Escaping Karma

Karma is often one of the most misunderstood spiritual experiences that we have as humans. People will often use the word ‘karma’ to represent something punitive, or to point out that another person will “get what’s coming to them.”

But looking at karma through the lens of retribution is almost the opposite of the reason why karma actually exists. In fact, when we hold a perspective about karma that is punitive, we tend to create some sticky karma for ourselves in the process.

Karma is in truth an expression of the self-correcting Universe, reflecting its intelligent, loving design. The goal of karma is to expand a person’s awareness of love, joy, and serenity. Karma simply means that whatever we give out, comes back to us multiplied.

The concept of “karma is going to get that person,” is often directly associated with personal vendetta. Therefore, so many spiritual teachers throughout history talked about forgiveness and loving our enemies. When we focus on karma “getting” the other person, we tend to bring about harsh justice for ourselves.

It is also important to understand that the karma that other people experience is not proportional to how offended we are.  The goal of karma is not to ‘make’ other people feel the way that we felt when we were offended.

Karma is a learning system. Some traditions refer to it as reciprocity. Karma is never an end in, and of, itself. Instead, karma is an expression of a self-correcting Universe and has the goal of expanding our awareness.

Contrary to popular misconception, karma has nothing to do with punishment and reward. It exists as part of our holographic universe’s binary or dualistic operating system only to teach us responsibility for our creations-and all things we experience are our creations ~ Sol Luckman

The experience of karma is about helping us expand our conscious awareness. When we have a fear-based thought within consciousness, this eventually creates a cause and effect feedback loop. We have a thought, the thought produces a feeling, and the feeling produces an action. Karma is simply the effect of that action, and that action started in consciousness as a thought.

So, what does it mean to escape karma? It is not about escaping the cause and effect nature of reality. It is about creating a cause-and-effect that does not increase suffering. It is about choosing loving thoughts, peaceful thoughts, and supportive thoughts.

A Course In Miracles states, “I can choose peace instead of this.” I personally have this as a sign on my car dashboard.  When I look at this sign, it always brings my awareness back to what is really important.

Any switch to negative thought patterns can redirect the karmic cause and effect. This is why spiritual practices, such as prayer, meditation, and surrender, can be beneficial in creating a new trajectory. The goal is to interrupt the negative karmic loop and create a new loop… thus escaping the more challenging effects of the cause and effect system.

Always choose peace instead of this.