Under this are those cases where men have sudden reverses of fortune
or changes for the better either in circumstances or character. A very
important bearing of this is on our present conduct. While old karma
must work out and cannot be stopped, it is wise for the man to so think
and act now under present circumstances, no matter what they are, that
he shall produce no bad or prejudicial causes for the next rebirth or
for later years in this life. Rebellion is useless, for the law works
on whether we weep or rejoice. The great French engineer, de Lesseps,
is a good example of this class of karma. Raised to a high pitch of
glory and achievement for many years of his life, he suddenly falls
covered with shame through the Panama canal scandal. Whether he was
innocent or guilty, he has the shame of the connection of his name with
a national enterprise all besmirched with bribery and corruption that
involved high officials. This was the operation of old karmic causes on
him the very moment those which had governed his previous years were
exhausted. Napoleon I is another, for he rose to a very great fame,
then suddenly fell and died in exile and disgrace. Many other cases
will occur to every thoughtful reader.
_Third_—that karma which has begun to produce results. It is the
operating now in this life on us of causes set up in previous lives in
company with other Egos. And it is in operation because, being most
adapted to the family stock, the individual body, astral body, and race
tendencies of the present incarnation, it exhibits itself plainly,
while other unexpended karma awaits its regular turn.
These three classes of karma govern men, animals, worlds, and periods
of evolution. Every effect flows from a cause precedent, and as all
beings are constantly being reborn they are continually experiencing
the effects of their thoughts and acts (which are themselves causes) of
a prior incarnation. And thus each one answers, as St. Matthew says,
for every word and thought; none can escape either by prayer, or favor,
or force, or any other intermediary.
Now as karmic causes are divisible into three classes, they must have
various fields in which to work. They operate upon man in his mental
and intellectual nature, in his psychical or soul nature, and in his
body and circumstances. The spiritual nature of man is never affected
or operated upon by karma.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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