Karma

Annie Besant's "Karma," published by the Theosophical Publishing House, is part of a series of Theosophical Manuals aimed at providing a simple exposition of Theosophical teachings for the general reader. This particular manual, the fourth in the series, explores the intricate concept of Karma from a Theosophical perspective.

Key Concepts and Structure:

The book begins by emphasizing the invariability of law in the universe, extending this principle to the mental and moral realms as well as the physical. It posits that understanding and working with these laws, rather than against them, leads to power and success.

Besant then delves into the planes of nature, explaining the physical, psychic (astral), and devachanic planes, and the vehicles through which consciousness operates on them. She highlights the role of elementals, semi-intelligent forces inhabiting these planes, which are attracted to and coalesce with human thoughts.

A central theme is the generation of thought-forms. Besant explains that every thought, upon its creation, enters the inner world and becomes an active entity associated with an elemental. These thought-forms are described as "creatures of the mind's begetting," with their duration and intensity proportionate to the original thought. Good thoughts manifest as beneficent powers, while evil thoughts become maleficent demons. This process, she argues, is how humans "people their current in space with a world of their own."

The Making of Karma:

The book details how karma is made both in principle and in detail.

• In Principle: Karma is fundamentally created by the soul's mental activity. The mind generates "mental images" (primary thought-forms) which remain attached to the creator. These mental images, when "outbreathed," create "astro-mental images" (secondary thought-forms) on the astral plane, which are then ensouled by elementals. These astro-mental images range the astral plane, influencing their creator and others. Vibrations also extend upwards to the spiritual plane, creating "ākāshic images," which are considered the true karmic records.
• In Detail: The book elaborates on how these mental images evolve. Aspirations and desires become capacities, repeated thoughts become tendencies, wills to perform become actions, and experiences lead to wisdom. Painful experiences, in particular, contribute to the development of conscience. The book emphasizes that the ego (the soul) is a growing entity, and its development is dependent on the quality and quantity of these mental images.

The Working Out of Karma:

Besant explains that after death, the soul carries its mental images into the astral world (kāma-loka). Grosser, animalistic thoughts are worked out on the lower astral levels, while nobler thoughts progress towards devachan, a state of blissful assimilation. Upon returning to earth for rebirth, latent mental images are reactivated and attract appropriate astral matter, forming the desires, passions, and emotions of the new incarnation.

Crucially, the book introduces the role of Lords of Karma (Lipika and Mahārājahs). These powerful intelligences receive the karmic records and provide the "mould" for the etheric double and physical body, ensuring the appropriate environment, race, and family are chosen to work out specific karmic debts and opportunities. This process is presented as the mechanism for ensuring perfect justice.

Facing Karmic Results and Building the Future:

The text addresses the common perception of helplessness in the face of karma. Besant argues that while individuals are limited by their past actions, they are not bound. The "Real Man" (the soul) can work within these limitations to create a new future. This involves accepting self-made limitations, striving to the best of one's ability, and fighting against passional weaknesses. The book stresses that freewill and necessity work in harmony, with acceptance and effort leading to the enlargement of limitations.

Building the Future involves actively superintending one's evolution by scrutinizing character, deliberately practicing mental and moral qualities, and meditating on noble ideals. This deliberate cultivation of character is presented as building for eternity.

Moulding Karma:

The concept of moulding karma emphasizes that individuals can not only shape their own character but also influence circumstances. This is achieved by understanding the laws of nature and applying them. For example, responding to an evil thought with compassion can shatter the harmful thought-form, thus neutralizing negative karma. The book highlights the principle of "overcoming evil with good" as a scientific application of karmic law. Advanced students can modify the future by consciously introducing new forces to interact with existing karmic lines, much like a physicist can deflect a moving body.

The Ceasing of Karma:

The ultimate goal is the ceasing of karma, which is achieved not by ceasing to act, but by acting without attachment to the fruit of action. This is the essence of "karma-yoga." Actions performed as duty, offered for the greater good and the turning of the Wheel of the Law, without personal desire for reward, lead to liberation from the cycle of birth and death. The book emphasizes that true liberation comes from breaking the bonds of personal desire, not by suppressing emotions, but by transforming them through wisdom and service.

Collective Karma:

The book also touches upon collective karma, which arises from the grouping of souls into families, nations, and races. This explains phenomena like "accidents" and shared destinies. While individual karma is paramount, collective karma can influence an individual's opportunities to work off past debts or receive benefits due to group karma. The text suggests that nations and races are shaped by the collective thoughts and deeds of their inhabitants, with widespread calamities and epidemics being manifestations of collective negative karma.

Conclusion:

Annie Besant concludes by stating that knowledge of the Law of Karma empowers individuals to accelerate their evolution, achieve freedom from bondage, and become helpers of humanity. A deep conviction in this law brings serenity and fearlessness, as nothing can harm us that we have not merited. The book advocates for purity, strength, serenity, and gladness as the outcomes of living by the law of karma, stressing that individual deeds and will are the only true hindrances to liberation.