karma

The concept of karma is, naturally, a recurring theme in our philosophical discussions at yoga school. Though we have talked about it a lot, I have to say that I don't feel any more comfortable with the concept than I did at the outset. I think I have, perhaps, a better understanding of it, seeing it now as more than simple cause and effect (though, that is related to it) and viewing it more as action that ripples out in all directions, affecting the past, present, and future. So, there are actions and there are responses that correspond to those actions, but it is not necessarily a 1 to 1 linear causal relationship.

What I have trouble with, however, is the notion that somehow we all get exactly what we deserve or require. On one level, I can see the potential benefit from experiencing all things, high and low, good and bad, easy or difficult, because, at least if one is truly present and aware, one can learn from any and all experiences, and thus advance in personal and spiritual endeavors. But, from there it seems to delve into seriously mucky territory, because it is rather a short leap then, to say that the person who was born into poverty or warfare is somehow acting out their karmic inheritance, or working out their karmic relationships, that somehow their previous actions have created or influenced their present circumstances. Again, on some level, I can follow the logic, because a person born to abhorrent circumstances still has the opportunity to respond to them, and, based on that response, may advance spiritually, burning off karmic debt, or what not.

I guess what makes me uncomfortable is this seems like a very easy, too easy, way of accounting for economic inequities and other, worse, injustices in the world, and thereby somehow justify classism and all the other stupid hierarchies and ~isms that are so intensely problematic. You know, logic that says, well, we have been born to privilege and therefore we must have done something to deserve it, or we would have been born into something else... and I can't get on board with that idea. Which is to say, while I feel I have a clearer picture of karma (which is much more nuanced than I've indicated here) I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it.