What is karma?

[Purple Gurl]

The Colonial wrote:

Karma is a Buddist term for your fate as directed by yor actions. The end result of the Tao or synchronisity and your attention to it.
Wiccans have the rule of 3.
There is the expression "what goes around comes around".
Christians have the rule if your bad you go to hell if your good you go to heaven. the old God will reward you or punish you.
Same sh*t, different pile!!!!

To true-Christians it is not about doing good or bad, but whether you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. What you suggest is closer to Judaism or some of the Christian fringe denominations.

[Bitt]

Karma is a coincidence weak people use to try to feel better about being complete jackasses. Seldom is Karma justified and the weak wait and then jump on the first thing that happens to say Oh I told you so. God plans it all out not a common man.

[Purple Gurl]

Bitt wrote:

Karma is a coincidence weak people use to try to feel better about being complete jackasses. Seldom is Karma justified and the weak wait and then jump on the first thing that happens to say Oh I told you so. God plans it all out not a common man.

Actually, the thought of karma keeps a lot of people from stupid stuff, "knowing" that whatever is done comes back three-fold. But you are right, it can be misused. Or it can be used as an excuse not to be compassionate.

[back to basics]

every action has a reaction which is equal and opposite

[Phena]

Writing in Paradise wrote:

Karma is a myth.

Maybe it is. But Buddhists do not think so. Infact, it is a central teaching in Buddhism. Kamma (action) is only one part. The other is Vipaka (result). Kamma can be skillful (resulting in pleasant vipaka) or unskilful (resulting in unpleasant vipaka), but very simply it means "you get what you give."

[Writing in Paradise]

back to basics wrote:

every action has a reaction which is equal and opposite

That's not really applicable. If I hit your head with a hammer, the reaction is that I dent your head. That's physics. Karma advocates want me to believe I'll be made to pay for that action, possibly by a hammer to my own head.

[CDMelton]

Writing in Paradise wrote:

<quoted text>
That's not really applicable. If I hit your head with a hammer, the reaction is that I dent your head. That's physics. Karma advocates want me to believe I'll be made to pay for that action, possibly by a hammer to my own head.

You got your own analogy wrong! If you hit a head with a hammer, the reaction is the head resisting the hammer, and possibly the bounce-back. But maybe the poster wasn't referring to Newton's Law so much as simply using the wording to explain karma. I've noticed that mean people tend to be unhappy, and that nice people tend to be happier. I've also noticed that the drunken gambling deadbeat dads of my friends were the ones who died alone and unloved. Simple cause and effect to some, karma to others. Let people have their universal justice if they need it. Karma is one of the few divine punishments that people don't shove down other people's throats. You always hear how you need to change to avoid Hell, but rarely do the Buddhists come try to covert you.

[swimmerboy2112]

Karma is getting back what you gave out if it was good or bad that is regardless.

[Bitner]

Writing in Paradise wrote:

<quoted text>
That's not really applicable. If I hit your head with a hammer, the reaction is that I dent your head. That's physics. Karma advocates want me to believe I'll be made to pay for that action, possibly by a hammer to my own head.

I have yet to see anyone say that Karma means that you will have the very same action performed on you. And I disagree that the 'reaction' is that you dent someone's head. That is the consequence of your action, but can hardly be referred to as a 'reaction'. That will come from outside yourself. Interpret that as you will, since I don't really believe that you are honestly trying to understand, but are merely fishing for things to use to criticize. Sorry, but that is my honest opinion in this situation.

[LadyEagleSpirit]

Writing in Paradise wrote:

<quoted text>
Myth - an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution.
Karma fits that definition.

How do you base this ideaology on what? personal experience?

I am always doing good things for people. At times, I get 'rewarded', at times I don't. Tis the way the circle of life goes.

I do believe in the concept of Karma though. It has been in the Hindu religion for at least 5k years and Jesus taught some of the beliefs of Karma in his teachings.

BTW, I am not Christian, but raised as one. I study NA Shamanism now since my studies have led me there. There are some Christian leanings within Shamanism itself, as well as the leanings of cause annd effect, AKA Karma.

[Writing in Paradise]

Bitner wrote:

<quoted text>
I have yet to see anyone say that Karma means that you will have the very same action performed on you.

Then you haven't looked very hard.

