Karma

• laurence82

  26 Aug 05, 22:00

  ah yes, i just had a discussion with someone on the definition of karma
  
  to many, they believe its simply a result of past deeds, attributing it to god, and so on...
  
  is the law of cause and effect much deeper than this?
  
  thanks..
• Patrik

  26 Aug 05, 22:04

  What u give is what u get in return.
• shade343

  26 Aug 05, 22:09

  You can also speak about Fate which is 75% pre ordained and 25% Self will.
• An Eternal Now

  26 Aug 05, 22:23

  Karma is not the same as Predestination, Fatalism (fate), Nihilism, Luck, or God's descision.
  
  Karma starts with intent: with intent, we create Mind, Speech, Action karma with every thought, word, and act. When the karmic cause meets with the right conditions, there shall be karmic results.
  
  Karma is as such: every seed will bear its fruit, so we should constantly be mindful not to plant unvirtuous seeds lest we get unwholesome outcome. There is also a saying: Bodhisattvas care about the Cause, Sentient beings care only about the (karmic) results.
  
  Generally it is quite easy to understand the concept of karma, but it would be impossible to go into detail unless one is a Buddha. Only the Buddha can completely comprehend karma completely.
  
  This is only a general overview there are a lot of things, so I recommend people to read this webpage: http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/karma.htm
• shade343

  26 Aug 05, 22:26

  Err...Im not a buddha...so I guess I shall just stick to the basic idea...
• laurence82

  26 Aug 05, 22:28

  Is it safe to say, karma is not only the effect of one's mind and actions, but by many numerous interactions with the environment, with other sentient beings, and hosts of other cosmic and natural actions?
• An Eternal Now

  26 Aug 05, 22:32

  Originally posted by laurence82:

  Is it safe to say, karma is not only the effect of one's mind and actions, but by many numerous interactions with the environment, with other sentient beings, and hosts of other cosmic and natural actions?

  Our Karmic cause also requires various conditions to be met before it results in the karmic effect.
  
  Yin -- Yuan -- Guo
• ha8n

  26 Aug 05, 22:43

  does it really have adverse consequences?
• An Eternal Now

  26 Aug 05, 22:48

  http://www.buddhanet.net/fundbud9.htm
  
  If karma is not fate or predestination, then what is it? Let us look at the term itself. Karma means action, means "to do". Immediately we have an indication that the real meaning of karma is not fate because karma is action. It is dynamic. But it is more than simply action because it is not mechanical action. It is not unconscious or involuntary action. It is intentional, conscious, deliberate, wilful action. How is it that this intentional, wilful action conditions or determines our situation? It is because every action must have a reaction, an effect. This truth has been expressed in regard to the physical universe by the great physicist Newton who formulated the law which states that every action must have an equal and opposite reaction. In the moral sphere of conscious actions, we have a counterpart to the physical law of action and reaction, the law that every intentional, wilful action must have its effect. This is why we sometimes speak either of Karma-Vipaka, intentional action and its ripened effect, or we speak of Karma-Phala, intentional action and its fruit. It is when we speak of intentional action together with its effect or fruit that we speak of the Law of Karma.
• namelessness

  26 Aug 05, 23:30

  Originally posted by shade343:

  Err...Im not a buddha...so I guess I shall just stick to the basic idea...

  Me too.
  
  Karma to me is just the accumulation of our thoughts and behaviors. It makes who we are now, and it determines who we will be if we allow it. But if we are enlightened, we will know itÂ’s just movie films stored in our warehouse. As long as we are in eternal peace and now, they wonÂ’t have any chance to be played again. If not, they will start messing around.