Forums · The Laws of Karma
I have always been intrigued by the law of Karma, and I certainly believe that it is true, whether we have it as a part of our religion, or just as a part of our human spirituality, aside from any religious connections. It just makes sense to me, kind of like Physics makes sense to a scientist. I found this on the internet, and thought some of you may also enjoy reading this little bit about it.
Blessings,
Mare
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Karma
(exerpted from "The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion", Shambhala Books, 1994)
Universal law of cause and effect, which according to the Buddhist view takes effect in the following way: "The deed (karma) produceds a fruit under certain circumstances; when it is ripe, then it falls upon the one responsible. For a deed to produce its fruit, it must be morally good or bad and be conditioned by a volitional impulse, which in that it leaves a trace in the psyche of the doer, leads his destiny in the direction determined by the effect of the deed.
The effect of an action, which can be of the nature of body, speech or mind is not primarily determined by the act itself but rather particularly by the intention of the action. It is the intention of actions that cause a karmic effect to arise.[...] Only a deed that is free from desire, hate and delusion is without karmic effect.
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The Law of Karma
In Buddhist teaching, the law of karma, says only this: `for every event that occurs, there will follow another event whose existence was caused by the first, and this second event will be pleasant or unpleasant according as its cause was skillful or unskillful.' A skillful event is one that is not accompanied by craving, resistance or delusions; an unskillful event is one that is accompanied by any one of those things. (Events are not skillful in themselves, but are so called only in virtue of the mental events that occur with them.)
Therefore, the law of Karma teaches that responsibility for unskillful actions is born by the person who commits them.
Let's take an example of a sequence of events. An unpleasant sensation occurs. A thought arises that the source of the unpleasantness was a person. (This thought is a delusion; any decisions based upon it will therefore be unskillful.) A thought arises that some past sensations of unpleasantness issued from this same person. (This thought is a further delusion.) This is followed by a willful decision to speak words that will produce an unpleasant sensation in that which is perceived as a person. (This decision is an act of hostility. Of all the events described so far, only this is called a karma.) Words are carefully chosen in the hopes that when heard they will cause pain. The words are pronounced aloud. (This is the execution of the decision to be hostile. It may also be classed as a kind of karma, although technically it is an after-karma.) There is a visual sensation of a furrowed brow and downturned mouth. The thought arises that the other person's face is frowning. The thought arises that the other person's feelings were hurt. There is a fleeting joyful feeling of success in knowing that one has scored a damaging verbal blow. Eventually (perhaps much later) there is an unpleasant sensation of regret, perhaps taking the form of a sensation of fear that the perceived enemy may retaliate, or perhaps taking the form of remorse on having acted impetuously, like an immature child, and hping that no one will remember this childish action. (This regret or fear is the unpleasant ripening of the karma, the unskillful decision to inflict pain through words.)
If there are no persons at all, then there is no self and no other. There is no distinction between pain of which there is direct sensual awareness (which is conventionally called one's own pain) and pain that is known through inference (conventionally called another person's pain). Whether pain is known directly or indirectly, there is either an urge to quell it or an urge to cultivate it. Whether joy is known directly or indirectly, there is either an urge to nourish it or to quell it. In the conventional language of speaking of events personally, the urge to quell all pain and to nourish all joy is known as being ethical or skillful or (if you like) good. The urge to nourish pain and quell joy is known as being unskillful, unethical or bad.
Being fully ethical is said to be impossible for those who make a distinction between self and other and show preference for the perceived self over the perceived other, for such perceptions inhibit being fully responsive. Being fully ethical is possible only for those who realize that all persons are empty, that is, devoid of personhood.
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The Law of Karma http://www.sivananda.org/teachings/karma/karmalaw.htm[/URL]
For every action we perform there will be a reaction (fruit) equal in nature and degree. Do a little good action, this will create joy and happiness to a fellow human being or other creature. Sooner or later, in a few seconds or lifetimes, you will enjoy the fruit of that action and reap the little joy you had sown before. The greater the sacrifice and goodness of the action, the greater the fruit you will receive. Similarly, a bad or mean action, which inflicts pain and suffering to other beings, will bring equivalent results do the doer. The fruits of the actions of Karmas can be divided into two categories: Papa or negative Karmas; Puniya or positive Karmas or good merits.
Our actions include our physical deeds, but also our words and thoughts!
The Three Karmas
In the Yogic philosophy, the individual's Karma has been divided into three portions:
1. Sanchita Karma: The Karma which is a vast store of accumulated works done in the past, the fruits of which have not yet been reaped.
2. Agami Karma: It is that which is currently being made in this life, and is, thereby adding to our store of Sanchita Karma.
3. Prarabdha Karma: it a part of Sanchita which has been allocated to us in this lifetime. This is the Karma which has been put into action and will be fructifying soon.
