They call it: "Karma." And the dictionary defines karma as: "The force generated by a person's actions…and its ethical consequences." Friends emailed what they dub the "12 laws of karma." Here they are:

Law One - "As you sow, so shall you reap." That's straight from the Bible of course. And majority of "karma" edits are scripture based. But Law One is not just about cause and effect. This "Great Law" embodies reciprocity.

"Our attitudes and actions impact the universe about us. A pebble cast into a still pond causes ever expanding ripples. In time, our actions come back to us."

Law Two is also known as the "Law of Creation." You attract what you are, not what you want. What you surround yourself with declares who you are. They attract to you those of like disposition. One must actually begin to BE, if one would ultimately BECOME in our journey through life.

Law Three - What you resist, persists for you. This is the "Law of Humility. You want to know what someone is inside? Observe those things and persons to which or to whom he objects. This speaks volumes about his heart. If everyone who differs with us is viewed as "the enemy," then we are in a persistent state of enmity because of those whom we wrongfully resist.

Law Four - Wherever you go, there you are. This is known as the "Law of Growth." Wherever you may flee to, to escape some problem, is pointless if the problem is you.

Wherever you go, YOU will still be there. Human nature suggests that we change everything and everyone around us. This law of Karma suggests we change ourselves.

Law Five - is also known as the "Law of Mirrors." It states: Whenever there is something wrong, there is something wrong in me. Simply stated, we must take full responsibility for our lives, both the good and the bad. It is easy to blame others. But to determine where the real blame lies may require us to look intently into a mirror.

Law Six - Whatever you do may be insignificant; but it is still important that you do it.

Everything in the universe is connected. Thus, no act is insignificant. What we perceive as inconsequential, may actually, in the grander scheme of things, be extremely vital.

Thus, we must learn personal discipline and humility and fulfill our individual tasks in life with a sense of purpose even pride. We matter. No one is insignificant. That's why this is also known as the "Law of Ultimate Connection."

Law Seven - You can't think of two things at the same time. This "Law of Focus" is also referred to as the "Law of Direction and Motives." We must possess a singleness of purpose, if we would achieve enlightenment. "Double-mindedness" results in hidden agendas and tawdry motives. Set your minds on things above, Saint Paul said. .

Law Eight - If you believe something is true, then demonstrate that truth. This is the "Law of Willingness." We must invest ourselves in service to that in which we affirm belief. A life lived apart from demonstration of our convictions is a LIE. "I will show you my faith by my works," Saint James wrote. In other words, he was willing to demonstrate.

Law Nine - You can't go home again, but you must try. This is the "Law of Here and Now." One cannot relive the past, although one can learn from it. "Revisit" the past to learn but never "return" there to dwelling therein.

The "what IS" will suffer if we're fixated in the "what WAS." And we'll will never move forward into the "what CAN BE. Dwelling on old dreams prevents you from having new ones! If one lives in the past, one forfeits the future!

Law Ten - The more things change, the more they stay the same in the "Law of Change." History will continue to repeat itself. The cycle of rebirths will not end, until we make the necessary changes that will liberate us. The change that occurs all around us will not alter our "karma." It is the change that occurs within us that will ultimately make the difference in realizing our ultimate destiny.

Law Eleven - When you focus on your life, good things happen. This is known as the "Law of Patience and Reward." Anything that is good, worth having and of lasting value, requires patient, persistent effort shaped proper perspective and right priorities.

Those who focus only on rewards, come up short. Focus only on the rewards, and you may end up losing life itself. Those who focus live according to spiritual priorities, will experience the rewards of such living in due time. Focus your life, and you will be rewarded.

Law Twelve - What you put in, you get back. This is the "Law of Value and Upliftment;" also known as the "Law of Significance and Inspiration." Your contribution bring about results.

If you contribute something positive, expect a positive return. The opposite is equally true. "Garbage in, garbage out" is the computer-age axiom for evil return for evil. Cause and Effect. Karma! Reciprocity! What you put in, you get back!

Karma's fancy "laws" really dress up a simple valid yardstick. "Give and it shall be given to you, good measure, pressed down and flowing over," the Master taught on a Galilean seashore, two millennia ago. "For the measure that you will give will be measure you will receive"

(E-mail: juan_mercado@boholchronicle.com)