"Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you off your feet
Better recognize your brothers
Ev'ryone you meet
Why in the world are we here?
Surely not to live in pain and fear
Why on earth are you there?
When you're Ev'rywhere
Come and get your share
Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun..."
John Lennon’s snappy little rocker and chidingly positive message to humanity on 1970’s “Instant Karma!” makes the causality of one’s actions immediate rather than borne out over a lifetime. Imagine… (pun intended) the age-old Buddhist law of cause and effect turned into something as modern and synthetic as instant coffee. As a former advertising writer who once upheld commercials as an art form, the idea sparks curiosity to say the least.
Beyond the rock and roll ditty, on the subject of non-Instant Karma, the deeper mysteries of the soul, and profoundly interconnected nature of all that exists, we gathered together in the spirit of Matakuye O’yasin this past weekend, sharing in a day of deeper relating and spiritual practice. Day-long gatherings made up of a yoga class, a local organic vegan lunch, a meditation workshop and ritual purification (sweatlodge) Ceremony, the one-day jamboree brought standout yoga teacher Heather, Lisa, Hillary, Mike, Todd, Mimi and myself together to, in the telling words of Hillary, “Figure out what’s really important in life.”
Here, finding a sense of balance in an increasingly chaotic world is at the top of our list. On that note, of all the subjects that are crucial to us human beings, karma – or ultimate cause and effect – is one of the most important. Karma is a Sanskrit word that stems from the root kri which means to do. The English word create is derived from this root. The idea of Karma is that the Universe always seeks balance, Karma being a form of ancient science akin to modern science’s notion that “every action has an equal and opposite reaction.” Go too far in one direction of action, and you’ll be pulled back the other way, in causal chains that are not always obvious. Funny in light of Lennon’s take, the more developed you are, the quicker the karmic comedown. When you enhance your cognitive capacities through inner work, you’re more readily able to observe the results of your actions and then correct them. That’s why we value true spiritual development so highly.
If any of that sounds of interest to you, we’ll be circling up again on Sunday May 21st, June 11th, and other dates throughout the summer. Come, be a part of rather than apart from, as we all shine on, Ev’ryone Come On.