KARMA

First one notion must be cleared up, which is the distinction between incarnation debt and the purely western notion of instant karma. An important principle is Pratitya Samutpadha, a pleasant term to repeat, which refers to the total interconnection of everything in the univers. It is the motion that turns the wheel of life and rebirth, samsara. This interconnectedness is of a kinetic quality, assuring that for each action there will be an equal and relative reaction. For each act of evil, the next life will be appropriately difficult, or challenging. A keeper of slaves may become a slave in their next life. As the devotion to this idea grows, along come concepts such as vegetarianism for fear of becoming the creatures that one eats. Tantrics feel the mystical path is one of reward, sort of insurance that their next incarnation will be a continuation of this path. Their focus is not so much on restriction, just as the masses who find restraint sensible for festivals and the like do not mind forgoing the taxing and ecstatic behaviours of the mystics.

Instant karma, therefore, may be a part of pratitya samutpadha, an instant response, but is not related to karma itself, which explains all things positive and negative which are experienced by the person during this lifetime. Karma is very different from sin. There is no real absolution or forgiveness, only a reminder to insure a better future by correcting one's ways.

Why is suffering so unicersal in eastern thought? The core idea in suffering is the burden of conscience. During animal existence, there is no desire, simple the acting out of behaviour. There also is no possibility to act out the path of enlightenment. As humans, we are tossed into a battle by possessing a conscience. We are torn between what was (fulfilment of animal desire in innocence) and what may be (abandonment of animal nature, embracing the path of enlightenment). By knowing the results of actions taken for granted in the animal world, we suffer unlike any creature. Like other creatures we suffer pain, the animal sufferings. Like some animals we suffer emotions, pain of the heart [adhara]. But only as humans do we suffer the failings of conscience, the ability to desire more than is presented before us: namely unnecessary apetites and the higher self.

"Being ignorant in a previous life as to the significance of our existance, we let loose our desires and act wontonly. Owing to this karma we are destined in present life to be endowed with consciousness, name-and-form, the six organs of sense and sensation. By the exercise of these faculties we desire for, hanker after, cling to these illusive existances, which have no ultimate reality whatever. In consequence of this 'will to live' we potentially make up the karma that will lead us to further metapsychosis and death." --Vasubandhu, Adhidharmakosa