An African Critique of Mankind

The Making of Mankind

The Making of Mankind

I'm a Vodun Child

When I stand next to a mountain, I can chop it down with the edge of my hand.  Pick up the pieces and make an island...might even raise a little sand.  I'm a Vodun child.  I did not mean to take all your sweet time.  I'll give it back to you one of these days.  If I don't meet you within this world, I'll see you in the next one...don't be late.  I'm a Vodun child.

Karma and Dharma

Karma simply put means "action."  It is not to be confused with "fate" because people act upon their own "free" will.  Karma is the totality of our actions and their concomitant reactions in this and previous lives.  All of which determines our future.  However, there is a law of karma.  That laws states that either we create a positive karma, a negative karma, or neutral karma.  When neutral karma is practiced, no debt is accrued.  Consequently, enlightenment is obtained, or more appropriately termed "moksha."  On the one hand, when negative karma is practiced, the consequence is suffering.  Suffering in this lifetime, or a future lifetime.  On the other hand, when positive karma is practiced, it produces happiness or "sukka."  In order for us to understand, innerstand, and overstand what negative karma is, we must know what is dharma.  Dharma basically means "duty."  As duty should be dictated by what creates contentment in your life.  It is imperative that all seven chakra minds be at a state of contentment.  We should not perform actions in order to obtain contentment.  That is a by-product of an action that we perform without any expectations.  In other words, we do it simply because it is something that we do, just like breathing.  For example, if I am standing at a roadside, and there stands with me an old lady who obviously needs help, I simply give her a hand to help her across the street.  If, however, in my mind I think or feel I am doing something positive, I am creating a cause for rebirth.  If I ignore her, I am creating negative karma because I ignored her.  On the contrary, if I take her across the street without thinking anything about it (positive or negative), though it is the right thing to do, I am creating neutral karma, which takes one to enlightenment (moksha).