'Karma' is the Law of Cause and Effect, paraphrased in the saying: "what ye sow, ye shall reap." The energy, thought, intention, and feeling we carry within ourselves, as well as the actions we manifest in the Universe, are causes that generate effects in our immediate and even distant surroundings. These effects become part of the world we create. They emanate from us as co-creators of life and are returned to us, for good or for ill, in order to teach us how to maintain our being within a state of love and oneness within the Divine harmonic that is the basis for life.

          In relation to the 'karma of power', there is a well-known adage regarding leadership and rulership that has applied throughout the ages - that "with power comes responsibility." Yet, history is replete with examples of both leaders and nations who have wielded great power and who have not acted responsibly toward those who were within their sphere of influence.

          Power is essentially defined by a 'sphere of influence' - by the circle which surrounds a center and over which that center has a governing effect. This center can distribute goods, money, gifts, teachings, regulations, help, protection, laws, charity, nurturance, or military force. All of these can come from a center of power. The 'sphere of influence ' which surrounds such a center includes those who receive from it and who are governed by its authority, to whatever degree. In relation to parents, the 'sphere of influence' is their children. In relation to teachers, it is their students. In relation to governments, it is the governed. The 'sphere of influence' of a nation is both internal, belonging to the members of that nation, and external, belonging to the globall community. This 'sphere of influence' becomes larger and more active, the more powerful the nation is. It contains not just those who are regulated by the laws of the nation, but also those who are affected in their everyday lives by its policies.

          Power that is based on a 'sphere of influence' where the center - whether it is a parent, a president, a nation, or an empire gives and the circle receives something - such power operates through 'lines of connection' that emanate from the center and radiate outward toward all within the sphere of influence. These lines of connection are based on several things: energy - the feeling-tone or emotional quality of what is transmitted; ideology, in the sense of thought and idea; and action, in the sense of behavior toward those connected with the center. Whether the lines of connection are used for good or ill, whether they emanate light or darkness or a mixture of the two, whether they are treated with awareness or with neglect and indifference, determines the 'karma of power'. For with power comes responsibility to maintain the lines of connection in harmony with the Law of Love. This law seeks the well-being of the whole, not just the well-being of the self. The more influence the center of power has over others' lives, whether economically, legally, educationally, or spiritually, the greater the requirement to maintain the lines of connection in good order and to establish and maintain relationships within the sphere of influence in accordance with Divine intention. This is the Law of Karma, and it is also the law of evolution in which karma will one day be transcended, when all may be held within the Law of Love.

          When there is a significant departure from the Law of Love, when deceit is practiced by those in power, when arrogance, superiority, neglect, violation of individual rights, indifference, or outright cruelty gain ascendance, then the 'karma of power' as it applies to the center of power becomes highly charged, ultimately requiring corrective action of great proportions in order to heal the attitudes that have caused the departure from right use of power, and to bring it into alignment with the Divine harmonic. There are qualifiers around this, however. When power is misused but the intention which guided action has been loving, or when there is a mixture of good motives and bad ones within those occupying positions of leadership, then the karma of power is mitigated by the mixture of motives. For action is only one determinant of the way in which karma operates. Thought and intention are equally important aspects.

          With this in mind, we may look at the 'karma of power' as it applies to nations and surmise, from what has been said, that if and when a nation attains the status of a superpower, the lines of connection that radiate out to the 'sphere of influence' are many and long, and these lines of connection have great potential to affect the lives of millions if not billions of people. Where power is great, so too is responsibility. And where power and responsibility are both great, so too are the karmic effects of motives that endanger, neglect, or create harm within the 'sphere of influence', especially in relation to those who are most vulnerable.

          Where are we, in the United States, with this? Only God knows this for sure. But we, individually, need to look at the attitudes we project, both on the national and on the international scene, and ask: Within the 'sphere of influence' in which the United States has an effect, have we as a government, past and present, and as a people, acted responsibly?

          --- Light Omega ---

Foreign Policy In Focus (FPIF) - A Think Tank Without Walls, offers "Africa Overview", a wide-lens view of U.S. foreign policy toward Africa, as timely today as it was in 1997 when it was written. Though the numbers and names of African nations engaged in civil conflict or genocidal activity has changed, the basic principles for an adequate and hopefully effective U.S. foreign policy are outlined here. http://www.fpif.org/briefs/vol2/v2n26af.html

          The author, William Minter, points to some of the clear problems in U.S. foreign policy that make a difference in the development of nations - the difference between U.S. espoused principle and actual practice, racism as it affects attitudes toward the continent as a whole, the need for more immediate intervention in crisis situations, and the need for assistance in creating sustainable internal resources and infrastructure as a general policy. Minter says, pointedly, in summarizing:

          "The allocation of resources and of policy attention alike will reflect the choice between a neo-Darwinian model of the world divided into winners and losers and a vision of a world community in which the U.S. is a responsible and generous participant. U.S. engagement, not as world policeman or as welfare donor, but simply as a member of the world community with responsibilities proportional to resources,(Italics mine) is required both by moral obligation and national interest."

          In relation to the globalization of our own consciousness, this is an article that shows the ways in which it might happen on a policy level. Before policy can change however, there must be a shift away from the current definition of "national self-interest" to a new definition which allows for inclusion of the "welfare of the whole" into what seems essential to us as a nation.


A related article of some importance: "War in Iraq 'Preventing Efforts to Stop Sudan Genocide'"(July 28, 2004)
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0728-03.htm

Also of interest: BBC's (July 26, 2004) "Sudan: A Limited Intervention?" http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3928093.stm

          Each of the above two articles reflects our current definition of "national self-interest" as it applies to policies that affect a million displaced persons in Sudan and tens of thousands who have already been murdered. It is only when this definition changes that the world will be a place where genocide becomes a thing of the past.

"Spiritualizing Foreign Policy" by Peter Gabel, Tikkun Magazine, May-June, 2003. http://www.tikkun.org/magazine/index.cfm/action/tikkun/issue/tik0305/article/030511a.html

          This is such an excellent, hope-filled article that I recommend it, despite its length, to all who would seek a language of hope in relation to conflict between nations. Even if you only read the first third or half of it, I think you will get something from it. Using terms that have come from the specific context of Gabel's spiritual-psychological-philosophical orientation, the article links closely with what we understand to be the effect of 'darkness' on consciousness, the need for containment of this energy which Gabel terms 'paranoiac fear', through both firmness and love, and the need to remain strong in alignment with what is positive in order to overcome the forces that seek to maintain this fear. The ideals of a loving, passionate, humanism which seeks the recognition of oneness with all souls is abundant in every word that Peter Gabel writes. Even though the article delivers its message primarily on the intellectual level, it reflects the deep penetration of the author into the source of human alienation, and his capacity to find hope in the midst of a history of ongoing war and conflict. (The magazine, "Tikkun", in which this article is published, is also dedicated to the high ideal of the 'redemption' of mankind from the pervasive influence of all that separates us from one another. For those interested, read their "Core Vision.")


Also, from Arab News based in Saudia Arabia, a reporter's voice from Baghdad concerning the present situation in Iraq. While the tone of the message leaves something to be desired, if you can get past the tone, it is what is said about media coverage and public information that is important. (Aug. 2, 2004) http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0802-01.htm