what is karma?

Question

I know what karma isv somewhat, but since i have to write a 4-6 min. speech on it, what would be some good ideas as to what karma is and how should i interpret it into my speech. I just need a little help explaining karma.

Answer 1

Read Bhagwat Gita ( holy book of Hindus).

Answer 2

In 18 chapters in Sri.Bhagavad geeths recited by Lord Krishna,one full chapter with more than 30 verses on "Karma"--the concept of Karma was originally conceived only in Hinduism.---Buddhism-- later Jainism,Sikh religion gave different perspectives to "the Doctrine of Karma"
one famous verse in Bhagavad Geetha ,often qouted is:-
"Karmanyeva Adhikaarasthe Maa Phaleshu Kathaachana"=Doing your duty(Karma) ALONE (Eva)is your right--expecting or claiming the fruits of your action is not your right.Mahathma Gandhi,who successfully led the freedom movement of India, refused to take the Power after independence--Bringing up of our children is our duty(Karma)--expecting that they should take care of us at our old age is not our right.

Answer 3

In essence: what you put in, you get out.

Sorry that's not 4-6 min. I'd talk about what it means for your next life and even your last life and how you can "change" your karma, i.e. contribute to the positive and you will see positive in return.

Answer 4

Karma is the cause and effect of all of your past lives combined. Check out this website for a better explaination.

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/karma.htm

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

do research there is different meanings for karma, ex. in jainism karma is to be avoided (ideally) in bhuddism karma is just. both have different views of it, but a simple explinations is that karma is the consquence of your actions, neither good nor bad, you are what you eat kind of stuff. if you behave negatively you collect negative karma and it bites you in the butt eventually, same goes for good only it rewards. you should de research on what it means for different religons (but mainly just jainism and bhuddism) good luck.

Answer 6

Maybe start it off something like. I smiled at this guy once and he is now my husband/boyfriend. Cause and effect. Cause you smiled at him he became your husband/boyfriend (effect). What you do has an effect on you. Its like making a decision and the consequence that follows is what comes to you.

Good luck with your speech :)

Answer 7

That's an easy one to Google or OneLook, but I'll suggest that you add something to the effect that it's - like all beliefs of the supernatural/mystical - completely unfounded. There is *no* evidence for Karma, at all.

Answer 8

try this

http://www.11meditation.co.nr

it's from Theravada Buddhist
there are basic concepts of karma and some examples from Tipitaka.

hope it helps

Answer 9

According to the Buddhist teaching on it, as simply as I can put it, it is "cause and effect".

Karma is a cyclical thing... no finite beginning, but for the purpose of explanation let's just start w/ what you know and understand best. When you think something it begins with karma you've cultivated before that moment of thought (MIND) and previous lives, which causes you to perceive things in a certain way (attachment, aversion, neutrality) and you react to that thought (or not) accordingly (cling/grasp it to try to keep it, hateful/unkind reactions that cause suffering, or nothing, respectively, which are a product of self-cherishment/ego-clinging).

You can cultivate a mind that begins to understand (or ultimately DOES understand) the nature of the things you perceive as being what we call "empty of inherent existence" (as simply as I can, defined as arising due to causes and conditions, changing/impermanent) and therefore, by default you start reacting less and less to the things you perceive.

With me so far? Okay, so each reaction plants a "seed" (for simplicity's sake) in your mind (which works in conjunction of your sensory organs and your brain), and like any other seed you know of, when the causes and conditions for that seed arise to ripen it, it becomes a bigger item.

EXAMPLE: Say you do something altruistic and kind for someone, it plants a virtuous seed in your mind, which when the causes and conditions for this seed arise for it to ripen, it becomes a pleasant outcome as you perceive things.

If you continuously perceive things in your world as "unpleasant", we believe it's due to the ripening of non-virtuous-type karma. If you want to put an end to such bad results... you learn to cultivate a mind that doesn't react badly (anger, hatred, etc. which cause suffering and harm) thereby planting NO FURTHER non-virtuous seeds in your mindstream... AND at the same time you learn to cultivate compassionate, altruistic, virtuous deeds, which plants virtuous seeds in your mindstream.

Enlightenment begins to come when you let go of ego-clinging and attachments to the things you perceive (falsely) as being inherently "good" and react to good karma evenly, and you stop acting out of aversion to things you perceive (again falsely) as inherently "evil" or "unpleasant".

So, simply put if you want good karma, let go of your attachments to your ego, and self-cherishment of your own ideas, cultivate knowledge, wisdom, and a calm mind free of attachments, and aversions. At the same time do only altruistic, compassionate deeds, use speech for benefit only or at least DO NO HARM and cause NO SUFFERING... and you will start to see good karma ripen, in this life and in your future lives. If you want enlightenment, study the Dharma, which goes into finer detail of how to cultivate a calm mind free of attachments and aversions and the wisdom and virtuous deeds that will get you to Buddhahood, or Bodhisattvahood... if that's your goals.

I hope my pathetic explanation makes SOME sense... if not, I refer you to, and defer to the teachings of the better Buddhist teachers and lamas.

_()_

Answer 10

It is the sum total of your actions; good and bad.
For further reference as per Hinduism:
http://hinduism.iskcon.com/concepts/103.htm