Karma the Mechanism

Author(s): Hermann Kuhn
Publisher: Crosswind Publishing Germany

Page 41

KARMA - THE MECHANISM
SUTRAS
responds directly to the intensity of our own inner engagement, irrespective if our involvement is direct, indirect or only silently assenting
Whether we use our body, speech or mind for an action determines the area of life the newly acquired karma will influence. An unchecked tendency for quarreling e.g. attracts a type of karma12 that shapes the physiognomy of the acting person according to his or her brawling disposition. This effect is quite evident in the face and bearing of many persons with this kind of temper right in their present life. Positive examples of this karmic effect are persons who radiate equanimity and inner peace and whose mere presence is often sufficient to quieten quarrels. Their solid peaceful attitude usually shows clearly in face and bearing.13
We intensify karmic effects not only when we are motivated by the four main negative emotions, but also by the power we put behind our anger, arrogance, deceitfulness and greed. We manifest these emotions in four intensities: - The highest intensity manifests as bouts of blind rage, aloof arro
gance, insatiable greed and malicious deceit. As long as we permit our life to be governed by emotions of this intensity at one time or the other, we never leave the first stage of development (gunasthana) - the state of illusion, error and flawed understanding of the mechanisms of this world. As long as we don't actively search out and pursue opportunities for further development, our
12 the type of karma (nama) that determines the outer appearance, radi
ance, energy and features of the body - see sutra 22 and 23 13 Our bodily form, energy, radiance, ability, knowledge and potential
are the outward expressions of all our desires, attitudes and the intensity with which we pursue the fulfillment of our dreams. If we are not happy with our present appearance, we can at any time change our desires, attitudes and the energy we use for realizing our ideals. The point in time when this will show results, depends mainly on the depth of our previous emotional set-up and how fast we dissolve it. The strength with which we desire change influences this process significantly.