Emerson's Compensation and Karma

 ''Every act rewards itself, or, in other words, integrates itself, in a twofold manner; first, in the thing, or in real nature; and secondly, in the circumstance, or in apparent nature. Men call the circumstance the retribution. The causal retribution is in the thing, and is seen by the soul. The retribution in the circumstance is seen by the understanding; it is inseparable from the thing, but is often spread over a long time, and so does not become distinct until after many years. The specific stripes may follow late after the offence, but they follow because they accompany it. Crime and punishment grow out of one stem. Punishment is a fruit that unsuspected ripens within the flower of the pleasure which concealed it. Cause and effect, means and ends, seed and fruit, cannot be severed; for the effect already blooms in the cause, the end preexists in the means, the fruit in the seed.'' 
- Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essay: Compensation (1841)


The Law of Compensation is a simple, basic law of life. Some describe it as “the great law.” The enlightened ones call it the law of karma. Science calls it the law of cause and effect or the law of action and reaction. Ralph Waldo Emerson called it the law of compensation (Synonyms: recompense, payment, amends, reparation; requital, satisfaction, indemnification.)

When God talks about it, He explains it as the principle of sowing and reaping, giving and receiving, and doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

If you can grasp this concept and absolutely believe it to be true, it will revolutionize your life from top to bottom, turn your day-to-day conduct inside out, and you will be so transformed that your closest friends and family will hardly know you. BUT it is difficult to believe, for it takes FAITH to a certainty.

Emerson’s theory of “Compensation” closely aligns with the eastern concept of “karma”, although he developed his idea independently - See more at: http://www.originsofwisdom.com/emerson-karma/#sthash.HNhUG0Bh.dpuf

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a leader in what was known as the “transcendentalist” movement in America in the mid 19th century.
He wrote dozens and dozens of influential essays and gave hundreds of public speeches.
For this reason, he is studied by most high school English students, to this day.
What did Emerson speak about?
He had many theories. But one interesting one, which  few students know about, is his theory of “Automatic Moral Compensation”, which very closely resembles the eastern theory of karma.
This quote, from his essay titled, simply, “Compensation”, illustrates what he saw perfectly:
- See more at: http://www.originsofwisdom.com/emerson-karma/#sthash.HNhUG0Bh.dpuf

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a leader in what was known as the “transcendentalist” movement in America in the mid 19th century.
He wrote dozens and dozens of influential essays and gave hundreds of public speeches.
For this reason, he is studied by most high school English students, to this day.
What did Emerson speak about?
He had many theories. But one interesting one, which  few students know about, is his theory of “Automatic Moral Compensation”, which very closely resembles the eastern theory of karma.
This quote, from his essay titled, simply, “Compensation”, illustrates what he saw perfectly:
- See more at: http://www.originsofwisdom.com/emerson-karma/#sthash.HNhUG0Bh.dpuf

“Every act rewards itself, or, in other words, integrates itself, in a twofold manner; first, in the thing, or in real nature; and secondly, in the circumstance, or in apparent nature. Men call the circumstance the retribution.
The causal retribution is in the thing, and is seen by the soul. The retribution in the circumstance is seen by the understanding; it is inseparable from the thing, but is often spread over a long time, and so does not become distinct until after many years.
The specific stripes may follow late after the offence, but they follow because they accompany it. Crime and punishment grow out of one stem. Punishment is a fruit that unsuspected ripens within the flower of the pleasure which concealed it.
Cause and effect, means and ends, seed and fruit, cannot be severed; for the effect already blooms in the cause, the end preexists in the means, the fruit in the seed.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- See more at: http://www.originsofwisdom.com/emerson-karma/#sthash.HNhUG0Bh.dpuf