I heard a discussion today between two people. The one person said they believed that whatever they did would always come back to they. The other person said they didn't believe in it. The Karma believer said that good things happen to good people and that bad things happen to bad people, etc. The Karma skeptic said given that logic that it would mean that if a person has something bad happen to them (i.e. disease, loss) then they must be bad. And they pointed out that incredibly evil people are often beset by good fortune.
This they claimed invalidated the "karma" theory. What do you think?
2007-03-09 10:17:48 · 18 answers · asked by LanceMiller77 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Karma, what comes around goes around, or you reap what you sow, are all very real.
2007-03-09 10:22:23 · answer #1 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The idea of "good karma" and "bad karma" is not really what the original idea of karma was all about.
The original metaphysical idea of karma is that any time you act with extreme desire or extreme fear it creates a situation where you are more likely to be succeptable to becoming controlled by extreme desire or extreme fear in the future. That you must detach yourself from extreme desires and fears in order to lessen the impact of karma (all karma) on you.
The "My name is earl" version of karmic theory is just a simplified idea that is popular mostly in the west, that there is good karma and bad karma and you want to try to accumulate alot of good karma and avoid bad karma. That's not the way most buddhists understand it. They would argue that desiring good karma and fearing bad karma actually increases your overall karma and has the net effect of locking you into a lower form of existence.
Most believers in karma also believe that there is a delay in which karma may beget more karma so you may not see the karmic affects of your actions until many days, years, months, or even lifetimes afterward.
2007-03-09 18:24:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problem with that logic, is that maybe they were a good person in another life, even if they are bad now, but because they were good in the previous life, then the good things happen now.
It doesn't contradict karma, because that means if a bad person has a lot of good luck in this life, don't worry, because that means next life they might be reborn as a toad or something.
2007-03-09 18:23:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Karma is not about retribution, vengeance, punishment or reward, karma simply deals with what is. The effects of all deeds actively create past, present and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to others.
So no, karma isn't flawed but the understanding of those arguing it is.
2007-03-09 18:23:34 · answer #4 · answered by Blake H 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Karma is like Newton's law... every action demands and equal and opposite reaction. Karma depends on several lifetimes so saying good things have to bad people and vice-versa is wrong. I could be bad in my last life, good in this life, but i would still have to suffer from my wrongdoing in the past life. So there is no flaw.
2007-03-09 23:59:22 · answer #5 · answered by ak 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Buddhist definition of karma is akin to "cause and effect"... karma is like a seed planted, which usually starts off as a thought, which arises from the thought/karma before it, and like a seed, when the right causes and conditions arise for it to ripen, it will and like the seed, the result is ALWAYS bigger than the seed itself, also, the result is always the same as the seed planted in the mindstream... logically... good seeds result in good karma... bad seeds (sown from harmful thoughts/actions) ripen to bad karma and continued suffering and cyclical existence in what we call "Samsara".
Much for many minds to absorb, therefore easy to misinterpret.
_()_
2007-03-09 18:24:03 · answer #6 · answered by vinslave 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Life is both good and bad... for everyone. Doing good doesnt mean that your life is going to be all flowers and rainbows. Sometimes bad **** happens to teach us a lesson and bring us to the next level.
"Good fortune" does not equal peace of mind, joy, love, etc.
Whats a long life if one is not reaching their full potential?
I dont think karma is as cut and dried as most people make it out to be... and of course some people dont believe in it at all, which is fine too.
2007-03-09 18:27:08 · answer #7 · answered by Mi 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think there is some truth to reaping and sowing....or karma if you want to call it that. However, it doesn't mean that bad things don't happen to good people.
2007-03-09 18:22:46 · answer #8 · answered by Jennifer D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I don't believe in the concept - but - karma (according to Hinduism and some Buddhist sects) has to do with - not THIS life - but - the next one.
2007-03-09 18:23:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
kinda true I guess, but I didn't believe in Karma anyways.
Good things and bad things happen to everyone: supernatural law
2007-03-09 18:22:02 · answer #10 · answered by Hey, Ray 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason Karma is flawed is because it gives people the excuse to screw folks over:example,(Personal experience in Madras ,India.)Walking down a filthy street,I say "Why don't you people set up at least soup kitchens for these poor starving people?" Answer,"Oh,no Rod! That would be interfering with their Karma.They must have been rich and stingy in their former life .Now,they are getting payback.If we help them,they have to experience it again.Better to get it over with now".
So much for my "Beatles Sgt.Pepper,transindental guru trip.I'd rather stay in the U.S. and feed people here as a Christian.
2007-03-09 18:29:00 · answer #11 · answered by AngelsFan 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