Karma the Mechanism

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

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KARMA - THE MECHANISM
SUTRAS
tion does not remove the real karmic mechanism we confront at that moment, nor is it even aimed in the right direction.
We need to separate our automatic emotional reaction from the event. We need to realize that it is our continued passionate engagement that attaches negative feelings to an event. The event itself may be entirely neutral and not connected to our emotions in any way.
If - for example - we left too late for an appointment we need to reach in time, we easily feel rising pressure while driving there. The nearer we get to our destination and the less time remains, the more impatient we may react to slow drivers who restrict our speed. Yet the irritation and aggression we now direct towards others has nothing to do with their 'stupidity' or 'inadequate driving skills. Other drivers usually have no intention whatsoever to slow us down. The real cause for our irritation is our own tardiness and nothing else.
In this situation no amount of rationalizing or ignoring will ease our tension. Only if we fundamentally realize that our own emotional engagement is the real cause for our tension, can we initiate action3 that will dissolve this tendency once and for all.
If we do not want a particular situation to occur again - i.e. if we do not want to bind new karma of the same type - we need to separate our automatic emotional reactions from the event.
If we respond to a manifestation of karma with a renewed emotional reaction, this will again chain us to exactly those events, persons or objects we do not want to confront any more. It is our own renewed passionate engagement that attracts new karmic matter of the same type.
Our (emotional) attachment to certain limiting themes of life is the only bond between our consciousness and karmic matter. The sutra states explicitly that no other types of karmic bonds exist.
3 see 'HOW TO DISSOLVE KARMA'