One of the first basic concepts you come into contact with in the world of spiritual training is karma. You’re directed to become aware of the fruits of your actions and then become responsible for their cause, understanding that you yourself will experience the effect.

This is a very powerful teaching. If honestly approached and dealt with, it gives rise to a very high level of attention; you begin to notice that the fabric of your behavior, the fabric of your consciousness is a very complex weave that is constantly going up and down in the frequency of its vibration.

Over the course of an hour we can experience the most sublime thoughts of kinship, friendship, kindness, generosity, and yet on the other side of the coin give rise to acts of jealousy, greed, envy, and anger. Every day we go up and down this mountain countless times.

If this is done unconsciously, we become enslaved to an underlying force of spiritual cause which is the anchor of all suffering—ignorance of our true Self, our true identity.