Posted by David on July 30, 1997 at 19:35:26:
Richard - Thanks for your question.
I suppose, like all teachings, there is always an inside and an outside,
the knowledge for the masses and then the knowledge for the true
seekers. Karma is no different.
Basically, as far as the vast majority of people are concerned, karma
does not exist. It is very important to realise what a powerful social
conditioning tool the theory of karma is. It enables people to be kept
in place, not to try to improve themselves, to accept their lot and, of
course, to keep power in the hands of the few. This is not a political
view, simply the way things are. If in doubt look at human nature.
Unfortunately it is the sad truth that most people are only out for
their own self interest, the theory of karma serves well that interest.
Remember also that many of the teachings that karma belongs to were
originated by those already bought up in a culture where karma is the
accepted rule, they didn’t question it. With only a cursory glance we
can see that in the world at large very rarely do the good get rewarded
or repaid and very often the evil and corrupt people are not punished.
Let us not make any excuses about this, simply observe the world as it
is, not through wishes and prejudices of how we think the world and the
universe should be.
However there is an inner knowledge to this aswell. Karma exists for
those people who are reasonably well integrated, ie mental, soul,
physical bodies are acting in unison, and there is a rudimentary spirit
body. Imagine that the acts of a man or woman are a certain kind of
consciousness that is projected into the world, they have power and
purpose. It is the case that what needs to be completed is the return
of that consciousness in whatever form. Rather as if you had thrown a
boomerang out into the air, how very disappointing when it does not
return to you. You are aiming for the return of consciousness
converted, improved whatever the case may be, like a cycle has been
completed. You tell a person they are a pain to know and you get a
reaction. If you don’t get that reaction, whatever it may be, then it
has not had the effect you wanted. That is a crude example but you can
see how it can illustrate the serious idea behind karma. Suppose the
person who threw that boomerang moved their position, so that the
boomerang returned from its journey but to the place the thrower was.
This is akin to how many, (in fact the majority), of people have no
central integrity at all. The centre from which that particular action
is sent out is in actual fact a moving, temporary, transient phenomena,
since there is no integrated centre then the returning consciousness has
nothing to aim itself at.
Only when there is integration do the laws of consciousness and karma
begin to apply. In this case the return of consciousness always returns
reasonably quickly, in a few hours, days or weeks, it really is a quick
phenomena. Remember also that such an integrated person will have no
doubt about the fact that they have done wrong, that they have very
definitely strayed from the centre of their being, they have
transgressed their particular code (one based on the soul) and done
wrong. This is usually due to fragmentation of the personality, a
temporary loss of the centre. So there is an automatic self adjustment,
such a person would see that there was a ‘setting to rights’, whatever
form that may take. It may interest you that such a practice was common
in Hawaii, from the Hoponopono ceremony ( a putting to rights and
achieving balance) to the simple practice of not being able to refuse an
apology if the apology was sincere. In such a way the ‘karma’ could be
dissolved in love and forgiveness.
Now for reincarnation. You may find these views rather contentious but
I’m afraid that what I am giving you is the inner teaching, so it is
absolutely understandable that you might feel angry at reading them.
The trouble is that there is so much half baked information out there
that the truth seems far to contentious. What a state to let things get
into!
Basically, again for the vast majority of people, there is no
reincarnation. If you understand Huna Mua you will know that unless
there is a level of integration between the soul, physical and mental
bodies there can be no formation of a spirit body, and therefore no
possibility of actually surviving death as a living being, capable of
carrying on your evolution. What actually happens is that a strong
mental body, and our present society is perfect for providing the
perfect conditions for forming a strong mental body (which does not bear
any relation to the physical or soul bodies), does indeed survive in the
mental realm, and of course there can be any number of mental constructs
there, giving the no longer connected mental body the impression that it
has survived. However our information is that the mental body, no
matter how strong can only survive for a maximum of about 1000 years,
and for most it is much shorter. Interestingly enough, many
spiritualists say that they often do not get in touch with great
grandparents, assuming that they have been reborn. However you now have
another explanation, they no longer exist.
One other important point is that a rudimentary spirit body may well
have been formed and yet it is not perfected before physical death. In
this case it is possible for this imperfect spirit body to live after
death, and to hope to perfect itself through attaching itself to someone
being born who has very similar patterns in the soul body. This means
that in most ways they will not be affecting the person and that the
fundamental nature of the two is very similar. Hopefully the physical
person will, during their life, enable the ‘companion spirit’ to perfect
its spirit body. At some point, whether this is achieved or not the
spirit will leave to enable the physical being to perfect itself also.
This is not as predatory as it sounds, nor so one sided, because in
repayment almost the physical being will already have a spirit body in
some form, due to the imprinting of the companion spirit. Such a person
is often referred to as an ‘old soul’ because they have more depth
usually, are in some way informed about things that other ‘new souls or
young souls’ do not know. This is the way that Huna views
reincarnation.
If you are interested you could of course purchase Phil's book ‘ The
Power of Love’ which will elucidate the teaching better. I also have a
book online that may well help you to grasp the concept a little better.
This is now in the library attached to the ‘article of the month’
entitled ‘On being human and the transformation of yourself into
magnificence’. Feel free to down load it. If you need to contact me
personally my number is aloha_man@hotmail.com. Though the reply may
take some time!
Aloha and Good Luck
David.