Karma - Our Actions Matter
Quotes
“When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.” ― Confucius
“Karma comes after everyone eventually. You can’t get away with screwing people over your whole life, I don’t care who you are. What goes around comes around. That’s how it works. Sooner or later the universe will serve you the revenge that you deserve.” ― Jessica Brody, The Karma Club
“Even if things don’t unfold the way you expected, don’t be disheartened or give up. One who continues to advance will win in the end.” ― Daisaku Ikeda
“Like gravity, karma is so basic we often don’t even notice it.” ― Sakyong Mipham
“Not only is there often a right and wrong, but what goes around does come around, Karma exists, chickens do come home to roost, and as my mother, Phyllis, liked to say, “There is always a day of reckoning.” The good among the great understand that every choice we make adds to the strength or weakness of our spirits—ourselves, or to use an old-fashioned word for the same idea, our souls. That is every human’s life work: to construct an identity bit by bit, to walk a path step by step, to live a life that is worthy of something higher, lighter, more fulfilling, and maybe even everlasting.” ― Donald Van de Mark
“Situations seem to happen to people, but in reality, they unfold from deeper karmic causes. The universe unfolds to itself, bringing to bear any cause that needs to be included. Don’t take this process personally. The working out of cause and effect is eternal. You are part of this rising and falling that never ends, and only by riding the wave can you ensure that the waves don’t drown you. The ego takes everything personally, leaving no room for higher guidance or purpose. If you can, realize that a cosmic plan is unfolding and appreciate the incredibly woven tapestry for what it is, a design of unparalleled marvel.” ― Deepak Chopra
“In the long run, every man will pay the penalty for his own misdeeds. The man who remembers this will be angry with no one, indignant with no one, revile no one, blame no one, offend no one, hate no one.” ― Epictetus
Quotes Courtesy Of:
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/karma?page=8
https://parade.com/1343761/michelle-parkerton/karma-quotes/
Abstract
Karma, in my opinion, is the state of our current reality, based on our collective past action and deeds. The word itself is derived from the Eastern World religion/philosophy of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. In the Christian Faith the parable of the sower is closely related to Karma. In essence we reap what we sow.
Karma is also closely linked to the Principle of Cause and Effect or Causality. This Principle simply means for every outcome or effect there has to be a factor that caused that outcome. This law is used widely in many fields from the sciences, business, philosophy etc.
Karma from Buddhist and Hinduism texts means action. We need to take the right action at the right time with the right intention. Our intention also matters good acts done with the wrong intention do not count. We reap and sow consequences out of our action. So be mindful of your thoughts and actions
Our actions shape our destiny ultimately and those of future generations. We are ultimately where we are due to our own individual actions and the actions of our ancestors. It ultimately lays responsibility for our own individual outcomes on ourselves.
What triggered my thoughts of Karma
Uganda Martyrs and the Karma of the Chief Executioner ‘Mukajanga’
Every 3rd of June my home country Uganda celebrates ‘Martyrs Day’. This is one of the most important occasions in the Catholic and Anglican Religious Calendars in Uganda. During the late 19th Century Christianity was taking root in Africa.
The largest Kingdom and the most populous tribe in Uganda is the Buganda Kingdom. This is found in the Central region of the country. The Catholic and Anglican churches respectively focused most of their evangelical effort in this part of the country.
The first missionaries the Anglicans arrived in the country in 1877 to be followed two years later in 1879 by the Catholics. They were then invited by the reigning King Muteesa the 1st. His son Mwanga the Second succeeded his father in the year 1884.
By this time Christianity had started spreading in the Buganda Kingdom and some of the Kingdom’s Chiefs and the Palace page boys had converted to Christianity. King Mwanga started questioning their allegiance to him.
He decided to take drastic action and have them executed to serve as a warning to other Christian converts in the Kingdom. From the period 31st January 1885 to 27th January 1887 , forty five (45) Christian Converts were executed. (22 Catholics and 23 Anglicans).
The majority were executed on the 3rd June 1886. The manner of execution was brutal and horrific, they were burnt alive. The Catholic Church beatified and canonized these Martyrs and they were made Saints. The execution site has become a popular pilgrimage site for Catholics all over Eastern Africa and other parts of the world.
The chief executioner of King Mwanga was called ‘Mukajanga’. Up to this day his descendants are still trying to live down the infamy of their great grandfather. That terrible Karma of Mukajanga has been passed down to his descendants.
These are the words of one of his descendants Nakazzi, one of his great granddaughter’s verbatim:
‘He should not be judged harshly but should be considered as a person who was simply fulfilling his duty as a loyal servant of the Kabaka Mwanga II. When you are commanded to work or perform an activity, you don’t question the King. You act accordingly, we want the perception to change. The stigma must be dealt away with’ (Source Mukajanga family seeks role in Martyrs’ Day fetes | Monitor)
Karma still follows his descendants 137 years later. This is why we need to be very careful about our actions. You might have your descendants apologizing on your behalf many centuries later.
