Karma the Mechanism

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

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KARMA - THE MECHANISM
SUTRAS
SUTRA 23 aiguga T-RU || 23 || Tadviparitam shubhasya (23) The opposite (i.e. straightforward, honest thoughts, words and actions) attracts karma that manifests an appealing body with pleasant radiation. (23)
Our physical body - and its inner characteristics, energy, abilities and potential - represent the visual and tactile result of all our desires, attitudes and the energy with which we project them into action.
The appearance of our body is mainly determined by our behavior in the present - i.e. by our very current thoughts, words and actions. Many body-forming karmas do not manifest in some nebulous, far away future incarnation, but - often with shocking intensity - in this very life.
Examples of the effects of body-forming karma are easy to find: People who looked fresh, sheen and attractive in their youth, often show early traits of decadence in their faces if their life revolves mainly around pleasures and indulgences. The longer they maintain this lifestyle, the more their appearance deteriorates. - Others who strive for inner growth and equanimity often radiate inner beauty, harmony and growing attraction though their outer appearance would never comply with any beauty concept.
Body-forming karmas tell us instantly how the inner attitudes we express in our thinking, words and action affect us. This is their main function.
The bodily forms and features of others inform us in a subtle way about their inner attitudes. We intuitively perceive facial and bodily appearance as agreeable or disagreeable and react with attraction or rejection. We thus may e.g. intuitively shun the attitudes an ugly body signifies and thereby save us from acquiring similar negative