Much has been said and written on the subject but to the uninitiated, the misconception and confusion continues.
“Karma” is simply “cause and effect” redefined for the human mind’s consumption as, “Any thought (formed, conceptualized), word (uttered, written) or deed (performed) intentionally committed by someone whose mind is not free from greed, hatred and delusion(1)” It is just like saying, all bacteria are germs, but not all germs are bacteria. It is also one of the natural laws and there’s nothing mystical, supernatural, spiritual, divine, unmentionable and taboo about it. As such, it’s not totally correct to say, “I believe (or don’t) in Karma” or “I believe (or don’t) there is Karma” which implies that one doesn’t know. In a broader sense, if one knows one does not have to “believe”(2). Therefore, it is more appropriate to say, “I subscribe or I don’t subscribe to the concept, doctrine or law of Karma”.
“Karma” per se does not have a mind of its own as laymen tend to believe i.e. it does not decide what or even when to take effect. It just unfurls when the appropriate conditions arise. So in itself, it is neither good nor bad, right nor wrong and positive nor negative. It is an ancient Sanskrit word (Kamma in Pali) that originated from a rich Indian subcontinent culture and as it is defined today, there is nothing religious about it. It‘s only the human mind that thinks otherwise ...
(1) Ven. Henepola Gunaratana; Understanding Karma and Rebirth.
(2) Chief Rev. Ven. Dr. K Sri Dharmmananda
2 comments:
Ready or not, whether or not you subscribe to Karma, someday it will all come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.
It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.
So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won't matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end.
It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.
What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.
If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
If you plant hard work, you will reap success
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
What you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later. This simply put is Karma.
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