Karma

[Silver]

Lets say someone does something out of the blue and their actions have negative consequences. Will this person receive karma and will the karma be a noticable change in their lives? Or perhaps you don't think karma exists?

Silver :rainbow1:

 

[Riverwolf]

Lets say someone does something out of the blue and their actions have negative consequences. Will this person receive karma and will the karma be a noticable change in their lives? Or perhaps you don't think karma exists?

Silver :rainbow1:

Doesn't the natural existence of negative consequences indicate that karma has taken effect?

The law of karma exists; it's literally the law of cause and effect; they are the same thing. The word "karma" literally translates to "action", and includes the effect of that action in its implication. What's in question is whether or not it carries over from life to life, and whether or not it has other metaphysical properties.

 

[Silver]

Is everything karma, or are there other things as well? What are the other things? (Because everything seems to be cause and effect). Is the world one big swirling karma pot?

Silver

 

[Riverwolf]

Is everything karma, or are there other things as well? What are the other things? (Because everything seems to be cause and effect). Is the world one big swirling karma pot?

Silver

If you can answer the question with the translation: "Is everything action with an effect? Is the world one big swirling pot of actions with effects?" then you'll have your answer.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Karma: These types of behaviors and actions will likely end up with these types of consequences and results.

Mystifying it, like so many things, only makes people miss the point.

 

[Vinayaka]

Is the world one big swirling karma pot?

Silver

Nice way of expressing it. Yes. Karma isn't all that simple.

1) Intention is involved. Someone who doesn't know better will receive less karma than someone who intentionally and purposefully commits harm even though his conscience says not to.

2) Action (karma) may be returned in bits. You may commit a dollars worth of action, but when its returned its in 10 dimes.

3) Karma is usually circular ... soul A to soul B .... soul B to soul C ... etc. before eventually returning to A.

4) is combined with reincarnation, perhaps not in all faith systems though

 

[Man of Faith]

If I understand correctly, and most of the time I do, the world Karma has been eschewed or "modernized” to mean what you give is what you get on this earth. However in the Hindu religion, where the word came from it means sort of like “points” you earn for the next life. If you do good deeds then you get good karma and if you do bad deeds you get bad karma. If you have more good karma than bad when you die then you are reincarnated into a higher life form and if you have more bad karma than good when you die, then you are reincarnated into a lower life form.

 

[Silver]

Does Karma also act positively. Let's say I sponser a child in the third world (world vision or whatever). Will I receive positive karma through my positive charity work of equal value?

It's like it is a feedback loop. If positive karma works why isn't everybody doing it as everyone will gain the benefits?

Silver

 

[outhouse]

Doesn't the natural existence of negative consequences indicate that karma has taken effect?

not at all


its just mans wishfull thinking that bad deeds by bad people will be punished.


Sad thing is bad things happen to good people as well.





In my life I have viewed events as karma on people who "I believe" to have done me wrong.

I can honestly say it was coincidence, that made me feel better giving me the illusion of karma

 

[Onkara]

Is everything karma, or are there other things as well? What are the other things? (Because everything seems to be cause and effect). Is the world one big swirling karma pot?

Silver

All action results in reaction, but when you (anyone) are no longer the actor then the results of actions no longer 'affect' you. You 'step out' of the swirling karma pot, yet carry on living.

The paradox is that the action of "stepping out" it itself an action, in the form of desire. It can be the desire to end the suffering, for example, or simply the desire to find truth, peace and bliss.

 

[Onkara]

not at all

its just mans wishfull thinking that bad deeds by bad people will be punished.

Sad thing is bad things happen to good people as well.

In my life I have viewed events as karma on people who "I believe" to have done me wrong.

I can honestly say it was coincidence, that made me feel better giving me the illusion of karma

In my opinion, it is a modernisation which says that people will be punished for their actions. I grew up hearing of "instant karma", where a person would say something nasty then bump their head, and someone would reply "you see, God was listening, that was instant karma".

I have not come across that in Eastern philosophy. Not saying your opinion is wrong, but just that there are different views of karma.

 

[Riverwolf]

If I understand correctly, and most of the time I do, the world Karma has been eschewed or "modernized” to mean what you give is what you get on this earth. However in the Hindu religion, where the word came from it means sort of like “points” you earn for the next life. If you do good deeds then you get good karma and if you do bad deeds you get bad karma. If you have more good karma than bad when you die then you are reincarnated into a higher life form and if you have more bad karma than good when you die, then you are reincarnated into a lower life form.

That is sort of true, but it's not a belief held by all Hindus. No Sage I've ever read teaches this.

 

[outhouse]

Does Karma also act positively. Let's say I sponser a child in the third world (world vision or whatever). Will I receive positive karma through my positive charity work of equal value?

It's like it is a feedback loop. If positive karma works why isn't everybody doing it as everyone will gain the benefits?

Silver

there is absolutely nothing to karma


It is simply a interpretation of events



case in point not to be ignored.

bad things happen to bad people
good things happen to bad people

bad things happen to good people
good things happen to good people

end of story


Now one can add, living a bad or evil lifestyle puts one's self into a pattern where not good things can happen. I/E your putting yourself into dangerous position.

As to where good people will live more of a safe lifestyle.

 

[Riverwolf]

Does Karma also act positively. Let's say I sponser a child in the third world (world vision or whatever). Will I receive positive karma through my positive charity work of equal value?

Depends on what you consider equal value.

It's like it is a feedback loop. If positive karma works why isn't everybody doing it as everyone will gain the benefits?

Silver

Because it's usually hard.

 

[Onkara]

That is sort of true, but it's not a belief held by all Hindus. No Sage I've ever read teaches this.

I agree
Because "God" in Sanatana Dharma doesn't get mixed up with it. It is all the same to Him/Her.

 

[outhouse]

In my opinion, it is a modernisation which says that people will be punished for their actions. I grew up hearing of "instant karma", where a person would say something nasty then bump their head, and someone would reply "you see, God was listening, that was instant karma".

I have not come across that in Eastern philosophy. Not saying your opinion is wrong, but just that there are different views of karma.

I understand your point of view and agree whole hearted.

it can be interpreted as many ways as imagination can carry

 

[outhouse]

my definition of karma

luck and imagination

 

[Onkara]

I understand your point of view and agree whole hearted.

it can be interpreted as many ways as imagination can carry

when we cease to rely on imagination, how do we explain the apparent relationship between action and reaction? Karma is as good as any explanation, isn't it?

 

[outhouse]

when we cease to rely on imagination, how do we explain the apparent relationship between action and reaction? Karma is as good as any explanation, isn't it?

action and reaction are percieved interpretations

I love Karma and the whole idea, and I love how most people use it.

I have no problem at all with Karma.


Me personally, I do not place weight of a controlling entity that doles out good or bad punishment due to ones action.

we are all are own persons who for the most part, create our world around us by the actions we personally take in everyday life.

 

[Riverwolf]

not at all

its just mans wishfull thinking that bad deeds by bad people will be punished.

Sad thing is bad things happen to good people as well.

Not necessarily. Karma, like the rest of the world, is neither inherently good or bad; actions just have consequences.

So-called "bad" people don't always have apparently "bad" things happening to them, such as crime lords living in luxury paid for by peoples' lives. Likewise, "good" people all too often end up in apparently "bad" situations, such as compassionate, loving people living in total poverty. This is obvious in the world. Some people just explain it away by saying, "well those crime lords will live in total poverty in a next life", or "those good people living in poverty are paying for bad things done in previous lives." Personally, I don't subscribe to this mode of thinking, because it just seems lazy. Rather, I don't worry about other peoples' karmas and just focus on my own.