Human life is affected by mass karma as well as individual karma

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Human life is affected by mass karma as well as individual karma

 

(p.324) The fruits of one's spiritual awakening are a blessing not only on one's

own life, but on the world at large. This is the second meaning of " one sows and

another reaps " [John 4:37]: a reference to mass karma. Every person sows good or

bad actions in the soil of his life, and not only does he himself reap the

karmic harvest of those actions, but he makes others reap them as well. If a

person writes a degrading novel, all who read it reap the evil effects of the

author's thoughts. The law of cause and effect operates in even subtler ways as

well. The actions of each individual leave electromagnetic etchings in his

brain, influencing his future actions; and they also leave vibrational traces in

the ether, which register in and influence the minds of others.

 

In Mysore I visited a sandalwood factory; each piece and shaving of sandalwood

contributes to the atmosphere of the whole place, and anyone who enters enjoys

the wonderful fragrance. Similarly, when I come to our Self-Realization

Fellowship temples, there are so many good souls earnestly seeking God that I

feel the spiritual vibration emanating from their collective goodness.

Conversely, a gathering of persons given to drinking and rowdyism would produce

a strong negative atmosphere.

 

The overall quality and character of any community, any civilization, is

produced by mass karma, the accumulated effects of actions left in the ether by

the populace in general. Each individual is responsible for contributing to the

mass karma, which in turn influences every individual.

 

(p.325) The person who keeps himself cleansed of all wrong vibrations produces a

powerful uplifting effect on his contemporaries. One moon gives more luster than

all the stars; so a mooned soul--one who purely reflects the light of God--can

influence the masses much more than the masses influence each other. Thus,

individual effort can be even more important than mass karma. One who in every

way tries to uplift himself, harmonizing body, mind, and soul with the Divine,

creates positive karma not only in his own life, but in his family,

neighborhood, country, and world. Hence it is not justified to say, " Thousands

of people are misbehaving, so what does it matter if I am, too? " No! The

goodness of one soul may effectively neutralize the mass karma of millions.

 

Such was the accomplishment of Mahatma Ghandi: he brought freedom to 400 million

people by his spiritual influence. He was scoffed at and spent many years in

prison, but still he went on. Ultimately, his spirit of righteousness triumphed,

and he became instrumental in freeing India by peaceful means. His life stands

as a monumental example of the practical application of Christ's doctrines.

Because one individual sowed goodness, millions reaped that goodness and

freedom.

 

Each drop of water contributes to the existence of the ocean. So even if one's

life seems no more than a droplet in the sea of humanity, that life can have a

significant influence. One who makes himself god-like automatically uplifts

countless others on the divine path. One who makes himself evil demotes others

from the spiritual plane by a negative effect on their potential weakness. He

who has reformed himself has reformed thousands; for what one sows in the ether,

by the vibrations of his thoughts and character, others will surely reap.

 

The Second Coming of Christ (The Resurrection of the Christ Within

You) Volume 1, Discourse 19, pg. 324-325

Paramahansa Yogananda

Printed in the United States of America 1434-J881

ISBN-13:978-0-87612-557-1

ISBN-10:0-87612-557-7