reply to post by triplescorpio
From an esoteric philosophy perspective, I think that we incarnate in Karmic groups to work out the balance of past energies set into motion in
relation to the Group. Here is the intro to a good article with link:
The Law of Cause and Effect. (Karma)
by Aart Jurriaanse
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"In the course of these articles brief reference has in several instances been made to the Law of Cause and Effect, perhaps better known under
its Eastern designation of Karma. The whole of human existence and evolution is so intimately concerned with several aspects of this Law, that it is
considered advisable that the student should become better acquainted with some of its details, as these principles play a commanding role in the
shaping of man's daily life.
Individual Karma is the cumulative result of all of man's actions and thoughts, not only of his present life but also of his innumerable earlier
existences. This individual karma is in itself a most complicated matter and difficult to comprehend in its totality. But the position is even far
more involved, because in addition to the result of man's own activities, his life is also subject to several other types of karma over which he has
no direct control, and as a result of which he may be considered as merely a puppet, or an insignificant atom in the cosmic destinies. He is, for
instance, also subject to Universal or Cosmic karma, to world karma, as well as to the karma of humanity, the race, nation, group, and family to
mention only a few. All these different types of karma are intermingled and are interacting in such an inconceivable and inextricable manner that the
total complex is far beyond human conception.
The complexity of karma has been pointed out because students are sometimes inclined to over-simplify the position. Every human being is governed
by forces far beyond his consciousness, sweeping him, his associates and environment into incomprehensible circumstances from which there is no escape
and which he must learn to accept.
Notwithstanding this relatively somber picture, man still retains his free will with which he, within certain limits, can control his own
destiny, or in other words `man can make or break his own life'. He can initiate action which will definitely produce recognizable results and he
thus can, to a large extent, be the architect of his own future and guide his own affairs. He will certainly be the meeting place of many forces which
lie outside his control, but many of these forces he can manipulate and turn to his own purposes according to circumstances and environment.
In the course of man's development there ever comes a life wherein he becomes consciously aware of the practical working of the Law of Cause and
Effect. From that stage he learns to recognize karma in life's happenings, and to evaluate events with a questioning consideration, and consequently
with greater understanding. He begins to study the radiator quality of his life, and the possible karmic effects of his actions, and thus consciously
he begins to build and shape his own destiny and future. From now on his reactions to life's circumstances cease to be purely emotional he
consciously and mentally begins to study and analyze the possible causes responsible for occurrences that have been evoked. A totally new approach and
outlook on life is engendered as he comes to the recognition that karma is the source of all events and circumstances, and that it is the instrument
employed by the soul for shaping evolutionary development."
www.esoteric-philosophy.net...