KARMA
A Study in Karma
by
Annie Besant
Published in 1917
The
Opposing Schools
In the thought of the outer world, quite apart from
the ideas of reincarnation and karma, there has been much opposing opinion.
Robert Owen and his school regarded man as the creation of circumstances,
ignoring heredity, that faint
scientific reflection of karma; they considered that
by changing the environment the man could be changed, most effectively if the
child were taken ere he had formed bad habits; a child taken out of evil
surroundings and placed amid good ones would grow into a good man. The failure
of Robert Owen’s social experiment
showed that his theory did not contain all the truth.
Others, realising the force of heredity, almost ignored environment;
"Nature," said Ludwig Buchner, "is stronger than nurture."
In both these extreme views there is truth.
Inasmuch as the child brings with him the nature built
in his past, but dons the garment of a new mentality and a new emotional
nature, in which his self-created faculties and qualities exist indeed, but as
germs, not as fully developed powers, these germs may be nourished into rapid
growth or atrophied by lack of nourishment, and this is wrought by the
influence of the environment for good or ill.
Moreover, the child puts on also the garment of a new
physical body, with its own physical heredity, designed for the expression of
some of the powers he brings with him, and this can be largely affected by his
environment, and developed healthily or unhealthily. These facts were on the
side of Robert Owen’s theory, and they explain the successes gained by such
philanthropic institutions as Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, wherein germs of good are
cultured and germs of evil are starved out. But the congenital criminal, and
beings of that ilk, none may redeem in a single life, and these, of various
grades, are the nonsuccesses of the benevolent rescuer.
Equally true is it, as the opposite school affirmed,
that inborn character is a force with which every educationalist must reckon;
he cannot create faculties which are not there; he cannot wholly eradicate evil
tendencies which, below the surface, throw out roots, seeking appropriate
nourishment; some nourishment
reaches them from the thought-atmosphere around, from
the evil desire-forms which arise from the evil in ) others, forms of thoughts
and desires which float in the air around, and cannot wholly be shut out – save
by occult means, unknown to the ordinary educationalist.
______________________
KARMA
Find out more about
Theosophy with these links
The Cardiff Theosophical Society Website
The
National Wales Theosophy Website
If you run a Theosophy Group, please feel free
to use any of the material on this site
The Most Basic Theosophy
Website in the Universe
A quick overview of Theosophy
and the Theosophical Society
If you run a Theosophy Group you
can use this as an introductory handout.
Theosophy Cardiff’s Instant Guide
One liners and quick explanations
H P Blavatsky is
usually the only
Theosophist that
most people have ever
heard of. Let’s
put that right
The Voice of the Silence Website
An Independent Theosophical Republic
Links to Free Online Theosophy
Study Resources; Courses, Writings,
The main criteria
for the inclusion of
links on this
site is that they have some
relationship
(however tenuous) to Theosophy
and are
lightweight, amusing or entertaining.
Topics include
Quantum Theory and Socks,
Dick Dastardly and Legendary Blues Singers.
A selection of
articles on Reincarnation
Provided in
response to the large
number of enquiries
we receive at
Cardiff
Theosophical Society on this subject
The Voice of the Silence Website
This is for
everyone, you don’t have to live
in Wales to make
good use of this Website
No Aardvarks were harmed in the
The Spiritual Home of Urban Theosophy
The Earth Base for Evolutionary Theosophy
A B C D EFG H IJ KL M N OP QR S T UV WXYZ
Complete Theosophical Glossary in Plain Text Format
1.22MB
________________
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
Try these if you are looking for a local
Theosophy Group or Centre
UK Listing of Theosophical Groups
/another-family-job-at-adyar.htm
/cvk-maithreya-manifesto.htm
/singapore-initiative.htm /control-adyar-or-control-nothing.htm
/good-reason-for-silence.htm
/triumph-of-the-weak.htm /preethi-muthiah-adyar-profile.htm
/abolitionofpresident.htm
/lack-of-representation.htm
/carry-on-creeping.htm /preethi-muthiah-letters.htm
/attitude-of-the-theosophical-elite.htm
/international-rules.htm /members-disqualified.htm /does-silence-mean-game-over.htm
/gc-concerns-raised.htm
/make-way-for-the-messiahs.htm
/hidden-bad-news.htm /something-wrong.htm /gc-2012-minutes.htm
/adyar-internal-problems.htm
/beggars-at-the-door.htm /cannot-change-will-not-change.htm
/new-committee-nov-7.htm
/victimisation-of-gc-member.htm
/hey-look-a-job-for-his-daughter.htm
/cvk-maithreya-manifesto.htm
/accountable-leadership-urgently-required.htm