Four Types Of People.
Karma is not the same as fate or destiny. The volition behind our thoughts and actions matters greatly. Are you moving toward darkness or lightness?
“How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.”
One of the most foundational pillars of eastern philosophy is the law of karma, or the law of cause and effect. In the west, karma is often confused for fate or destiny. In truth, karma is a Sanskrit word that means “action”—every willful act brings about a specific outcome born out of our volition or motivation. This means it governs our entire existence and provides a path to overcome darkness and find true peace and harmony.
Karmic theology was widespread prior to the advent of Buddha, but it was Buddha’s understanding and teaching of the matter that led to the doctrine as people know it today. Buddha illuminated four types of people and the reality that we are all masters of our own outcomes—free to both choose and change at any time. This teaching is not a judgmental profiling of personalities in any way. It simply classifies karmic consequence and destination.
“I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and have my actions as my arbitrator. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir.”
Four Types Of People:
Darkness to Darkness: People in this category are born into circumstantial misfortune and engage in bodily, verbal and mental misconduct. They are mentally sick or ignorant and regularly harm themselves and others. They use their circumstances as an excuse. Their karma will bring them to lower and lower realms and their misfortune will multiply.
Lightness to Darkness: People in this category are born into circumstantial fortune but engage in bodily, verbal and mental misconduct. They are ruled by their ego and show no gratitude or humility. They see themselves as being above others. Their karma will bring them to lower realms and without their previous fortune.
Darkness to Lightness: People in this category are born into circumstantial misfortune but engage in virtuous bodily, verbal and mental conduct. They are ripe with wisdom and see their obstacles as opportunities. Their karma will bring them to higher realms and without their previous misfortune.
Lightness to Lightness: People in this category are born into circumstantial fortune and engage in virtuous bodily, verbal and mental conduct. They are grateful, generous and full of love and compassion for all. They use their circumstances to help others move toward the light. Their karma will bring them to higher and higher realms and their fortune will multiply.
Again, this teaching is not about personality but causality. If you do, say and think good things, you’ll feel good and receive good fortune later. If you do, say and think bad things, you’ll feel bad and receive bad fortune later. This inherent simplicity is what makes the teaching so workable. You can literally start changing your karma right now. What an opportunity to shift your life for the better!
It is a courageous act to sit and ask oneself the question: Am I heading toward darkness or lightness? It’s even more courageous to put this question to task and observe one’s true trajectory while under stress and pressure. This is what a proper yoga practice provides—an opportunity to see yourself and your volition through a more sensitive lens while working up against your own rough and sharp edges. When you’re willing to look at yourself on the deepest level in this way, the insight gained turns to wisdom and your path inevitably goes toward the light regardless of where you started. You might even land at love and compassion for all.
Do yoga. It’s a catalyst to lightness and I can be your guide. We’ll plant seeds of good karma together.
Metta,
Drewsome.
