and reincarnation.
Given the foregoing statement of the focus of this study, it can be noted that its general purpose can be characterized as an effort to answer the some basic research questions concerning karma and reincarnation. These research questions are:
1. What is karmic law and why does it exist?
2. What is the process of reincarnation and what is its connection to karmic law?
3. In what ways can an understanding of karma and reincarnation be used to improve the quality of one's current life?
The review of literature presented here describes and discusses the processes and purposes of reincarnation and karma. Relationships between the two phenomena are delineated. The review itself is meant to serve as a conceptual foundation for the applied focus that is presented in the fourth chapter of the research.
Specifically, the fourth chapter of the study will delineate several ways in which knowledge of karma and reincarnation can assist people in meeting their current life challenges. It is contended here that this second chapter's review of the pertinent literature will provide the context in which to fully understand these applications of karmic and reincarnation principles and processes.
Sharma (1991) refers to this basic belief in karma and reincarnation as the hallmark of Hinduism and states that, simply put, karmic law is a spiritual principle dictating that the thoughts and attitudes we hold as well as the actions we take all have specific consequences which we will face in either this life or in a next. Gokhale (1988) reports that karmic doctrine can be said to have two basic assumptions. These are:
(1) Whatever a person does, he or she must realize its effects; and therefore
(2) Whatever happens to a person must be the consequences of his/her own actions.
An excellent example of karmic law is provided by the Edgar Cayce "life readings," in which he explains to people how the...