It seems as though we use the word karma in casual conversation like we would use the word luck or chance. I always hear the word used in casual conversation and it makes me wonder, what does karma mean for most people?

I’m guessing here but I think that most people use the word karma like they would use the words magic, lucky or fate. I’m not sure that people who use the word have actually ever thought about what it means.

I’m asking myself, what does karma mean?

When I think about the word karma all kinds of images come to mind. I’m picturing an old Indian guru wagging his finger at me warning I should take care of what I do in this life or it will come back to haunt me in the next. If I’m not good now I might be incarnated in my next life as a cow or monkey!

I also see the glamorous and trendy brand of the word “Karma”. I see it plastered on tattoo shops and new age stores that sell crystals and incense. I also see it marketed in Trader Joe’s on bags of pasta or cans of soup.

None of these things can be what karma is… right?

I don’t think any of the above has much to do with karma at all. So when I examine all that and ask myself again… what is karma? I realize I have to look past all those imprinted images, I have to go beyond my conditioning and see what’s really there.

After careful consideration it appears to me that the word karma is truly a beautiful and precious word that can imply an infinite amount of love.

Let’s take the generic definition of karma and break it down. Basically most of us think karma is tit for tat… what you do now will determine how the future will be for you later. I don’t know if any of you really believe that or not but lets forget all that and go further.

I wouldn’t say I believe in the generic definition of karma or most other definitions but I’ll tell you what I’ve come to understand it to be.

I don’t see karma as something to be feared or threatened with. I also don’t see it as some sort of cosmic game or anything fantastic like that. I do see however the opportunity to express love at every moment of our lives.

We’re not loving one another to keep score or save up points for the next life, we love one another because it’s who we truly are. We love one another because it’s natural and it feels great!

All the bad things that happen in our lives or in the world for that matter… aren’t due to bad karma, rather there’s not enough love present. If there were enough love present then there wouldn’t be any room for fear, crisis and confusion wouldn’t arise.

I have karma, karma doesn’t have me.

I say this because at every moment in my life I have the opportunity to express myself via the vehicle of love as opposed to fear. When I live my daily life I am fully aware of the dangers and opportunities that present themselves. When something bad happens unexpectedly or  I’m approached by someone with aggression or hate… how will I respond?

If I’m present at the moment life takes a turn for the worse then I can see that there is no need to fear the danger or aggression trying to rock my world. I see this as an opportunity, an opportunity to respond with love and nothing else. I don’t respond with love because I’m hoping to gain enlightenment or a higher incarnation my next life (if there is a next life). I respond with love because I want to be loved back, I want nothing but love around me and there isn’t any room for anything else in my life.

So when I think of the word karma I think of love. I see the opportunity for all of us to love one another and be loved back.

I would like to leave you with this question…

what does karma mean to you?

The world and all of its inhabitants are at a critical juncture right now. We are living our daily lives on this beautiful blue planet in the midst of the deep, dark vastness of cold space. Such a fortunate chain of events to be here typing on this keyboard communicating with potentially anyone in the world.

Is this really happening right now or am I the only one who sees how unbelievably amazing this life really is?

If any of us walk outside and just notice the smallest blade of grass it has so many complex and fascinating functions going on, how did this come to be? From a blade of grass to a bumble bee and forest full of Red Wood trees, there is amazement and “the impossible” all around us yet none of us seem to take any notice.

Have we become so conditioned and desensitized that the oceans, skies and green earth have no significance anymore? All of us the entire world is looking to the horizon for bigger and better things, a new car, a new house, fancy clothes and for what?

We’ve taken refuge in the shallow materialistic illusions that are spoon fed to us daily via the internet, magazines and television. Is anyone else out there wondering… where is all this going, how much longer can we keep this facade up?

What is our purpose, its not to accumulate wealth, iPhones, Gucci purses, Rolex watches, etc. These things can’t really be the reason all the stars in this galaxy are in the exact right place for you and I to be breathing!

We all have a purpose on this earth but it seems as though year by year with each new software upgrade and American Idol superstar we are getting further and further away from any kind of purpose at all.

Can’t we see how unbelievably fortunate we are to be alive? Not only are we alive but we’re conscious of this… WOW! Think of all the things that had to happen in the universe in order for you to be sitting there right now reading this blog post! Are you kidding me, this is quite literally a miracle only we’re living like its not.

If we truly lived the miracle would there be war, hunger… shopping malls?

Why are we living such shallow lives when there are deep oceans of discovery and love available to us? We have been bestowed the most precious gift in the universe this planet and the privilege to live consciously but all we want to do is war and battle as to how it all came into existence. Why are we so focused on spreading the “good word” (speculation) of how this earth came to be? Why are we dwelling and guessing on the past when we have everything we need RIGHT NOW?

