Karma, as we saw in the previous three blog posts in this series, is a simple cause and effect, yet has many nuances. The previous blogs also had the different classifications of karma. As you can see it is a topic worth delving into and understanding clearly. It is not simplistic, yet is simple. When we see karma as something we can influence through our thoughts, words and actions as well as collectively, we start taking responsibility for our lives.

However it is used in the wrong context many times and is often misinterpreted. It is not a concept to be used as a way of victim blaming or shaming, as I have seen many times, or to be used as an excuse to bypass practical solutions and systems.

“New age” principles also get mixed in which only causes more confusion. The new age saying that “everyone we meet is a mirror for something within us” is a classic case of distorting what karma means.

I met Satyen first when Ross invited him to an Arkaya class I was facilitating four years ago. His warmth and respect for the practice came through his quiet presence. We stayed in touch through fb and recently went for Thai dinner with his wife Suzanne as well.

He and Suzanne invited me to visit them earlier but it did not align. Just after Christmas when Bhaiya (elder brother in Hindi) invited me saying he would like me to meet his family who were visiting, it fell into place effortlessly. I had a student who wanted to connect and get a manthra and clearing and was happy to drive me to Langley on the 30th Dec, Wednesday.

Slowing down helps us speed up…

I have used this line a lot in my program descriptions. I mention why the practices are gentle, mindful and slow in the beginning. Why slowing down is necessary to integrate. Why taking the time helps us see our unconscious patterns and shine the light of awareness on them. When seeing those patterns, we make an internal shift from judging to discerning. Why slowing down consciously is a necessary phase to start to savour being and doing.