John Lennon famously sang, “instant karma’s gonna get you, gonna knock you right on the head.”

Karma is often thought of as a punishment. But this isn’t an accurate representation of this great law. Karma is a teacher. 

In the Bible it says, “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).

Newton states in his third law of motion, “action and reaction are opposite and equal”, a definition commonly used to describe karma in Buddhism. 

As Dr. George King put it:

“Karma is pressure toward conformity. It is pressure directing you, the mind – and you, the soul – towards you, the Spirit.”

Conformity is a compliance with standards, rules or laws. So karma is pushing us – our minds, our souls – to work more and more in line with the great Law. 

In our lives, we frequently make decisions based on what we want to do. Most of us do not consider what decision we should make based on the Law of Karma. In this way, we are making decisions based on our likes and dislikes. But the Law of Karma takes into account the whole. 

We are given the experiences we need in order to learn to cooperate with this law more. Some lessons are easy and others are more difficult. 

So when we are having a tough time, it can be helpful to think about it in this light. It is our karma to have this experience because there is a lesson in it for us.

Dr. King gave us encouraging words in his lecture “Do Not Allow Your Basic Self To Fill Your Heart With Hate“:

“Life is difficult but not impossible. I don’t think that any man is given a problem to solve unless it is known that he can solve that problem providing he uses courage and determination and has faith in his own abilities, his higher abilities and probably, sometimes even, in the abilities of others. I don’t think he’s given any problem that’s too great for him.”

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I know that God knows me better than I know myself. 

But sometimes, I am in a difficult situation and I wonder how I can get through it. 

When this happens, I try to remember the bigger picture. I try to remember that there is something I am supposed to learn from the situation. 

Sometimes, thinking about it that way makes the situation a little easier. It can allow me to see the situation from a different point of view. 

Other times, I am not able to see what I was supposed to learn until after the situation has passed. 

But even when I don’t realize my lesson at the time, it is comforting to feel like I am making progress. I know I am not the same person I was 10 years ago, or even last year!

Something you can try

Affirmations are most powerful if they are said with true feeling and belief. They can also be really useful to say for a few minutes before you go to sleep. 

When you are saying the affirmation, really believe every word. Put your whole heart into it. 

A good affirmation to start with is the one from Dr. King that I use: “I am one with the light of God which never fails.”

Dr. King says that if we recite an affirmation like this for 10 minutes a day before bed, for 30 days, we will see big changes in our lives.

Is there a time in your life when you had a realization about karma?