At the conclusion of this important chapter, let us repeat that Karma—divine Will in action—is Love as well as justice, Wisdom as well as Power, and no one ought to dread it. If at times it uses us roughly and always brings us back to the strait way when folly leads us astray, it is only measuring its strength against our weakness, its delicate scales balance the load according to our strength, and when, in times of great anguish or terrible crisis, man is on the point of giving way, it suddenly lifts the weight, leaves the soul a moment's respite, and only when it has recovered breath is the burden replaced. The righteous Will of God is always upon us, filling our hearts with its might; His Love is ever about us, enabling us to grow and expand, even through the suffering he sends, for it is ourselves who have created this suffering.
FOOTNOTES:
[10] Fortunately, this is a fact only in the imagination of those who are blinded by faith.
[11] Before men had sinned individually on earth.
[12] De corruptione et gratia, chap. 7, No. 19; Cont. Jul. Pelag., Book 4, chap. 3, No. 16, et De Peccat. merit. et remiss., Book 3, chap. 4, No. 7.
[13] "Omnes illae unus homo fuerunt." De Peccat. merit. et remiss., Book 1, chap. 10, No. 11.
Theologians pass over St. Augustine's adoption of this theory, giving one to understand that he abandoned his error shortly before his death. (Dictionnaire de Théol., by Abbé Berger; volume viii., article x., "Traduciens.")
[14] See also, on this subject, his letter to Sixtus, before the latter became Pope. Chap. vii., No. 31, and chap. vi., No. 27.
[15] The movements of "creation" and "absorption," which are called in Hindu symbolism the outbreathing and the inbreathing of Brahmâ.
[16] Creation.