Roshi was sick last week and thanked the group for their patience while he recovered.  Apparently, his kids went off to camp where they picked up all kinds of “strange” viruses.  At this point, the doctors have pretty much given up on preventing kids from getting sick when they go off to group events like camp.  Even this week Roshi was not 100%, however he was happy to be back.

Two weeks ago, Roshi discussed a koan which asked, “Does a Buddha (e.g. an enlightened being) still suffer and live in Samsara?”  It is an interesting question, and our first reaction may be NO because our current concept of karma is way too small!  We tend to think about karma as only being about the cause and effect in our lives.  However, Roshi reminded us that karma is beyond time and space and what we can conceive of in our personal “reality”.  At the end of the talk two weeks ago, Roshi noted that each of us are the result of karma and all of our challenges are simply karma manifesting.  Roshi reminded us of that … “Your karma is not your fault, but it is your responsibility!”

This week Roshi wanted to continue talking on this topic.  Some people may think all of this discussion on karma is overly negative.  It would be a mistake, however, not to recognize the full spectrum of karma.  For instance, it should be noted that everyone in the group who attended our session today was in relatively good health.  This good health is also karma.  Everyone in the room is conscious, compassionate, and relatively comfortable in their living situation – this too is karma.  If you look at all the positives in life, we can conclude that they exceed the negative aspects in our life.  The capacity for us to enjoy life is also a product of karma.  Roshi reminded us not to lose perspective – karma is not just all the negative stuff!

Roshi then mentioned the writings of Bruce Lipton who is a well-known biologist.  For a long time, it was thought illness was either biological or environmental.  A biological cause of illness could be something like genetics, which we have little control over.  On the other hand, environmental causes such as upbringing, diet, and activity level are much more under our control.    Dr. Lipton led research which concluded that this was not entirely the case.  His thesis was that whatever picture we hold in our mind, the brain is to translates into complementary chemistry in the body.  In other words, there is a chemistry for anger, love, fear, etc.  When you are experiencing these things, the brain triggers a release of specific chemicals into the body.  Thinking of it this way, we creating our own biological reality based on what we are experiencing?  So perhaps biology is not totally deterministic after all.  This is the idea of epigenetics – namely we are not a complete victim of our biology or genetics.  

Roshi noted that our genetic makeup is a part of our “karmic package”, but it is not our entire package.  We have also been granted consciousness, wisdom, and diligence.  These talents properly applied may be able to change our biological situation like Dr. Lipton suggests.  Science may call this epigenetics – Roshi called it practice!  Roshi noted that anyone can learn to meditate, however 99% of the population does not.  We should realize how lucky we are to have been exposed to this timeless wisdom.  This too is karma.  What greater gift could there be?  Even with all our challenges, we have the dharma and the eight-fold path.  Think about it. You can sit on a cushion and change your genetics and biology!  How wonderful.  We can become that thing which we want to become.  See, karma is not so bad after all!