The Golden Rule / Karma

Is this life in a nutshell? Is The Golden Rule/Karma the simplest manner to explain nearly all the World’s faiths? Is this the reason why the “me first” way of life is generally looked down upon in nearly every society today. And not only today but throughout history? This simple “rule” is really quite expansive, as it covers the basics of human interaction.

Not only is the Golden rule/Karma between me and anyone I meet, it also extends to how I treat someone, anyone, in need and as to how I am treated when I am in need. The return on my kindness may not be immediate, it may not even happen in this life. It may not come until I have become debilitated, incapacitated, and/or feeble, but it will come. I believe in The Golden Rule/Karma.

Karma will pat you on the back or kick you in the rear. And it’s all dependent on you. How you treat others is Karma’s motivation. I think it is because of my belief in The Golden Rule/Karma that I’m not a vindictive person. I don’t feel the motivation to “get” someone, or to “get back at” anyone. And yes I’ve had the occasion to feel I should or could do just that. It’ll happen, even if I don’t see it happen, or know it happened. Or, speaking eternally, that it may happen in the next life.

This doesn’t mean that I haven’t had The Golden Rule/Karma kick me a few times. I’ve been on the not so nice end of life. I’m not proud of it, but it’s a fact of life, and I acknowledge it and live with it. I do my best to live The Golden Rule, and I admit, I’m still learning. Yes, I believe in The Golden Rule and Karma. They are one and the same. Different traditions, but very much the same.

There’s the Golden Rule, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” And then there’s the evil twin, “Do unto others before they do unto you.” We all have our choices to make, and the freedom to accept or reject the good or pernicious. And yes, they both can be accepted and/or rejected. Each with its rewards or penalties.

To accept the good is to move forward, looking ahead with a positive attitude, kindness, graciousness, charity, respect, forgiveness, acceptance, and tolerance. The Golden Rule/Karma will follow this trail. To reject the good is to move forward taking advantage of the less wily, knowledgeable, the weak, old and ill. The Golden Rule/Karma will follow this trail also. This is to live a life while looking over your shoulder. Always wondering when Karma’s steel-toed boot is going to leave its mark. Sounds like a tough way to live, certainly not a peaceful way.

So, take your pick, make your choice. Lend a helping hand or slap one away. Just remember, this is your hand you are offering, or your hand you are slapping. This is your future, perhaps soon or perhaps in eternity,…….. Your eternity.

 The Golden Rule/Karma, pay it forward

Scripture is from the NABRE:

Mat. 7; 12a. Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.

Also Luke 6:31. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

by David E. Gonzales

The difference between you and I-

The difference between you and I is everything,

And nothing.

We’re both human, I don’t recall making that choice.

Our differences or our similarities in our skin color is irrelevant because neither of us had a choice in this matter.

            The same is true with the difference in our facial features, hair, teeth, height, athletic ability, artistic expression, and intelligence.

Our speech patterns may be more genetically induced,

while our accents are a product of our environment. Neither of which was of our choice.

Our differences or our similarities in our spoken language is irrelevant because neither of us had a choice in our native language.

googleimages/differences 

Our taste in clothing is based largely in the environments we grew up in, and neither of us had a choice in that either.

            Growing up in poverty or wealth, attending public or private school, not a choice of ours.

Our choices regarding religion and/or faith are largely taught to us when we are young. Almost all of them (religious institutions) allow us to make a choice later in life on how or if we wish to follow in that faith.

            The difference between you and I is how we choose to live our lives. The difference is what we learn from our life’s lessons and how we choose to apply them. Whether it is be productive, destructive - loving, apathetic – positive, negative - isolated or engaged, these are our choices, and this is the difference between you and me. I understand we will never be “the same”. In fact I hope we never are! I do hope that in our own ways we can be on the “good” side of “different”, for different is what makes life exciting. And “good” is what makes life worth living.

I hope to meet your different on the good side of life. Until then, may all good and different blessings be with you.

by David E. Gonzales