Karma and Beyond

In the traditions of both East and West, the law of cause and effect (karma, or “what you sow you shall reap”) is seen to be a fundamental, universal principle. It is not only observed empirically as a behavioral principle in the sciences, but it is seen as a moral principle as well by all the world’s great sacred traditions. It is easy to stop there. That’s the law, that’s the cosmic principle. It cannot be broken, and all our systems of legal and theological retribution are built around that notion of inviolability. But is that all? Greg, in his journal entry, raised this very important question.

“No,” say the mystical traditions, “there is more, much more.” As Gary O’Connor pointed out in his journal entry, Oneness, is seen to be an even greater universal truth. If that be the case, then, in the end, nothing can be fragmented (separated from the whole), and nothing is ever lost. This is summarized in the ancient teaching of apocatastasis (the reconciliation of all things, taught almost universally in the early Christian tradition). There is hope, more then we ever imagined riding the wave of karma.

But there is more—and this is where the retributive legal systems both morally and theologically are challenged. There is a law beyond karma, and it is this: good will be created out of evil. Yes, the law of cause and effect applies—and it seems as if evil ripples out across the cosmos as a result, and if the law of karma is true, then in some sense all that is evil will meet its just reward, but there is more. The law of love says that even evil and its inevitable consequences becomes the condition for the possibility of a higher, transcendent good. Love trumps karma. Compassion rules wrath. Mercy supercedes justice. This is the undeniable force of Good News spread from the epicenter at the coming of the Anointed One.