AboutRichard Salva Expertise I can answer questions related to karma, reincarnation, and life after death, according
to the teachings of yoga as taught by Paramhansa Yogananda (master of yoga and
author of Autobiography of a Yogi). Yogananda's teachings on these subjects are
straightforward, accessible, and helpful to people of any background
Experience I am an ordained minister and the author of a new book on reincarnation: Soul Journey from Lincoln to Lindbergh: Revealing the Mysteries of Karma and Rebirth. I have studied yoga philosophy and reincarnation for the past thirty years, and I've lectured on these subjects in America and in Europe.
Organizations Minister of Ananda Sangha
Member of IARRT
Question How does it works. i Know what you do you shall receive, but why persons that are acting wrong continue to do it with out any consequences. Why karma takes so long to be paid? People who are suffering for others action would change there situation and things get right?
Answer Hello Maria,
Thank you for your question.
I have answered questions about karma before on this site. You might find it helpful to take a look at those answers.
In response to your specific question:
The karmic law is exact and absolute. Whatever we do, good or bad, comes back to us in equal measure.
Karma is also a teaching tool of the universe. So the repercussions, positive or negative, are slanted toward teaching us important life lessons.
Sometimes we can see the sort of "instant karma" that John Lennon sang about, taking place in our own or others' lives. But it doesn't always happen that way.
Why? There are several reasons.
One is that, whenever we do something, it is like planting a karmic seed. In order for that seed to sprout, the conditions have to be right. The soil, humidity, temperature, sunlight, etc. have to be just right for that seed to germinate and grow into a plant.
And so it is that some of the things we do will not come back to bless or bite us for many years. In fact, if the timing isn't right, it won't happen in this lifetime. And that is one of the essential reasons why we reincarnate: to balance our karma and learn our lessons through that process.
Another big reason why karma doesn't come back immediately has to do with our egos. The great master of yoga, Paramhansa Yogananda, said that the ego is the soul identified with the physical body. When we have transended the ego and its self-involvement, and are in harmony with the universe, karmic returns can happen very quickly because there is nothing that gets in the way. But when our egos are strong, we interfere with that process.
To give one example: if we were to get very drunk one evening, we would wake up in the morning with a terrible hangover. If we understand the karmic law and are trying to grow spiritually, then we would allow ourselves to feel the pain, to teach us not to act so unwisely in the future. But if we are foolish and our egos are hardened, then we might drink again that morning to blot out our pain and attempt to re-create the false happiness of last night's drunken stupor.
In life there are waves that rise and fall naturally. But the ego will try to keep pushing the wave up and up, like a wind clashing one wave against another. Eventually, gravity will take over and balance things. But a hardened ego will try to delay the process as long as possible.
These are the two main reasons why karma does not return immediately.
I hope this answer is helpful to you.
Best wishes,
Richard Salva
Author of Soul Journey from Lincoln to Lindbergh
www.LincolnReincarnation.com