For me to keep my sanity I’ve got to believe that people really don’t believe what they’re reading when they open a Bible, Quran, Torah or any other book of this nature.

The survival of humanity is not in any book and its certainly not in a church but it is in your neighbors eyes. Look at your fellow man, brother and sister… look right in their eyes. Can you not see yourself looking right back? We all have the same fears and anxieties, the collective consciousness is alive. We need to connect with one another not tell each other how it is and how its going to be. None of us know ‘absolute truth’ and all the pointing to the sky, idol worshiping or putting faith in other men will ever bring peace or satisfy the mind.

We’ve lost touch with one another, we need to wake up! The truth isn’t out there somewhere, its not in next years promotion at your job, the truth isn’t in a new pair of shoes or wrapped in a present under a tree.

The truth is all around us always has been so lets start living like it. Wake up, wake up the people around you, wake up your family, get off the maintenance program and unplug. The whole world needs fixing but you can start with yourself right now. If you belong to a church look at it for what it is… separation from the rest of us. If you truly want peace in the world then you must realize that it isn’t possible in a world of US and THEM.

A world where there are Jews, Christians, Muslims, Catholics, Buddhist, Amish, etc., there will never be peace… how could there be? One might say, well you don’t have to believe what I believe I will still love you but that is the furthest thing from the truth. The religions of the world don’t love one another they tolerate one another at best. Tolerance is not love, love is healing and manifest beauty and bliss as tolerance breeds insecurity, armies and war.

Are you really ready for the truth? Well if you are get out there and find out for yourself! If you search your feelings and are honest with yourself you’ll come to see as I have attaching a label to yourself, wearing a cross or star of David around your neck has nothing to do with the truth but everything to do with… what you’ve been told.

Don’t do what you’ve been told since you where born, don’t do what they tell you to do on television… find out what the truth is for yourself. Please find out what the truth is for the sake of the world.

Peace, Love and Happiness!

“We’ve got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can’t just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it’s going to get on by itself. You’ve got to keep watering it. You’ve got to really look after it and nurture it.”

Give peace a chance… its been said by a great many people throughout history but is anyone listening? One thing is for sure most of us on this planet want peace, so what’s it going to take? What is going to have to happen before we actually wake up and give peace a chance?

Will it take an event larger than 9/11? It seems as though that is the road we’re on. All the hype and speculation of events to come in the year 2012, if you ask me it seems like a self fulfilling prophecy.

There isn’t anything more important in the world right now than finding peace.

Peace and Love.

Is peace in the world possible? A very simple question but much more complicated answer. The other problem is for as many people that are asked this question there are sure to be just as many answers which then gives rise to another question… Is there more than one solution to world peace?

This is a slippery slope we’re heading up/down but no matter how you want to look at it, its of the utmost urgency that we figure it out soon.

Our planet is comprised of 195 separate nations all of which have their own governments, cultures, languages and history. The majority of the nations in the world are ruled by what we call democratic governments all of which are setup with the idea that the citizens of each respective nation have equal say in electing government officials who will eventually make the countries laws and policies.

Lets see… we live on this single planet, as far as we know the only planet capable of sustaining life in the entire universe. This big beautiful blue speck full of life in the middle of the cold vastness of space. Here we are the 6 billion of us not even a grain of sand relative to the deep reaches of space… lucky to be here would be an understatement. Its apparent we’ve forgotten or we don’t care just how lucky we actually are. If we lived in appreciation of this wonderful miracle of a planet how could we possibly go on the way we do?

If we were truly aware and awake to this wonderful gift of life, what significance would money have in this world? If we were truly thankful for this planet we live on, this wonderful glorious planet how could there possibly be such a thing as a nuclear weapon or a country that makes them?

What has happened to us, where and when did we forget that we are all part of a whole? With all of the division on the planet can we not see that we are doomed to destroy ourselves?

“No tree has branches so foolish as to fight amongst themselves. -Ojibwa saying”

195 separate nations all of which are divided even more within those nations. What role does a nation have in the survival of the planet for which we ALL live on? What possible good comes from these imaginary  lines that we have drawn? Why have we built fortresses and walls around ourselves dividing ourselves from our brothers and sisters?

Can we not see that the man and wife, mother and daughter on the other side of the planet share the same basic needs we do? Why do we let fear control the way we live our daily lives? Dr. Wayne Dyer brought up a good point recently. He pointed out that the same guy who would run over to pull you out of a burning house is the same guy that works at the bank who would foreclose on your home.

There are enough resources in the world for everyone to live a comfortable and peaceful life but we are killing, raping and destroying the very planet that gives us life. In addition to that we’re lost and disconnected from one another. We don’t see the connection between all of us, what is it going to take to get everyone to see we are all connected?

So I ask you with all the division in the world, with our 195 nations, countless states, numerous religions, governments, etc., is peace possible in the world?

Peace and Love.