Blavatsky Blogger
Taking Theosophical
ideas
into the 21st
century
Is
Jesus indicating the Law of Karma?
As he went along, he saw a man
blind from birth. His disciples asked
him “Rabbi, who sinned, this man
or his parents that he was born blind?
“Nether this man
nor his parents”
said Jesus “but this happened so that
the work of God might be displayed
in his life.
From
John’s Gospel Chapter 9 verses 1 -3
Posted
It is interesting that the
disciples already have the idea that in being born blind, this man is paying
for something that may not be of his own doing .
Without the concept of reincarnation, the sins of the parent are a possible
explanation which does introduce a vague concept of family Karma.
Later, after the blind man
speaks in support of Jesus, the Pharisees insult him and throw him man of the
synagogue saying
“You were steeped in sin
at birth; how dare you lecture us!” (John chapter 9 verse 34)
The idea of the man’s blindness as a punishment is expressed
again here.
Jesus takes the concept beyond both physical life and the idea
of retribution. The term “work of God” introduces a law or system transcending
our everyday understanding of reward and punishment or cause and effect but
leaves open the possibility that blindness at birth is a payment for something.
The term “work of God” could also refer to the choice of the circumstances
of rebirth made by the reincarnating ego before coming back into incarnation.
The phrase “might be
displayed in his life” suggests that at a subtle level we are all aware of the
law of cause and effect passed from life to life.
It should be noted that
the first concern of the disciples is that Jesus provide an explanation for
this man’s blindness from birth.
Later on, Jesus says to
the Pharisees
“If you were blind, you
would not be guilty of sin, but now that you claim you can see, your guilt
remains” (John chapter 9 verse 41)
This statement functions
at many levels and refers mainly to the arrogance and hypocrisy of the
Pharisees but can be said to indicate the idea that the man’s blindness was a
form of atonement.
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