What is the difference between the Eastern concept of Karma and the Western version?

Question

How is Karma, as it is understood in India and in Hinduism, different from Karma as it is understood in the American New Age and Neopagan movements?

Jinlalina, could you please explain the concepts of Varna and Dharma?

OB1, if I'm reading you correctly, "Karma" in the broadest sense is "action?" Vikarma lowers my consciousness, Akarma raises my conciousness, and Karma is just the stuff I'm supposed to be doing anyway?

Answer 1

well, in the west we tend to take a piece of some thing and think we have the whole thing...

not to be rude but, our culture just sort of seems arrogant in that way... laking a little / or a lot in Humility...

any way!

Karma , Akarma , and Vi-karma

With these three Names ( and definitions ) what we call Karma in the west will be known... rather than assumed... get my drift?

Vi-karma....

actions which degrade the conscious being... ( living entity entrapped in a material body ) actions which lead to lower forms of life... animals, plants... ie...entrappings that don't give the same possibilities the human consciousness allows.

If you want to eat drink have sex... we'll so do pigs... spend an hour or two in a pig pen and ask your self if that's how you want to live?

If you don't believe in reincarnation now, don't worry you won't remember your human life and mental ideas, once you are in a pigs body and mind set.

Karma,

Prescribed duties... prescribed by what a doctor?... like getting a physicians note to go get a prescription at the drug store?

Prescribed by shastra ( Holly Books )... books which come from a God conscious origin or even just a more elevated consciousness type of doctrine... these books are to lead the way to a particular place... Bible, Koran, Yoga Sutras, teachings of Buddha..etc

Karma is our responsibilities as a human, like the responsibility of a mother for the child... and you have seen what becomes of a situation when the mother does not take full responsibility for her child... its not the prettiest picture... and we also see what happens in a loving responsible relationships...

realize this...good and bad are inevitable... and our actions cause reactions...

Akarma...

Activities that lead beyond the entanglement of Karma and Vi-karma... beyond the circumstances of birth, death, disease, and old age... beyond the ability to know and the in -ability to know... beyond belief and non belief... ( Gate Gate Para Gate ... gone beyond, gone beyond, gone beyond the beyond...)

As to my understanding these three principals deal with human beings... because we have a more developed consciousness... animals don't have much choice besides to act according to their body type and mental disposition...

Hope this helps you all...

I know I was really happy to get a broader and more complete picture of this Karma thing... especially seeing how western culture has latched on to it with little understanding and basically confused the topic and one another...

Peace

OB1

Answer 2

My first way to answer this, would be there is no difference. It is all dependent upon ones belief system. In the true Buddhist terms of Karma The Lam Rim Chen Mo talks about Karma in reference to states of consciousness, from the belief of dependent arising on a non conventional basis. This does not mean, however, in this human life if one does good, good things will not happen. However, one must not forget that that in the Buddhist belief system, there is no "I". So there is actually no difference for sentient beings of West or East. The topic of Karma and understanding it from a Buddhist perspective is quite complex and needs to be understood through meditation practices along with commentaries given by a trust worthy Dharma or Spiritual mentor.

Answer 3

While others may see/believe differently, I do not happen to view there being any difference between "an Eastern concept" and, or a "Western concept" of Karma--just different opinions of what it is and isn't, as (from what I understand) the concept comes entirely from (the direction of) "the east", eh?

It may appear to many as this is so, and I believe that what is being observed is simply different "causes and effects", or different "karma," and not a differece between the East and West's concept of karma.

Even the Bible (and other inspired texts) refers to 'the east' several times for different reasons, but then again, it too is "from the east" is it not? ;-)

But before anyone gets all teary-eyed and/or defensive about "the east", you will also notice that in almost all instances, it is NOT "the east" that ultimately responds and/or does something with it and/or is influenced by it--but "the west". (Remember there are a minimum of seven interpretations to all inspired writings.)

In any event, for me (and how I understand it through ancient wisdom) is that Karma is simply a result of (or more at--IS) "Cause and Effect".

There are other attributes and/or characteristics of it to include that "it" (karma) accumulates and is discharged during the course of your spiritiual evolution, and that one can alter or change one's karma though initiating a new cause by decision.

Regards,

Bryan

Answer 4

Karma has different meanings for Visnuvite, Sivaite and several other larger branches of what is called "Hinduism" in English. And without the whole bundle of concepts such as Varna, Dharma etc it's meaningless. It does not mean retribution.

Answer 5

Depends. Some "new age" groups understand it correctly and some don't so I don't know which philosophy you're referring to directly. As simply put as I can, it's cause and effect, where actions/thoughts plant a seed in your mindstream that, when the causes and conditions for it (the "seed") to ripen come to fruition, then it does and you get the result, which is always similar to the seed planted, however larger. However, by the same token, it's a little more interwoven with a lot of other logic too, so it's really NOT as "simple" as I've put it.

_()_

Answer 6

Western beliefs tend to go more on the past lives don't have much of an affect on this life as Eastern beliefs go. Western beliefs also incorporate God where as Eastern focus on Hall of Records

Answer 7

In the west it is cause and effect in the east it is just change

Answer 8

Good Question! I Need To Know Too...

Answer 9

not much difference
what goes around comes around
karma is karma

Answer 10

Ask Richard "the drunk" Gere.