Bitner wrote:

<quoted text>
And I disagree that the 'reaction' is that you dent someone's head. That is the consequence of your action, but can hardly be referred to as a 'reaction'.

Semantics.

Bitner wrote:

<quoted text>
That will come from outside yourself.

It's fine to believe that, but call it what it is. That's a religious belief that has nothing to do with either logic or physics.

Bitner wrote:

<quoted text>
Interpret that as you will, since I don't really believe that you are honestly trying to understand, but are merely fishing for things to use to criticize. Sorry, but that is my honest opinion in this situation.

I imagine you say that to pretty much everyone who still refuses to agree with you even after you repeat your argument for the 5th time.

[Writing in Paradise]

LadyEagleSpirit wrote:

<quoted text>
How do you base this ideaology on what? personal experience?

I base it on the dictionary definition of "myth".

LadyEagleSpirit wrote:

<quoted text>
I do believe in the concept of Karma though. It has been in the Hindu religion for at least 5k years and Jesus taught some of the beliefs of Karma in his teachings.

It doesn't matter how long it's been taught. That doesn't mean it's true.

[Writing in Paradise]

CDMelton wrote:

<quoted text>
Karma is one of the few divine punishments that people don't shove down other people's throats. You always hear how you need to change to avoid Hell, but rarely do the Buddhists come try to covert you.

Tell that to the lower caste Hindus who are taught that their low stations in life are karmic punishments and they should therefore embrace their poverty and suffering.

Karma is every bit an evil teaching as sin.

[Bitner]

Writing in Paradise wrote:

<quoted text>
Then you haven't looked very hard.
<quoted text>
Semantics.
<quoted text>
It's fine to believe that, but call it what it is. That's a religious belief that has nothing to do with either logic or physics.
<quoted text>
I imagine you say that to pretty much everyone who still refuses to agree with you even after you repeat your argument for the 5th time.

Imagine away, that's not why I said it. I said it because that is my opinion. You are not looking for understanding, but ammo.

[sampuna]

LadyEagleSpirit wrote:

<quoted text>
How do you base this ideaology on what? personal experience?
I am always doing good things for people. At times, I get 'rewarded', at times I don't. Tis the way the circle of life goes.
I do believe in the concept of Karma though. It has been in the Hindu religion for at least 5k years and Jesus taught some of the beliefs of Karma in his teachings.
BTW, I am not Christian, but raised as one. I study NA Shamanism now since my studies have led me there. There are some Christian leanings within Shamanism itself, as well as the leanings of cause annd effect, AKA Karma.

Hi, Oki-ni-kso-ko-wa,

i'm a Malaysian & would like to know more about the NA Shamanism's teaching on cause and effect

Is it connected to fate as in theistic religions?

[sampuna]

Writing in Paradise wrote:

<quoted text>
Tell that to the lower caste Hindus who are taught that their low stations in life are karmic punishments and they should therefore embrace their poverty and suffering.
Karma is every bit an evil teaching as sin.

hi there,

the Buddhist concept of kamma is not fatalism

one can change one's life by some skillful means

if the poor work hard enough, then they'll get out of it

there are ample examples to refute the fatalistic view about Kamma

Angulimala, the murderer turned a saint after letting go of his negative traits. If one were to view kamma from a fatalistic view,then there would be no hope for Angulimala.

[meee]

Everybody seems to have alot of anger behind their opinions on these subjects.
How much satisfaction can you possible get from knowing what really is true vs what isn't
Our human nature allows no complete satisfaction with any of these things.

[meee]

A better way to express how I really feel would be
WHOOOOOOO CARRESSSS

Life is going to go on dispite what all of you think about kharma and all these other things.

[sampuna]

meee wrote:

A better way to express how I really feel would be
WHOOOOOOO CARRESSSS
Life is going to go on dispite what all of you think about kharma and all these other things.

that's right :)

put at it this way : Hindus, Buddhists and other Eastern religions see Cause & Effect as Kamma while Abrahamic religions see it as God's will

there're bound to be differences but these theories can somehow reconcile in the fact it teaches about you get what you've sown.

[Bitner]

I thought you guys might like to know that Writing In Paradise passed away night before last. A friend of hers posted on the Top Stories forum for her. There is a tribute thread on that same forum, if anyone would like to contribute.

WIP and I had our agreements, and disagreements (one of them right on this very thread), but I always admired her consistancy and committment. I miss her very much.

Rest, WIP :)