Last week we touched on the definition of Karma. Today let’s discuss the law of Karma. It could be summarized in two parts. 1) General characteristics of Karma; and 2) Particular types of action and their effects. There are four general characteristics of Karma. A) The results of actions are definite; B) The results of actions increase; C) If an action is not performed its results cannot be experienced; D) An action is never wasted. So let’s begin with the first one – the results are actions are definite. What does that mean? It sounds like a lot of mumbo jumbos. In simplest terms, it means once we create Karma, we will certainly have to bear the consequences of that Karma. For example, we sow a pea seed in the garden, we will notice that only pea grows and not wheat. It’s worth looking at the main causes of different sufferings human beings experience. If we are experiencing mental disturbances, that is because in the past – not necessarily in this lifetime – we disturbed the minds of others. Similarly, if we are experiencing physical pain, in the past, we injured other living beings. If the main cause is absent it is not possible to experience its result. The main cause of suffering from hunger and thirst is stealing food and drinks from others in the past. Let’s look at the second characteristic. The results of actions increase. What this means is that even a small negative Karma can bring a lot of suffering and a small positive Karma can bring a lot of happiness. The power to produce results of Karma grows by the day just like an acorn grows slowly into a large Oak tree. The next characteristic of Karam is that if an action is not performed its results cannot be experienced. We read in the news that sometimes there is a plane crash or something huge and there is a lone survivor whose life was spared against all odds. That is because the survivor did not create Karma to die at that time. The last characteristic of Karma is that an action is never wasted. This is very important to understand. Karam we create by our action cannot simply go away or we cannot give them away to someone else to avoid its results. This is very interesting. Although mental intention that started the action in the past has ceased, the potentialities that create does not cease until it ripens. What does that mean? For example, let’s say we kill a mosquito with a vengeance. If all the causes for us to experience the effect of that action do not come together, those potentialities remain in our mind until it ripens. If you look at the example of our gardening, if we sow a pea seed, it still needs the right environment such as good soil, fertilizer, water, and sunshine before it can grow. So pea we sow is not wasted it is just waiting for appropriate conditions to arise.