The mixing of religious and non-religious beliefs in an individual.

'there is a karmic effect' version A

an effect where those ethically charged things that you do, are returned to you.

the time that this takes is not specific

the events can be similar but not exactly identical

it is not something that is easily spotted but if you knew to look for it you would see it.

it is likely that this is not a Force like Buddhism says as it seems an Intelligence would be behind this in order to accurately give back to people what they give.

even trivial things are returned, the slightest unnoticeable lessening of ethical behavior.

sensory evidence is what it takes to show this, physical characteristics of a bad deed that you recall will repeat themselves when it is returned.

this can be linked to tests and traps as that which is returned to you is used as a test or trap.

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Permalink Reply by Joy B Tobin on September 20, 2012 at 8:08pm

Perhaps there is some similarity there. Although it wasn't preceded by a sense of guilt, just the sense of things going wrong and being unable to do anything about it. In many ways I feel that it was a shift of focus from frustration in what was going wrong to gratitude for what was going right. Although I do feel like there has been a shift beyond just one of perspective. During the period of my karmic bankruptcy I really felt like I was getting hit by one thing after another, feeling trapped by circumstances outside of my control. This took place many years ago... 7 years ago to be exact. The bankruptcy seemed to result in an immediate reprieve from recurrent negative drama, and has continued to this day.

I'll tell you one thing if that is indeed the experience Christians have from forgiveness... the belief path makes a lot more sense to me than it did before.

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Permalink Reply by Kernel John on September 20, 2012 at 8:52pm

We cannot change reality - only our perception of it.

You provided a great example of what happens when one changes their perception - even when it is not out of necessity. I also here you say that it was not difficult to change your perception or t he paradigm within which you were functioning.

Great illustration and testimony.

Cheers

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Permalink Reply by Joy B Tobin on September 21, 2012 at 12:15pm

Actually we change reality all the time... and sometimes it changes without our help.

I don't necessarily think that it's easy to change perceptions and paradigms, but it is one area in which ritual helps a great deal. In that particular example I was ready for a change in a lot of ways, through ritual I set the tone and intention of the needed change, and it rippled through my life with a great deal of power.

One thing which may be very discouraging to individuals seeking a perspective change is that it does not always come so easily. Usually changing perspectives can be tedious, slow, and highly unrewarding in the early stages. In many cases there is very little support or positive feedback and backsliding into old mindsets is a lot easier than maintaining the effort for change.

Thank you for the acknowledgement. Looking back, my karmic bankruptcy was one of the key moments that has brought me to where I am today.

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Permalink Reply by Kernel John on September 21, 2012 at 1:06pm

Yes Joy, reality is in a continuous state of change. As such, there is little perfection to be found here unless you define it in terms of continuous change - but that wouldn't make much sense. Perfection that changes from one instant to the next? Perfection is a constant state and personally, I relegate this state to the metaphysical realm- a realm that supports the physical realm in which we currently exist.

Correct, it is not necessarily easy for one to change their perception. Perception is changed through a fundamental shift in the paradigm(s) we use - and one cannot not anticipate the effects of the shift until the shift has occurred. Wow. This means that one can explain to another what the fundamental shift will look and/or feel like but generally the other will only understand what is being talked about once they have actually experienced (at least to a degree) the shift that was the subject of discussion.

Yet, the shift that you so clearly described does not seem to have made with a great deal of effort or angst. Easy change is wonderful and precious.

The topic of Karma (more) can be a very subtle one that involves related topics such as the eternal nature of the self/soul and the concept of reincarnation (life after life), as well as, something that might be referred to as the eternal world drama. The important thing however is you seem to have made a transformation to a more positive/create approach to living and moved away from a negative view. Might the process you experienced be described as an opening up?