What Is Karma? - Karma Points

What is karma? I believed for many years that karma was a deal where you could never get away with anything--meaning whatever energy you put out, you got back. Is this for real? Or is it just good luck and bad luck? Can karma be measured and weighed by experiences?

These questions were burning me up with curiosity one day so I decided to check out my karmic stash. "How much good stuff do I have on my record?" I wondered, "And if I immediately began putting out extra good vibes, would extra good karma instantly return to me?" I was convinced if I experimented with the intention of only attracting good karma, I would find out something for sure. So one day I began keeping a record of events during my airplane flight to Prescott, Arizona...

February 3, 2000, age 35

Karma Points

The day began perfectly. I ended up with one of the last of 10 parking spaces at the airport. I was fortunate enough to sit in two airplane seats on an almost full flight for nearly three hours. I smiled at everyone. Most folks smiled back. I was extra polite and courteous. Most folks were extra polite and courteous back. The airport food was tasty. My flights were quiet and my bags arrived safely.

The day was so pure and positive that I was beginning to think there was something to my instant karmic return theory. So after two flight changes and a day's travel, I was dropped off by a transport van at a very dark bus station on the edge of town.

"Excuse me, sir. But when I made my reservation, I was told that you would drop me off at my hotel." The gruff driver replied, "I don't know who told you that. This is where we drop off. You can use that pay phone over there to call a cab." And with that, he plopped my baggage on the sidewalk and walked off.

As the transport van drove away, I stared at the dimly lit pay phone. The bus station was dark because it was closed. There was no sign of anyone. I was alone, with three big bags sitting at my feet. "What the hell kind of karma is this?" I fumed. I was so mad that I kicked my bags and then proceeded to pile them on top of the biggest one with wheels.

Huffing and puffing, I pulled the three bags over gravel, curbs and grass, heading in the direction I thought town might be. Traffic was heavy and whizzing by me closely since I often had to walk in the road for lack of a walking path. Sometimes my bags toppled over so I cursed and threw them back together, continuing on. My frustration gave me strength to keep going on this unknown trek.

Within 5 blocks of the bus station, a beat up, blue pick-up truck drove in front of me. It turned into a side street, made a quick u-turn and stopped right at my feet. "You shouldn't be carrying those heavy bags. Want a ride?"