I have just read the Theory of Karma in Buddhism thread by AEN. Rather lengthy I would say.
http://www.sgforums.com/forums/1728/topics/387044
Here's an extract from 'Only We can Help Ourselves' by Dhammavuddho Thero.
Kamma-vipaka is sometimes translated as cause and effect ('yin kuo' in Chinese books) but that is not a good translation.
This is because there are two types of cause and effect - worldly cause and effect, and kammic cause and effect.
The difference can be seen, for example, when you drive a car and suddenly a small boy runs across the road, and you hit the boy and kill him.
You did not have have the intention to kill the small boy, so you did not create any kamma. However you did knock down the boy and the boy's family might pull you out of the car when you stop, and beat you up. In addition to that, they might also sue you in court.
So there is a result of knocking down the boy, namely, you get a beating and then be sued in court. However this is worldly cause and effect. It is not concerned with Buddhist kamma vipaka because there was no intention on your part to kill the boy.
So we must clearly differentiate between worldly cause and effect and kamma-vipaka. They are different because one involves action with intention and the other does not.
...The working of kamma-vipaka is very complex. The Buddha said in one discourse (Anguttara Nikaya 4.77 - Acintita Sutta / 增一阿�經，分别功德论�第一) that there are four things that you should not think about too much. If you think too much about these four things, you could become deranged.
The first is the power of the Buddha;
The second is the depth and power of jhana (meditative absorption);
The third is kamma-vipaka;
And the fourth is speculation about the world.
...The working of kamma-vipaka depends not only on our present lifetime but also on many, many lifetimes of unsettled kamma accounts.
On top of that, it also depends on the state of our mind at that moment. Moreover, the state of mind of the other being you do the kamma to also affects your vipaka.
For example, when you make an offering to a murderer, or a criminal, or to an evil person, your merit is very small, but if you make an offering to a holy man, then your merit or blessings is great. Conversely, if you kill a holy man, then your kammic offence is very great. If you kill a mosquito, the kamma is not as bad, but still you are not encouraged to kill it.
...Sometimes we see certain people whom we consider as evil, rough, stingy and offensive, but they are having a good, luxurious life. That could be due to their good kamma from past life supporting them. However they are now creating a lot of evil kamma which has not ripened yet. This could be due to the fact that people can change.
For example, when a man is poor he is humble, industrious, faithful to his wife, frugal, etc. When he becomes rich after several years, he may become arrogant, vain, womanize, drink, gamble, etc. - a completely different personality.
Similarly, a good person in a previous life, when reborn under favourable conditions, might become corrupted by his good fortune. Because of this we may find it hard to see fairness in this world.
Sometimes we see that good people are not the ones who are happy, but many evil people are happy.
The working of kamma-vipaka is very difficult to see unless we have the psychic power to look into the past.
There are karma which needs not wait till next life for one to experience it. I can remember two of them which are stated clearly in the scriptures that one will experience it in this life if one commits them in extreme cases. If you observe carefully, you will realise that what has been said in the scriptures are true.
1) Ill treating your parents.
2) Killing and defame the Sangha (monks and nuns)
Generally, there is karma. We need to understand what is this law of karma and believe that there is cause and effect. Then we can understand on how suffering and happiness state comes about. One will prevent oneself from falling into suffering state either in this life or next by cultivating good and stop from committing bad.
Sometime we can already feel the effects. For example, when i lash harsh words to people around me, it can have many results - one result will be disharmony in relationships. Since we are mindful that we shouldn't lash out harsh words and also try not act on angry or bad intention, we are training to be patience and cultivating virtue.
Originally posted by Isis:Generally, there is karma. We need to understand what is this law of karma and believe that there is cause and effect. Then we can understand on how suffering and happiness state comes about. One will prevent oneself from falling into suffering state either in this life or next by cultivating good and stop from committing bad.
Sometime we can already feel the effects. For example, when i lash harsh words to people around me, it can have many results - one result will be disharmony in relationships. Since we are mindful that we shouldn't lash out harsh words and also try not act on angry or bad intention, we are training to be patience and cultivating virtue.
Is karma application to all or only to practising buddhists?
Originally posted by Fantagf:Is karma application to all or only to practising buddhists?
if you steal and is caught, the end result will be the same, whether you are a buddhist or not.
sure got karma?
how come the rich become richer?
how to monitor everyone when
there are billion of ppl living in tis planet earth
Originally posted by noahnoah:
sure got karma?
how come the rich become richer?
how to monitor everyone when
there are billion of ppl living in tis planet earth
hello, rich become richer nothing wrong.
Is karma "ying guo" in Chinese?
think so far very hard le
dun even know can survive next year a not
Got money just enjoy lar
Originally posted by noahnoah:
sure got karma?
how come the rich become richer?
the rich became richer just by saving them (bank interest). Therefore i resume that you are referring to the riches gathered by immoral means.
If that is the case. then 善有善报，�有�报，如有未报， 时辰未到
Originally posted by SevenEleven:the rich became richer just by saving them (bank interest). Therefore i resume that you are referring to the riches gathered by immoral means.
If that is the case. then 善有善报，�有�报，如有未报， 时辰未到
well said
Originally posted by noahnoah:
sure got karma?
how come the rich become richer?
how to monitor everyone when
there are billion of ppl living in tis planet earth
Karma is a natural law. It is not something or someone monitoring you or if there is a creator who is judging you.
Why can't the rich cannot become richer ?
Why the poor cannot become poorer?
Originally posted by Fantagf:
well said
but then i see krama differently. the effect does not need to be direct. for example, if he got away with the stealing, he would be free with the direct impact but not his consciencious.
Originally posted by SevenEleven:
but then i see krama differently. the effect does not need to be direct. for example, if he got away with the stealing, he would be free with the direct impact but not his consciencious.
But I don't deny there are people who are without conscience.
Originally posted by Fantagf:
But I don't deny there are people who are without conscience.
I think conscience is just something you are brought up to believe. Like in the past it was ok to own slaves, but not now.
Originally posted by Fantagf:
But I don't deny there are people who are without conscience.
without? i think more "cannot see them now". 人之�，性本善
Sigh! What have become of some human beings. No wonder these days we see many babies being thrown away.
Sad
Originally posted by Fantagf:
But I don't deny there are people who are without conscience.
Maybe a better word for conscience is the mind.
You may leave a mark in your mind stream.
Originally posted by Fantagf:Sigh! What have become of some human beings. No wonder these days we see many babies being thrown away.
Sad
Maybe last time even more babies thrown away, just no news to report it
Originally posted by Isis:
Maybe a better word for conscience is the mind.You may leave a mark in your mind stream.
This is profound.
recent case
A teenager gave birth then hide
the baby in the washing machine
sia..
I wonder she got on the washing machine a not
next time might end up hiding it in the microwave oven
Originally posted by dadeadman1337:I think conscience is just something you are brought up to believe. Like in the past it was ok to own slaves, but not now.
Don't you think people without conscience will create a harm to the society?
It was okay to own slaves to those people who own the slaves.
But do you think it will be okay if you are a slave to them?
Originally posted by dadeadman1337:Maybe last time even more babies thrown away, just no news to report it
Yes and no about it
Originally posted by Isis:
Maybe a better word for conscience is the mind.You may leave a mark in your mind stream.
dhammapada1 & 2
"Mind is the fore-runner of all state"
oh ya, reading about mind in this thread reminds me that Buddhism is about mind.
yet to know more about buddhism
pardon me for my lack of knowledge