Being Selfishly Selfless

Traditional wisdoms teach that everything in the universe is interconnected. Through stories and pictures we are taught that physical bodies affect each other in a cosmic web of cause and effect. The idea is simply this – the things that we touch, touch us – but the implications are complex. If our touch is one of light and love, then we nurture and help others to grow, which in turn helps ourselves. If our touch is selfish and heavy-handed, we deny others their fair share; giving them pain in the present and manifesting discomfort for ourselves in the future, in this life or future lives. The wheel of time turns and delivers our actions to us; what goes around comes around, as it were – some call this karma. All spiritual teachers advise us to be cautious about our actions, to walk lightly and touch lovingly as we go along our journeys.

The Vedas, which are the traditional books of wisdom from ancient India, say that the wheel of time moves in cycles that create the experience of our good or bad karmas like seasonal changes. Life after life we suffer and enjoy the unlimited variety of material conditions, sometimes as kings, sometimes as beggars. Experiencing the duality of the world, we taste the fruits of previous actions with each new life, offering a chance to harmonize our being with the higher purpose of divine life. The choice is always our own.

The Vedas teach that our troubles are a result of an imbalanced life, a disharmonious relationship with the divine, the universe and ourselves. Meaning we are in a state of sleepy haze where we have forgotten our magical connection with the divine in all things. When we lose our connection with the bigger divine picture we become trapped in a world of self-centred material illusion that creates the root condition for disharmonious actions that, in turn, bring negative results.

The urgent goal, individually and collectively, is to relight a state of mind that is aware of the underlying unity that exists in our diverse world. With this attitude we can act in a way that respects the oneness and individuality of everybody and everything. As we gradually develop this state of mind we become free from the bond of conditioned negative behaviour. Our actions become healthy and gradually align with natural harmonies. The more we create balance and harmony in our lives, the more we are able to create a better world in which to live. It’s possible to test this theory, to apply spiritual energy to solve material problems. It is also easy to do, even if we are going through a difficult time. To be free from bad karma we should act with the aim of creating harmony, balance and good fortune.

Auspicious actions create a counteracting energy or vibration that eradicates negative energy and lessens negative mentality. Auspicious action is called ‘seva’ in Sanskrit which means ‘selfless, loving or charitable acts that contribute to the welfare of all’. If we saturate our lives with loving acts the result is a replacement of negative energy with divine love and in doing so we become earthly channels for cosmic divine energy. The more we contribute to the greater good, the more our own welfare is assured. While this is a kind of paradox from a materialistic viewpoint, it is one of the secrets of the initiated – one of their greatest treasures.