In Eastern spiritual and karmic beliefs, one’s fate is not solely determined by individual actions but also influenced by the collective karma of their ancestral lineage. Many people struggle to understand why they encounter obstacles in their careers, health, and emotional well-being despite their best efforts. The root cause may lie in the “negative karma” passed down from their ancestors.
1. Illegally Acquiring Property and Land
When ancestors use their power, manipulation, or deceit to seize others’ land, homes, or possessions, it is not only a legal violation but also a transgression of moral principles. This type of karma is considered extremely heavy as it deprives others of their livelihood and hard work.
Consequences: Descendants may face business struggles, frequent lawsuits, unexpected bankruptcy, or legal hurdles, even if they lead honest lives themselves.
2. Accumulating Wealth by Harming Others
Engaging in activities such as selling counterfeit goods, tainted food, or low-quality medicines, or participating in unethical business practices directly harms the health and lives of others. If ancestors built their wealth through these means, the money is considered “toxic”—bringing short-term prosperity but long-term misfortune.
Consequences: Descendants may experience mysterious illnesses, unstable careers, depletion of wealth, or even face legal battles, imprisonment, and ruin unless they recognize and transform this karma.
3. Disturbing Ancestral Graves and Disrupting Spiritual Energy
Ancestral graves are repositories of a family’s spiritual energy. Past disturbances of others’ graves, theft of burial items, improper burial according to feng shui principles, or disruption of spiritual energy lines are considered grave spiritual taboos.
Consequences: Descendants may experience disruptions in their careers, family separations, illnesses, or shortened lifespans. Unusual phenomena such as prolonged nightmares, sleep paralysis, and anxiety may also be linked to this grave-related karma.
4. Killing and Creating Bloody Karma
Ancestors who worked as butchers, hunters, or fishermen practicing overfishing, or those who participated in wars and caused the deaths of many, are believed to have accumulated heavy killing karma. Unliberated souls or lingering resentful energies can create multi-generational karmic connections.
Consequences: Descendants may struggle with infertility, weak offspring, frequent illnesses, or unusual ailments. They may also experience disharmony, divorce, or be affected by spiritual disturbances.
5. Framing and Harming the Innocent
If ancestors abused their power and positions to falsely accuse and harm innocent people, causing them to lose their honor, wealth, or even their lives, this creates a significant “destruction of merit.” Even if descendants are talented and educated, they may struggle to advance if this karma remains unresolved.
Consequences: Their career paths may be hindered by petty people, backstabbing, and a lack of opportunities. They may lead lonely lives filled with psychological and financial struggles.
How to Resolve Ancestral Karma?
No matter how heavy the karma, it can be transformed if descendants choose a virtuous path and actively accumulate merit. Some spiritual and ethical practices that can help transform karmic energies include:
- Properly caring for ancestral graves, ensuring they are built according to feng shui principles, and avoiding abandoned or improperly constructed graves.
- Conducting ancestral worship rituals and expressing gratitude and respect for one’s lineage.
- Leading an ethical life, refraining from unethical business practices, harming others, and excessive killing.
- Engaging in charitable acts, helping the less fortunate, and providing aid during disasters—these actions accumulate merit for oneself and one’s family.
- Performing spiritual rituals to liberate ancestral souls and recite sutras to alleviate their suffering if one suspects heavy karmic burdens from the spiritual realm or experiences prolonged unusual phenomena.
Virtue Is the Most Precious Legacy
An individual’s fortune or misfortune is not solely determined by their actions but also by the ethical foundation laid by their ancestors. If ancestors created merit, descendants benefit from a solid foundation. However, if negative karma was generated, recognizing and transforming it is essential.
As the ancient sages taught:
“To understand your past life’s karma, look at your current life’s results.
To understand your future life’s results, look at your current life’s actions.”
The information in this article is based on Eastern spiritual beliefs and is intended for reflection and contemplation.
