Lesson 1: Cultivating Good Karma
Karma is the law of cause and effect. What you sow, so shall you reap. To minimize negative karma, don't do anything deemed negative even though you feel it is right - like killing roaches, ants or even mosquitoes. To maximize positive karma, do something good even though you don't want to do because of fear, anger or jealousy.
Just be more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Then you would know whether it is generating negative or positive karma.
Cultivating Good Karma
The fastest way possible to cultivate good karma (or blessings) is to be aware of our surroundings. For example, don't walk carelessly and step on small insects, go out of your way to make someone smile or happy, especially the less fortunate (big blessings), or help elder people cross the road (big blessings). Additionally, cook for the underprivileged (big blessings) and show mercy to everyone and gratitude for all the lessons they bring whether by being hurtful, being cheated or getting scolded. Being in service of others is part of Dharma. In the time of Jesus, he said, if someone slaps you on the right cheek let him slap you on the left as well. Dharma was this challenging during His time. The secret: Forget what goodness you have done as if it was part of your life just like breathing. Don't count or remember good deeds. Do you remember how many times you breathe in a day? Why, because it is simply a need and a natural process. If you don't breathe, suddenly you are aware, right? That is not natural. Earlier, I said we must be conscious of our surroundings. Being aware of our surroundings refers to the happenings around us. Later I said it is natural not to be aware of our breathing. Hence, I am talking about natural happenings that we do automatically. Please don't get confused with this two. Imagine our cultivation became so natural that we forgot whether it was hard, sweaty and time-consuming as if we have been doing this for many years. Even if you don't want to get the blessings, you will still receive it. Be aware of your super-ego. Sometimes you are not mindful of the fact that it has come out.
When you do something that does not require you to go out of the way, or so happens when you are there, the blessings are just mediocre. Those are considered small good deeds. We must always do small and big good deeds. What I have written in the beginning is seen as a substantial deed.
Questions
Q: "It is stated that no one can escape the punishment. Are infants born with sickness and deformation such as a hole in the heart, blind, mute and deaf being punished?"
GM: "Infants are not born with punishment but a lesson for them and their families. For the children and their family members born with this conditions, the society pities them. They may feel small or handicapped or less fortunate. Remember, one chooses to come down handicapped in the eyes of the society for the lessons. Usually, there is someone that brings guidance to others."
Q: "Karma as in physical actions is understood. Can you speak more about Karma as in thoughts?
GM: "Action, Emotions, Thoughts are all the same. First, you must have thoughts; later the emotions will fuel the thoughts and thoughts will beget actions. Thoughts alone can create karma because it will lead to unseen attacks."
"People who are sensitive or who have uncontrolled emotions can easily sense or feel who is sending them negative thoughts or are speaking ill about them. If they also don't like these people who are thinking of them negatively, they take blind reactions or retaliation. "
"The same applies to emotions. For example, if a couple fights and subsequently separate, it can happen that one partner thinks negatively about the other. The negative energies radiating will be felt by both parties. If one partner changes completely and is willing to let go (let bygones be bygones), then, when the other person (Person 2) thinks of him/her (Person 1), he/she (Person 2) will feel better. But, if he/she (Person 1) still feel negative about the other (Person 2) it is because he/she (Person 1) still has not changed thus begets negative energies from the other person (Person 2). This is karma. Can you comprehend?" It is not about who is right or who is wrong. It is about what thought, actions and emotions begets the same response. "Sometimes people say that he/she has forgiven and have let go. They thought the other party would do so too. You may have dropped the issue instantly, but if you are still pursuing the issue with a cool mind and emotion, your actions will speak otherwise. Why do you need to pursue the issue in the first place? Because of the anger of the heart and confusion of the the mind, thus you did it. But after having said you have forgiven and let bygones be bygones, you still pursue the matter - then you have not let go completely. So can the other party think highly/positively of you? Unfortunately, it take only a grenade to bring down a house but takes months to rebuild it." Karma. What you sow so shall you reap.
Q: "Say in the sensitive person's case, who has forgiven the other person, let bygones be bygones, then this sensitive person's "good/changed state" will beget a similar change in the other person towards this sensitive person?"
GM: "Yes. But it takes time. Don't rush it."