Pop-Karma

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The constant bandying about of the word 'karma' itself is out of context. Even the most devout Hindus don't use the term so frequently. Granted, Earl is consumed by the concept, but much of his dialogue appears disingenuous given that he has only just heard the word and barely knows its meaning. Just like the Americanization of yoga, "My Name is Earl" could further dilute the religious weight of the Hindu concept of karma and wedge it deeper into the American vernacular. All these are aspects of the series that could potentially irritate Hindus.

That said, "My Name is Earl" has many redeeming factors. For one thing, it isn't malicious or disrespectful about the concept of karma-or Hinduism in general-as compared to, say, Mike Myers' satire on Hindu Gods in a Vanity Fair photo spread, which rightly provoked so much ire from Hindus. Earl is worshipful of the power of karma. He doesn't make any references to Hinduism at all, which is both a good and bad thing: good because he doesn't misrepresent the faith; bad because he takes a core Hindu concept and popularizes it without mentioning its origin.

But there is one compelling reason why Hindus shouldn't rail against this series, and should even applaud it. Earl is attempting to popularize the notion of karma, however imperfectly he grasps the concept, just as Jivamukti, the ultra-chic yoga center in downtown Manhattan, popularized yoga years ago.

If they aren't already, most viewers of "My Name is Earl" will throw around the term karma without the slightest knowledge or interest in its religious and philosophical overtones. But the reason why I am thrilled about this series is because, if the show is successful, it will help securely lodge what is essentially a Hindu concept into the collective unconscious of America. It could provoke coffee-table conversation on the subject; it might on occasion create lively debates about the meaning of the word karma.

The yogis and purists will say that the series got it totally wrong-and in the process they'll educate those who have never heard of the term. Randy, Earl's brother, speaks for this latter group perfectly when he hears the word for the first time. "Who's Karma?" he says. But every once in a while-perhaps after watching the series or listening to Alicia Keys or reading any of those 904 books about karma-some young adult or high-school kid will be inspired to research the topic a bit more; some school-teacher might assign it as the topic for an essay. Some college student might be drawn to it because it finally puts a name on a concept that has resonated in him for a long time. And he might start reading about karma, and therefore Hinduism. Deepak Chopra could write a how-to explaining the concept and spawn a whole series of imitators. In the process of explanation and dissent, some genuine interest in the ideas of Hinduism might arise. And that, in my mind, is a good thing.

If it does go that far, I am sure there will be days when I rue this television series and the fact that it helped made karma a popular concept, like yoga is to Americans. The same is true for all the songs, books, and everything else that references karma. As the book "The Tipping Point" says, nobody can control a trend or fad once it gains momentum. The Americanization of karma might end up in forms that are totally antithetical to its origin, somewhat like yoga in its current state, with Christians engaging in it as a way of connecting to their God. Nothing wrong with that, except that they have wrested yoga from its roots and converted it into something it isn't. Similarly, karma may assume a shape that is no longer palatable or even authentic to its true character. But the good news is that there will be enough Americans to point that out, just as there are enough Americans who know the difference between 'true' yoga and its more fashionable shape.

Of course, there is always the danger that this television series-like many before it-could simply fizzle out and die, in which case all my theories will be proved wrong. But we can blame that, as Earl himself would admit, on the show's bad karma (and here I use it in the concept of retribution and destiny).

And we-none of us-have any control over that.

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