making of the universe: man self-created

2/01/18

“It will be seen that the study of karma is one of much complexity; however, by grasping the main principles of its working as set out above, a coherent idea of its general bearing may be obtained without much difficulty, and its details can be studied at leisure as opportunity offers.

Above all, let it never be forgotten, whether details are understood or not, that each man makes his own karma, creating alike his own capacities and his own limitations; and that working at any time with these self-created capacities, and within these self-created limitations, he is still himself, the living soul, and can strengthen or weaken his capacities, enlarge or contract his limitations.

The chains that bind him are of his own forging, and he can file them away or rivet them more strongly; the house he lives in is of his own building, and he can improve it, let it deteriorate, or rebuild it, as he will.

We are ever working in plastic clay and can shape it to our fancy, but the clay hardens and becomes as iron, retaining the shape we gave it.

A proverb from the Hitopadesha runs, as translated by Sir Edwin Arnold:

“Look! the clay dries into iron, but the potter molds the clay; Destiny today is master – Man was master yesterday.”
Thus we are all masters of our tomorrows, however much we are hampered today by the results of our yesterdays.”

 

Annie Besant