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[ August 08, 2002: Message edited by: azspirit ]
Blessings,
Mare
**********************************
Karma
(exerpted from "The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion", Shambhala Books, 1994)
Universal law of cause and effect, which according to the Buddhist view takes effect in the following way: "The deed (karma) produceds a fruit under certain circumstances; when it is ripe, then it falls upon the one responsible. For a deed to produce its fruit, it must be morally good or bad and be conditioned by a volitional impulse, which in that it leaves a trace in the psyche of the doer, leads his destiny in the direction determined by the effect of the deed.
The effect of an action, which can be of the nature of body, speech or mind is not primarily determined by the act itself but rather particularly by the intention of the action. It is the intention of actions that cause a karmic effect to arise.[...] Only a deed that is free from desire, hate and delusion is without karmic effect.
************************************
The Law of Karma
In Buddhist teaching, the law of karma, says only this: `for every event that occurs, there will follow another event whose existence was caused by the first, and this second event will be pleasant or unpleasant according as its cause was skillful or unskillful.' A skillful event is one that is not accompanied by craving, resistance or delusions; an unskillful event is one that is accompanied by any one of those things. (Events are not skillful in themselves, but are so called only in virtue of the mental events that occur with them.)
Therefore, the law of Karma teaches that responsibility for unskillful actions is born by the person who commits them.
Let's take an example of a sequence of events. An unpleasant sensation occurs. A thought arises that the source of the unpleasantness was a person. (This thought is a delusion; any decisions based upon it will therefore be unskillful.) A thought arises that some past sensations of unpleasantness issued from this same person. (This thought is a further delusion.) This is followed by a willful decision to speak words that will produce an unpleasant sensation in that which is perceived as a person. (This decision is an act of hostility. Of all the events described so far, only this is called a karma.) Words are carefully chosen in the hopes that when heard they will cause pain. The words are pronounced aloud. (This is the execution of the decision to be hostile. It may also be classed as a kind of karma, although technically it is an after-karma.) There is a visual sensation of a furrowed brow and downturned mouth. The thought arises that the other person's face is frowning. The thought arises that the other person's feelings were hurt. There is a fleeting joyful feeling of success in knowing that one has scored a damaging verbal blow. Eventually (perhaps much later) there is an unpleasant sensation of regret, perhaps taking the form of a sensation of fear that the perceived enemy may retaliate, or perhaps taking the form of remorse on having acted impetuously, like an immature child, and hping that no one will remember this childish action. (This regret or fear is the unpleasant ripening of the karma, the unskillful decision to inflict pain through words.)
If there are no persons at all, then there is no self and no other. There is no distinction between pain of which there is direct sensual awareness (which is conventionally called one's own pain) and pain that is known through inference (conventionally called another person's pain). Whether pain is known directly or indirectly, there is either an urge to quell it or an urge to cultivate it. Whether joy is known directly or indirectly, there is either an urge to nourish it or to quell it. In the conventional language of speaking of events personally, the urge to quell all pain and to nourish all joy is known as being ethical or skillful or (if you like) good. The urge to nourish pain and quell joy is known as being unskillful, unethical or bad.
Being fully ethical is said to be impossible for those who make a distinction between self and other and show preference for the perceived self over the perceived other, for such perceptions inhibit being fully responsive. Being fully ethical is possible only for those who realize that all persons are empty, that is, devoid of personhood.
*************************************
The Law of Karma http://www.sivananda.org/teachings/karma/karmalaw.htm[/URL]
For every action we perform there will be a reaction (fruit) equal in nature and degree. Do a little good action, this will create joy and happiness to a fellow human being or other creature. Sooner or later, in a few seconds or lifetimes, you will enjoy the fruit of that action and reap the little joy you had sown before. The greater the sacrifice and goodness of the action, the greater the fruit you will receive. Similarly, a bad or mean action, which inflicts pain and suffering to other beings, will bring equivalent results do the doer. The fruits of the actions of Karmas can be divided into two categories: Papa or negative Karmas; Puniya or positive Karmas or good merits.
Our actions include our physical deeds, but also our words and thoughts!
The Three Karmas
In the Yogic philosophy, the individual's Karma has been divided into three portions:
1. Sanchita Karma: The Karma which is a vast store of accumulated works done in the past, the fruits of which have not yet been reaped.
2. Agami Karma: It is that which is currently being made in this life, and is, thereby adding to our store of Sanchita Karma.
3. Prarabdha Karma: it a part of Sanchita which has been allocated to us in this lifetime. This is the Karma which has been put into action and will be fructifying soon.
****************************
[ August 08, 2002: Message edited by: azspirit ]
That was facinating reading Mare. I believe in karma. But from the standpoint that we pre-determine what our lives will be like before we come here. We are meant to follow a path and as things happen to us, it was meant to happen so we could learn. You sometimes can't fight it but should go along with it. I sometimes think that Deja Vu is tied to this as well. If we know what our lives will be before we get here, it could be a faint memory of setting that up. That familiar feeling, of "Oh yeah, this is supposed to be."
