A Dude’s Guide

I don’t believe in karma. Never have. Probably never will. Especially the kind of karma about which John Lennon wrote in 1970; “Instant karma’s gonna get ya.” As I understand karma, it’s something that operates over multiple lifetimes because of reincarnation. However, most Americans, in these days of instant gratification as the only kind of gratification, see karma as something that happens with literal cause and effect in a very short period of time.

In the Hindu religion (and please pardon me if I get this wrong as I’m paraphrasing), karma means act or action. And it is the action you perform that leads to the effect of what happens to you in your next life. Humans, according to this religion, have free will and can choose what will or won’t happen to them. They can choose their cause, which will, in turn, choose the effect.

That being said, however, after talking with my little dudes, I think I’m going to have to change my stance. Sort of. I’m not saying I’ll believe in karma, but I think a little of the thinking behind it is probably a good idea. While I don’t think you should expect good things to happen to you if you do a good deed, I think if you have an open mind to this sort of thing, and look for good things (be they beautiful sights, people being nice or whatever) you’re more likely to find it.

I call it the Odyssey effect. It used to be that I hardly ever saw a Honda Odyssey mini-van. However, now that I have one, I see these mini-vans everywhere I go and every day I drive. It’s as if having one has preconditioned my mind to see them. That’s the sort of karma-lite version I’ll be pushing. I don’t think you can change the actual number of good things that happen to you, but — if you’re on the lookout for them — I think you’ll be more likely to find them.

See, I’ve been told that I can be a somewhat, um, negative person. And I’ll cop to that, but I’m trying to change. If only so my little dudes can have a more pleasant outlook on life.

Man, being nice and sunny isn’t easy. It’s much easier to snarl and expect the worst. But, as JFK said, “We do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”

– Richard

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