KARMA
A Study in Karma
by
Annie Besant
Published in 1917
National
Karma
Let us think on the collective karma of a nation. Face
to face with this, the individual is comparatively helpless, for nothing he can
do can free him from this, and he must trim his sails to it as best he may.
Even a Master can but slightly modify national karma, or change the national
atmosphere.
The rise and fall of nations are brought about by
collective karma. Acts of national righteousness or of national criminality,
led up to by noble or base thinking, largely directed by national ideals, bring
about national ascent or national descent. The actions of the Spanish
Inquisition, the driving of the
Jews and of the Moors out of Spain, the atrocious
cruelties accompanying the conquests of Mexico and Peru – all these were
national crimes, which dragged Spain down from its splendid position of power,
and reduced it to comparative powerlessness.
Seismic changes – earthquakes, volcanoes, floods – or
national catastrophes like famine and plague, all are cases of collective
karma, brought about by great streams of thoughts and actions of a collective
rather than an individual character.
As with a family, so with a nation to a much greater
degree, will there be an atmosphere created by the nation’s past; and national
traditions, customs, viewpoints, will exercise a vast influence on the minds of
all who dwell within the nation. Few individuals can free themselves wholly
from these influences,
and consider a question affecting the nation without
any bias, or see it from a standpoint other than that of their own people.
Hence largely arise international quarrels and
suspicions, mistaken views, and distorted opinions of the motives of another
nation. Many a war has broken out in consequence of the
differences in the thought-atmospheres surrounding the
prospective combatants, and these difficulties are multiplied when the nations
spring from different racial stocks, as, say, the Italians and the Turks. All
the knower of karma can do, in these cases, is to realise the fact that his
opinions and views are
largely the product of the larger individuality of his
nation, and to check this bias as much as he can, giving full weight to the
views obtained from the standpoint of the antagonistic nation.
When a man finds himself in the grip of a national
karma which he cannot resist – say that he is a member of a conquered nation –
he should calmly study the causes which have led to the national subjugation,
and should set to work to remedy them, endeavouring to influence public opinion
along lines which will
eradicate these causes.
______________________
KARMA
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Preface
Theosophy and the Masters General Principles
The Earth Chain Body and Astral Body Kama – Desire
Manas Of Reincarnation Reincarnation Continued
Karma Kama Loka
Devachan
Cycles
Arguments Supporting Reincarnation
Differentiation Of Species Missing Links
Psychic Laws, Forces, and Phenomena
Psychic Phenomena and Spiritualism
Quick Explanations with Links
to More Detailed Info
What is Theosophy ? Theosophy Defined (More Detail)
Three Fundamental Propositions Key Concepts of Theosophy
Cosmogenesis
Anthropogenesis
Root Races
Karma
Ascended Masters After Death States Reincarnation
The Seven Principles of Man Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott William Quan Judge
The Start of the Theosophical Society
History of the Theosophical Society
Theosophical Society Presidents
History of the Theosophical Society in Wales
The Three Objectives of the Theosophical Society
Explanation of the Theosophical Society Emblem
Glossaries of Theosophical Terms
An Outstanding
Introduction to Theosophy
By a student of
Katherine Tingley
Elementary Theosophy Who is the Man? Body and Soul
Body, Soul and Spirit Reincarnation Karma
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