“Justice without Mercy is tyranny; Mercy without Justice is tolerance, indulgence of the crime.
Karma is negotiable and this is something which may surprise a great many of the followers of the different orthodox schools.”
-Samael Aun Weor, Tarot and Kabbalah
Karma as a Cosmic Law
Karma is a fundamental cosmic law, upholding the structure of creation by maintaining balance, creating limits, and issuing consequences.
Karma functions as a spiritual expression of the Newtonian law of action-reaction: all of the actions of one’s life have an effect, now or in the future. Acting in an unconscious way produces more reactions, more complications, more karma.
Karma means that life unfolds as the result of previous actions, from this life and previous lives, and is sometimes interpreted as fate. Karma utilizes the sum total of thoughts, feelings, and actions as a blueprint for the circumstances of this existence.
By working to awaken the consciousness one can take advantage of the present circumstances, whether pleasant or unpleasant, to act in a way more in harmony with the Being, and to resolve and dissolve karma.
Karma is an intelligent and divine force, and contains two aspects: mercy and justice.
Justice
Justice ensures balance is maintained so that violations of the laws are set right. Justice requires reparation (from “repair”), in some form of payment, to balance the scales.
The best form of justice is true repentance, to feel the pain one has caused and learn the lesson with consciousness and love. Without true repentance, the balance is paid in pain and suffering, in the proportion in which it was caused.
Cosmic justice is mirrored in earthly justice, within legislation, law enforcement, criminal justice, issuing judgements, and other legal processes. Payment is usually issued through prison time, fines, community service, or other forms of pain. The earthly law unfortunately rarely offers a path to redemption, so if we break the law that path must be found within ourselves.
Justice taken too far results in tyranny and oppression, eliminating the human right of freedom to flourish and live life. Pure justice can lack nuance and understanding. The price can sometimes be too high, and liberty is obscured while trying to right a wrong.
Mercy
Mercy allows nuance and compassion to modify the terms of justice. Mercy is a crucial component of the Christic doctrine; to turn the other cheek, to sacrifice for others, and to pray for those who cause harm. Mercy engenders forgiveness and unconditional love and compassion.
Mercy taken to the extreme lacks balance and undermines the proper function of laws that maintain cosmic and earthly structures and systems. All mercy and no justice eliminates the opportunity to grow, learn, mature, take responsibility, and be truly free.
Repentance
Mercy and justice are the two pillars of the temple of salvation. Both are necessary for accountability as well as understanding.
Salvation and redemption is possible through repentance, the last and best door available to the one who sins (“misses the mark”). Repentance means to change or renew the mind, to see and feel the consequences of our actions and accept the divine forgiveness.