Jim's Car Karma

This clip was from Harold Klemp’s 2004 talk “The Law of Returns.” For more inspiring stories and information on other spiritual topics, please visit www.EckankarBlo... or
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“Jim,” whose story is next, said he tried to joke with someone about “car-ma” afterward, but it wasn’t the time or place. Because there was a spiritual lesson involved.
This story illustrates Maybury’s second law: “Do not encroach on other persons or their property.”
Jim was just having one of those days. Work was stressful. The drive home during rush hour was just impossible. Then there was shopping. Shopping really got him.
When he got home, he had to find a parking spot on the street. Cars were parked along the whole street. He and his wife had grocery bags to carry, so they wanted to park close. Finally they saw one spot between a minivan and a car. A small spot.
Jim started working his vehicle into the spot, grumbling every inch of the way. His wife had to listen to this, thinking, “Pretty soon I’ll be in the house, working on dinner. It’ll be more pleasant.”
Jim wiggled his way in, inching back and forth, and he bumped the minivan in front of him. He got out and looked at it. There was a little ding in the bumper.
Jim had enough spiritual knowledge, as well as knowledge about how things work out here. He knew he should have left a note with his name and number under a windshield wiper of the minivan. But it had been such a day. “We really don’t have the money now,” he said. “God only knows how much this is going to cost. I think I’ll just take the groceries in. I can’t handle any more today.”
Jim helped his wife in with the groceries. They went upstairs and started making dinner. He was trying his best to be of some use, but his conscience was troubling him. It wouldn’t give him any rest. Finally he told his wife, “I’ve got to do the right thing. I’ve got to go down there and leave a note.”
So he went downstairs to where his car was parked, and the minivan was gone. Jim thought, “Maybe this is a free ride.” But he knew it wasn’t. The Law of Returns gives no free rides. There’s always paying back at some point or another, either here or hereafter.
It’s Very Hard to Beat Karma
A few days later, Jim was driving, and a humming sound began coming from his front wheel. Soon it turned into a squeal and got so bad it sounded like the wheel was going to come off. He felt he was lucky to get home. He took the car to a mechanic in the neighborhood. The mechanic said, “It’s going to cost you $170, and we can have it for you tomorrow night.”
Jim could get by one day without a car. His wife could help him, or he’d find some way to get to work.
The next day, Jim went in to pick up his car. The chief mechanic, a very peaceful-looking man, went back into the office and started tallying up the separate items on Jim’s bill.
While he waited, Jim noticed pictures on the wall behind the chief mechanic. The pictures were of Buddhist lamas and other holy men and deities.
He commented on them, just to make conversation while the mechanic was working.
The mechanic said, “Do you meditate?”
Jim wanted to say something about Eckankar, but before he could, the mechanic enthusiastically said, “Meditation is so important. Whatever your beliefs, meditation is the only way to enlightenment. I hope you and I will achieve enlightenment.”
Jim got ready again to say something about Eckankar, but then the chief mechanic went on. “Karma is very hard. I try to stay in the center, but sometimes I sway to the left or the right. It’s very hard to beat karma.”