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
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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
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History of the Theosophical Society
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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
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Elementary Theosophy Who is the Man? Body and Soul
Body, Soul and Spirit Reincarnation Karma
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