Hmmm..... that is a very interesting thought you have there about deja vu being connected. Maybe we do come here sort of 'coached' a bit on what the lessons might entail... but some of the things that trigger deja vu don't always have any kind of lesson that is readily apparent.... does that mean we flunked that one??? Sure glad we aren't taking all of these classes for college credit!!! LMAO
Mare
Mare
Naw, I don't think we flunk. Every choice we make creates a new path. But I think all roads lead to the same lesson. Some paths easier than others. The deja vu thing in some cases may just affirm that we took a path that we predetermined. Does that make sense?
LOL Frat/Sorority party at Sprit U!![[Banana]](graemlins/banana.gif)
LOL Frat/Sorority party at Sprit U!
I can't believe the way you wrote that in Kim, I think that same way. That we write our own "chart" of sorts in the spirit and whatever body we come into, we live out our mapped chart.
The spirit is old (in most cases). For myself, I wonder why I have a passion for woodworking, quilting, and I never studied for those things, I just "took it up one day"! You have to wonder some details about your life now, in this being, where you stop and think "Hum, how did I know that?" I feel that's all karma.
The spirit is old (in most cases). For myself, I wonder why I have a passion for woodworking, quilting, and I never studied for those things, I just "took it up one day"! You have to wonder some details about your life now, in this being, where you stop and think "Hum, how did I know that?" I feel that's all karma.
Yeah, great post Az. I believe in Karma the same way you do in that it doesn't matter who or how anyone believes in it, it is a law of the universe like gravity.
I wonder if the Buddhic explanations are simplified. I believe that what you give out comes back to you. Not in direct proportion per incident like they were explaining. I believe the universe is ever so more delicate and intricate than that. That whatever karmic buildup you create does come back to you but it may come back in a large lump today or small bits over time or in any other way possible. And that what you do do effects so many things and people over an expanse farther than we are aware of.
I like the Yogic philosophy too. That we have different karmas. Though that they are tied together.
And I believe what Kim says about knowing what we are going to be doing in this life. I do think some of the Deja Vous has to do with that but I think also that our psychic abilities/connections reach and experience much more. In my experience anyway. That what we experience in this life is part karmic (to help settle the balance) and part learning what we can learn. I think we have many possibilities in our path in our life. That we can learn a lot, learn little, learn these things, or learn those things. Depends how we procede and what we choose in life. Sometimes we follow a predetermined path that leads us to some things we need to learn and sometimes we get full reign on where we want to go.
I agree with you too Mamabear in that our spirits are old. It is strange and I can't really explain it but I think that even this existance(this life, reincarnation, etc,) is only part of our souls existance. That we exist even beyond what we can dimly comprehend.
Woah. Good postings. =) Lots of light here.
I wonder if the Buddhic explanations are simplified. I believe that what you give out comes back to you. Not in direct proportion per incident like they were explaining. I believe the universe is ever so more delicate and intricate than that. That whatever karmic buildup you create does come back to you but it may come back in a large lump today or small bits over time or in any other way possible. And that what you do do effects so many things and people over an expanse farther than we are aware of.
I like the Yogic philosophy too. That we have different karmas. Though that they are tied together.
And I believe what Kim says about knowing what we are going to be doing in this life. I do think some of the Deja Vous has to do with that but I think also that our psychic abilities/connections reach and experience much more. In my experience anyway. That what we experience in this life is part karmic (to help settle the balance) and part learning what we can learn. I think we have many possibilities in our path in our life. That we can learn a lot, learn little, learn these things, or learn those things. Depends how we procede and what we choose in life. Sometimes we follow a predetermined path that leads us to some things we need to learn and sometimes we get full reign on where we want to go.
I agree with you too Mamabear in that our spirits are old. It is strange and I can't really explain it but I think that even this existance(this life, reincarnation, etc,) is only part of our souls existance. That we exist even beyond what we can dimly comprehend.
Woah. Good postings. =) Lots of light here.
We sometimes run into people who have what many refer to as 'an old soul'. That is a person who has the wisdom of several lifetimes, and there is a grace, a polish, that is the glow of a beautiful spirit, buffed to a gloss by the weathering many storms through may lives as carnate beings. Each of you probably knows one, or perhaps many, that are 'old souls'. I think that these may be the souls of those who have come closer to balancing out their karma than most others, over a period of many lifetimes... and it gives them a wise, calm and peaceful way about them. You just know when you come across them, that they are special. I think these special people are an example of what happens after many lives spent in balancing the karma for good, and weeding out the bad. They are the teachers... the wise ones.... the ancestors of mankind that have returned many times, to show us how to get past the bad, and reach the good. Maybe some of you will understand what I am talking about here? Just a few of my thoughts....
Mare
Mare