Change Your Karma, Transform Your Life

In 2005, I saw the film White Rainbow at the Sedona Film Festival. It was a fictional account of four remarkable women and their struggle to overcome the stigma and brutal reality of widowhood in modern India . In the story, the protagonist, Priya, is an educated, affluent woman who is tragically widowed, and she seeks solace in Vrindavan, the “city of widows.”

Vrindavan is home to sacred Indian temples, being the birthplace of the Indian deity Krishna. Hidden behind the veil of holiness, there is immense suffering and poverty for the widows. The film portrays the corruption and exploitation of pseudo-religious practices, exposing how the widows are forced to give up their small pensions (and sexual favors) to appear as devoted Hindu practitioners for gullible Western tourists.

When Priya begins to encourage the women to start thinking and stop crying, the oppressed widows insist it is their karma to suffer such a fate. However, the heroic Priya shines light on the truth: It was her destiny to arrive in Vrindavan and change their karma. Together the women overcome adversity to gain a sense of dignity and well-being.

Along with the deep compassion the film evoked, I wondered how often we passively accept our condition and do nothing to change it. As Westerners, we may not think in terms of karma the way that Easterners are conditioned to do, but we often repeat the same habits of speech and action. This is what creates our day-to-day karma – our habits and our willingness or resistance to change.

No matter how many detours we take or how lost we have become, we can correct course and can tap into a great Source of Well-Being and Luminosity and change our lives and the lives of those around us. Remember that all people hunger to have others recognize their worth and value – their innate goodness. When this occurs in a holistic and healthy way, we grow and evolve together.

We each have a mission to “Pass It On,” and that is what creates our greatest joy and unites us. Each time we choose to pass on our best – a smile, a sincere word of encouragement, helping someone reach for a better thought – we are fulfilling our destiny. My wish is that our connection – in person, or through something I have written, will inspire you to reach out and share your strength, courage and wisdom with others.

I welcome your comments and input about your experiences with our staff and programs. In closing, I pray that you continue your educational odyssey with vitality, inspiration and love in your heart.

Ellen Laura