MenoSundays; Life Lived Lovingly

Over the last three Sundays, we have seen a little of what Advaitic philosophy tells us about karma. The law of cause and effect with respect to our individual life experiences. 

Many of us would like it to be as simple as tit-for-tat. As we've read, though, as with all physics and quantum theories, the simplicity is complicated by so many factors. As with physics and quantum, we can come to deeper understandings as long as we are prepared to put the work into absorbing the necessary strands of learning. For some, this work is thrilling and uplifting. For others, it is a matter of pride and competition. Then, others just can't be bothered with the effort, as there are far too many distractions in life. 

By now, it is hoped, you will recognise the sattvic, rajasic and tamasic responses!

A question may arise as to what is right or wrong about any of these reactions. Advaita doesn't make a judgement on this. We are what our makeup of praarabdha and purushartha (established pattern and efforts to change it) result in us being and what we might become.

That said, no matter which society we are born into and how much difference there may be between all those societies (cultures), in every place, there is a sliding scale as to what is acceptable behaviour and what is reprehensible. This brings us to the question of good versus evil. It raises the spectre of individual responsibility versus the common good. Also, when we dig into it, we find that all societies have a similar idea of what constitutes 'good living' versus ' wrong living'. The world over, we all want to live without hassle, in peace and safety.

Scientifically, we know that everything we perceive is matter. Matter comprises all sorts of building blocks, which, for this post, we shall refer to as tanmatras**. Socially, we know that communities are made up of many individuals. Just as matter can only form shapes/things by the tanmatras forming solid bonds that hold any given item together, so it is that communities can only remain stable for as long as the individuals within it form the appropriate bonds of kinship. All things of matter will erode: the length of time depends upon many things, not least how well the bonds were formed in the first place and what the environment around them is like. The tanmatras will often be taken up and reformed into new items. All individuals within a community will erode according to their health and environment. All humans, it is to be remembered, are made up of matter only. All communities eventually erode, often to be replaced with reformed ones.

A key difference between humankind and all other matter is that our central nervous system has evolved to such a degree that we debate what is good and what is not. Other sentient species on our planet do have social bonds and appear to have determination as to status within their societies, but only the human critter has formed philosophy and advanced strata of laws and statutes to guide the mass of individuals along a communal path of decency.

Every society, then, forms its own philosophy of right and wrong. The basis of all such philosophies is to achieve the betterment of those groups by encouraging the self-improvement of the individuals within the group. 

The human critter has the incredible ability to correct itself.

We are blessed with the antaH-karana**, the four-fold processing unit most commonly referred to as the mind. Again, one word loses the subtle complexity!

Back then, to our individual karma—our tale of action. What needs to be understood is that action is the result of a process that begins with the seed of a desire in the individual. From desire arises thought, first of the 'I want...' variety and then quickly supplanted by the 'do this or that to get it' thoughts. Then, action arises. What action we take must result in a corresponding reaction in the jiva's timeline - it might be immediate, such as indigestion due to overindulgence as we satisfy our food desires, or very long-term. Neither should we think that karma means 'bad things happen to bad people.' There is positive karma also - and none of us is free from it. Simple physics. Cause will always have effect.

It is important to understand that the matter of which we are made is totally neutral. The physics/quantum nature of our existence has nothing to do with the quality of any action. The goodness or badness of anything is a concept held only within the intellect. By becoming so aware of our existence, we have also had to contend with the consequences of that awareness. It is the very essence of what makes us 'human'.

The next point to understand is that this is not a static thing. Our concepts of what is right and wrong have mutated over the centuries. Actions that were once celebrated—like the persecution of religious minorities or the subjugation of other races—are now widely recognized as evil. This didn't happen because the physical world's moral character changed but because human society evolved in its understanding. We can, through a study of history, also recognise there is a cyclical nature to such behaviours. Whilst societies may learn and seek to move the human race along a better path of community collaboration and peace, it will only hold for as long as the balance of individuals within it opts to follow that path.

This brings us to the wider karmic cycle. Communities will always reflect the majority tendency of the individuals within them, which is when we start to see cliques. This is why we get 'desirable residence' areas versus those that are feared or jeered. 

As individuals, we have to determine how we wish to behave in the world. Are we prepared to stretch ourselves and seek to live life lovingly, no matter how strong the tide is currently against that? Can we fund the moral fibre within ourselves to spread capital 'ell' Love by being the example - not by preaching, thumping, threatening, but by accepting that there are many streams feeding into the river of Love and letting it flow? 

**Tanmatras, antaH-karana... the first is the name given to the elements in Advaita - which looks at the physics of creation as much as the metaphysical; the second is the exploration of what makes the human psyche. If you have found this month's series of posts interesting - would you like posts on these also? Thank you to all who have read and responded.