Karma and Rebirth

Author(s): Christmas Humphereys
Publisher: Albemarle Street London

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KARMA IN ACTION on the cyclic law of birth, growth, decay and death. Animate beings are subject in addition to moral Karma, that is, Karma that originates in the mind and for which the 'individual' is responsible. Finally, with man there is the still more particular Karma wherein he is his Karma, and as such and only as such moves from birth to birth towards enlightenment.
Finally, for the present purposes, Karma may be classified in terms of the size of the unit involved. A group or club or society may have its collective Karma as much as that smaller 'group of qualities' we call a man. In the same way a nation will not only reap the benefits and evil of its collective acts, but re-incarnate in the larger cycle of its destiny. Rome and Greece were units of rebirth, and the Punic wars are with us again to-day. Red Indians will appear in the race that slew them in such quantity, and many a minority movement in a country represents some olden enemy returned, this time, within the gates to continue an age-long war. He who would understand the pattern of history cannot ignore the doctrine of Karma ; still less can he ignore Rebirth.
Summary
Karma, then, is the fundamental Law that rules all manifested things, and man, the conscious user of it, is but another aspect of the Namelessness. The Law was born when man was born, and will die “when every blade of grass has entered into enlightenment.” It is utterly impersonal and absolutely just. It strives for harmony, and he who disturbs the harmony must suffer the adjustment. The Law has agents, human and ' divine', yet these, the demi-gods, are likewise subject to its sway. Man is punished by his sins, not for them ; it follows that there is no such thing as forgiveness and therefore none who can forgive. Yet the Law is merciful, for the Law is Love.
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