My late parents
My dad passed away in late 2021 and my mum passed away this year in March 2023. Their deeds and actions still linger on. My dad was a kindred and gentle soul; his gracious personality surpassed his academic achievements. He was a reknown scientist but never let his academic achievements inflate his ego.
He was humble and eschewed showing off his academic prowess and achievements. He helped many individuals from all walks of life to succeed in their personal and academic careers. He was truly the definition of a servant leader and a great example to his family, friends and professional colleagues.
My mum was the disciplinarian and was the enforcing arm in the family. She was also a great business lady who was a real organizer. Her presence was felt in the family, church and community she was a mover and shaker.
She also assisted many individuals of all walks of life to succeed in their individual endeavors. She was both feared, loved and respected in equal measure. She was a stickler for excellence, especially in the academics’ field and ensured all her children graduated.
They generated a positive Karma that will long outlive their physical departure from the physical realm of the earth. Generating good Karma is highly beneficial to everyone. Good deeds are never forgotten. We have very few true heroes in in this world of social media and celebrity worship.
Narcissism, self-worship, self- glorification rule the day. We really need to be careful who we model as our personal heroes what karma do they generate for the world?
Wedding Party of my Cousin
I attended a wedding party of a cousin recently. It was a well-attended event and it was a fabulous ceremony set at the shores of Lake Victoria. Apart from the glitter and glamour of the occasion my distinct memory was what was mentioned about the groom.
My cousin has a selfless heart and has been assisting his needy nephews and nieces over time. When the moment for speeches came about all relatives mentioned this key trait about him. His ability to assist others selflessly.
This character trait also cut across to his professional field. All his workmates mentioned this particular trait and how he has affected them personally. Positive deeds and actions are rare quality in this day and age
Positive and Negative Effects of our Actions
Life normally operates in a dual manner. We are either battling to rise up above and improve our circumstances each day or we are declining and not improving our state of being. There is no neutral gear in life we are either improving or declining.
This applies to all areas of life i.e. Financial, Relationships, Spiritual, Emotional, Physical etc. We are either striving to improve each and everyday or we are declining. The results of our actions are always visible over time.
Time never cheats and always reveals the ultimate outcome of our actions. It always boils down to this quote by Ghandi, Lao Tzu and other great personalities.
Mahatma Gandhi
“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.”
― Gandhi
Lao Tzu
“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”
― Lao Tzu
You literally become what your predominant thoughts and habits are. This is why we need to watch our thoughts, words and actions carefully. They literally determine our destiny and influence the destiny of later generations.
Our ability to change our circumstances- generating positive Karma
Mr. Zhong Chinese Investor in Uganda
(Source: I made it here in Uganda – Chinese Investor Mr. Zhong – Uganda Investment Authority)
Mr. Zhong arrived in Uganda in 1999 as a fresh graduate from China. He managed to get employed and earned USD 300 dollars per month. He worked diligently and saved his money to start his own commodity trading company in Uganda.
He grew this business from the importation of one container of goods and scaled it up gradually. He expanded to other ventures which include Manufacturing, Real Estate, Hardware Commodity Trade and Rice Farming. In the process he became a multimillionaire and an example to the local community.
Through his effort and example, he has enabled many members of the local community in Lukwaya Sub county, Kalungu District in Uganda, to uplift themselves from total poverty to a life of dignity. This is the power of positive Karma and a positive mindset.
Mr. Zhong worked hard each and every day. He took the risk to branch out on his own in a foreign country and made it. He adopted a mindset of modelling the best and adopting their processes and routines.
Karma is the ability to create by your action. You can change your circumstances dramatically just by changing your daily actions and taking responsibility for your life.
Ugandan Couple from USD 2 per day to USD 400,000 Bead Business
Daniel and Jalia Matovu from a USD 2 dollar per day livelihood to currently making annual sales of USD 300,000 to 400,000 per year. This is change and transformation at work when we take total responsibility of our actions and in effect our Karma.
The couple employs over 300 locals and has uplifted the livelihood of many families. Positive actions have ripples and extended positive effects. All our actions count.
The Inverse: Are destructive actions necessary?
I believe we are entitled to righteous anger, wrath if we are bringing justice or fighting cruelty. There are tyrants who have roamed this earth and it took necessary force to knock them off their perches.
We have bullies and others who do not want to live in a lawful and civil manner with other members of society. This is when brute and corrective force is necessary to correct this maladjustment in society. Religious books including the Bible support righteous force and justice in these circumstances.
Summary
It’s our duty to generate positive karma both in our lives and other people’s lives. Let’s lift up our personal standards, actions. We need to stride towards the light and eschew negative action.
Protecting our environment, helping the needy, providing education and skills, providing food, providing housing is all part of good Karma. Individual actions over millennia have shaped the world to this stage. Let’s do our part to leave the world in a better and positive state.
Resources
Read
Karma A Yogis Guide to Crafting Your Destiny – Sadhguru
The Future Is Open: Good Karma, Bad Karma, and Beyond Karma- Cheogyam Trungpa & Carolyn Rose Gimian
The Meaning of Life: Buddhist Perspectives on Cause and Effect – His Holiness the Dalai Lamai & Richard Gere & Jeffrey Hopkins