Karma: The Universal Law of Cause and Effect

Taro: Jenn, why am I wearing this yoke of death?

Jenn: I can't have you chewing on your tail. You wouldn't stop when I told you to, and now the only option I have is to put the collar on you.

Taro: I can't breathe. I can't breathe! This is your fault! I'm dying!

Jenn: I think someone needs a lesson in Karma.

Taro: Who, me? What's Karma? Help me. I’m fading fast!

Jenn: Well, very simply said, Karma is action and the consequences of that action. But there are ways to avert or alleviate the consequences of the actions you take. Nothing you do, say, or think goes to waste.

Taro: Get this clown collar off of me!

Jenn: You haven't learned the lesson yet. Just be still for a little while longer. Look, Karma isn't a good thing or a bad thing. It just is. Just because you're wearing a collar doesn't imply you've created bad Karma for yourself.

Taro: Well, it sure feels that way, you big human bully.

Jenn: This isn't something that has happened TO you. That's wrong thinking Karma. But living at false cause will always support the belief that you are at the effect of others. That's limited thinking because your actions are not about other people.

Taro: What's "false cause?" And hurry because I'm feeling faint.

Jenn: It's simple. When you assign reasons to justify your actions, you're not taking personal responsibility. You've given the responsibility over to the reasons why something is. That's living at false cause. It's just another way of thinking of Karma. There's always something to learn from this.

Taro: Like, what do you mean? And make it snappy. I'm down to 50% breathing capacity for sure now.

Jenn: There's a pattern in your history. You chew on your tail, the cone comes out. That is the consistent consequence of your tail chewing action. So, Karma. And you live at false cause when you give reasons for why you chew your tail - you're bored, you’re taunting me, the day is hot, you’re hungry. Who knows? But always the cone eventually comes out and now you're blaming me.

Taro: That's right . . . so what's the problem? It’s fun to blame you.

Jenn: Well, dropping those reasons why you're tail chewing - knowing you're going to get the same result by way of the cone, anyway - will give you way more power and much less time spent under the cone. Learn the lesson. Be responsible and stop blaming external circumstances as the consequences of your actions. Because . . . and here’s a hint . . . if you stopped blaming, your consequences would change.

Taro: In other words, change the narrative and drop the blame.

Jenn: What a great start. So what would you like to say?

Taro: I have an itchy on my tail. Can we go see Dr. O so he can give me a shot?

Jenn: We can go right now.

Taro: And will you take this cone of death off of me so I can get blood flow again?

Jenn: My big drama king. Of course. Come over here, and I'll give you scratches under your chin, too, as an added benefit of a lesson well learned. How’s that for Karma?