KARMA
A Study in
Karma
by
Annie Besant
Published in
1917
The Opposing Schools
In the
thought of the outer world, quite apart from the ideas of reincarnation and karma,
there has been much opposing opinion. Robert Owen and his school regarded man
as the creation of circumstances, ignoring heredity, that faint
scientific
reflection of karma; they considered that by changing the environment the man
could be changed, most effectively if the child were taken ere he had formed
bad habits; a child taken out of evil surroundings and placed amid good ones
would grow into a good man. The failure of Robert Owen’s social experiment
showed that
his theory did not contain all the truth. Others, realising the force of
heredity, almost ignored environment; "Nature," said Ludwig Buchner,
"is stronger than nurture." In both these extreme views there is
truth.
Inasmuch as the
child brings with him the nature built in his past, but dons the garment of a
new mentality and a new emotional nature, in which his self-created faculties
and qualities exist indeed, but as germs, not as fully developed powers, these
germs may be nourished into rapid growth or atrophied by lack of nourishment,
and this is wrought by the influence of the environment for good or ill.
Moreover, the
child puts on also the garment of a new physical body, with its own physical
heredity, designed for the expression of some of the powers he brings with him,
and this can be largely affected by his environment, and developed healthily or
unhealthily. These facts were on the side of Robert Owen’s theory, and they
explain the successes gained by such philanthropic institutions as Dr.
Barnardo’s Homes, wherein germs of good are cultured and germs of evil are
starved out. But the congenital criminal, and beings of that ilk, none may
redeem in a single life, and these, of various grades, are the nonsuccesses of
the benevolent rescuer.
Equally true
is it, as the opposite school affirmed, that inborn character is a force with
which every educationalist must reckon; he cannot create faculties which are
not there; he cannot wholly eradicate evil tendencies which, below the surface,
throw out roots, seeking appropriate nourishment; some nourishment
reaches them
from the thought-atmosphere around, from the evil desire-forms which arise from
the evil in ) others, forms of thoughts and desires which float in the air
around, and cannot wholly be shut out – save by occult means, unknown to the
ordinary educationalist.
______________________
KARMA
Find out
more about
Theosophy
with these links
The Cardiff Theosophical Society Website
The National Wales Theosophy Website
If you
run a Theosophy Group, please feel free
to use
any of the material on this site
The Most Basic Theosophy
Website in the Universe
A quick overview of Theosophy
and the Theosophical Society
If you run a Theosophy Group you
can use this as an introductory handout.
Theosophy Cardiff’s Instant Guide
One liners and quick explanations
H P Blavatsky is
usually the only
Theosophist that
most people have ever
heard of. Let’s put
that right
The Voice of the Silence Website
An Independent Theosophical Republic
Links to Free Online Theosophy
Study Resources; Courses,
Writings,
The main criteria
for the inclusion of
links on this
site is that they have some
relationship
(however tenuous) to Theosophy
and are
lightweight, amusing or entertaining.
Topics include
Quantum Theory and Socks,
Dick Dastardly and Legendary Blues Singers.
A selection of
articles on Reincarnation
Provided in
response to the large
number of
enquiries we receive at
Cardiff
Theosophical Society on this subject
The Voice of the Silence Website
This is for everyone, you don’t have
to live
in Wales to make good use of this
Website
No
Aardvarks were harmed in the
The Spiritual Home of Urban Theosophy
The Earth Base for Evolutionary Theosophy
A B C D EFG H IJ KL M N OP QR S T UV WXYZ
Complete Theosophical Glossary in Plain Text Format
1.22MB
________________
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
Try
these if you are looking for a local
Theosophy
Group or Centre
UK Listing of Theosophical Groups
Hey Look! Theosophy in Cardiff