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
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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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