Whenever there are major catastrophes, it is the result of
collective karma. As I explained in the other thread,
However, it is possible that a group of people, committing
the same deeds, plant the same kind of seeds, and as a result
create what we call collective karma.
That means, in each individual 8th consciousness mindstream,
through the same sort of actions they performed together, they each
form the same kind of imprints in their 8th consciousness. As a
result, some time in the future when conditions are ripen, they
will 'collectively' ripen together.
Perhaps others can fill you with a better understanding and more
examples.
Karma is one part of the conditionings. There are 4 other
conditionings, and when these conditionings (particularly Utu
Niyama or the physical inorganic order and tectonic plate movements
due to movement of magma) + karma meet, the death and destruction
occurs. Total are five types of conditionings, the 5 Niyamas.
http://www.kmspks.org/activities/bbc/bbc7.htm
The Five Niyamas
- The 5 Cosmic
Orders
According to the Buddhism there are five orders
or processes (Niyamas) which operate in the physical and mental
realm.
They are :
1. Utu Niyama, physical inorganic
order;
Examples : Seasonal phenomena of winds and rains, the
unerring order of
seasons, characteristic seasonal changes and events, causes
of
winds and rains, nature of heat, etc. belong to this
group.
2.
Bija Niyama, order of germs and seeds
(physical organic order);
Examples : Rice produced from seed, sugary taste from
sugar-cane or honey,
and peculiar characteristics of certain fruits. The scientific
theory of
cells and genes and the similarity of twins may be ascribed to
this
order.
3.
Kamma Niyama, order of an act and
result;
Examples : Desirable and undesirable acts produce
corresponding good and
bad results.
4.
Dhamma Niyama, order of the
norm;
Examples : The natural phenomena occurring at the birth of a
Bodhisatta in his
last birth. Gravitation and other similar laws of nature, the
reason
for being good, etc. may be included in this group.
5.
Citta Niyama, order of mind and psychic
law;
Examples : Processes of consciousness, constituents of
consciousness, power
of mind, including telepathy, telesthesia,
retro-cognition,
premonition, clairvoyance, clair-audience, thought-reading,
and
such other psychic phenomena, which are inexplicable to
modern
science.