energies brought out by external
objects its desires, whether of attraction or repulsion.
Only when
these are all drawn in, united and pointed towards a single aim, can we term
this single energy, ready to go forth, the Will. This Will is Self-expression,
i.e., it is directed by the Self; the Self determines the line to be taken,
basing its determination on previous experience. In the subhuman and lower
human
kingdoms, desires
are an important factor in karma, giving rise to most mixed results; in the
higher human, Will is the most potent karmic cause, and as man transmutes
desires into Will, he "rules his stars".
The mode of
Self-expression called Thought belongs to the aspect of the Self by which he
becomes aware of the outer world, the aspect of Cognition. This obtains
knowledge, and the working of the Self on the knowledge obtained is Thought.
This, again, is an important factor in karma, since it is creative, and as we
know, builds
character.
The mode of
Self-expression which directly affects the environment, the energy giving forth
from the Self, is Activity, the action of the Self on the Not-Self.
The power of
concentrating all energies into one is Will; the power of becoming aware of an
external world is Cognition; the power of affecting that outside world is
Activity. This action is inevitably followed by a reaction from the outside
world – karma. The inner cause of the reaction is Will; the nature of
the reaction
is due to Cognition; the immediate provoker of the reaction is Activity. These
spin the three threads of the karmic rope.
______________________
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
Karma
Ascended Masters After Death States Reincarnation
The Seven Principles of Man 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
Glossaries of Theosophical Terms
An Outstanding
Introduction to Theosophy
By a student of
Katherine Tingley
Elementary Theosophy Who is the Man? Body and Soul
Body, Soul and Spirit Reincarnation Karma
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