why doesnt karma work?

Answer 1

Because life is not always fair. Sometimes you can do all these good works and still get screwed. Life is not one big scale where you try to get your good works to balance your bad works.

Answer 2

Karma is the law that every cause has an effect, i.e., our actions have results. This simple law explains a number of things: inequality in the world, why some are born handicapped and some gifted, why some live only a short life. Karma underlines the importance of all individuals being responsible for their past and present actions.

How can we test the karmic effect of our actions?

The answer is summed up by looking at
(1) the intention behind the action,
(2) effects of the action on oneself, and
(3) the effects on others.

http://www.buddhanet.net/

Answer 3

Karma does work - but it works in the background. It is not a system of instant rewards for being good. The positive karma you create in this life may not have an affect until your next life, or even later.

It is clear from some of the answers here that many people simply don't understand it, or re-incarnation.

There is a very good explanation of karma at http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/karma.htm
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Answer 4

Look at Karma like this...If you go to the grocery store and the check out lady is snotty with you. Ignoring that behavior does not mean that she will have bad Karma because she was short with you and made you angry. The true definition of Karma would be that if you were nice to her despite her behavior that in turn she would have to treat you better. That behavior then would carry on to the next customer she helps and so on. Karma is commonly misunderstood as bad things happen to bad people and visa versa. It is about passing energy.

That all being said...if you are a scienctific person it's all crap. You can change the psychology of a situation and manipulate an outcome but to rely on ominous forces to take control of your life and give you a desired outcome...that's just foolish.

Answer 5

Sometimes karma doesn't get us in this lifetime. For instance, you can be a bad person in this lifetime, but still have good stuff happen to you, but it'll come around eventually. That's the original belief, straight from the religions that invented the idea of karma, and gave its name.

Answer 6

Actually I believe Karma does work. Seriously, it is very subtle in our lives, and barely noticeable, but it is there. Think about it, how many times have you said something nasty to someone, only for them to turn round and be unhappy with you and "return the favour"? How many times have you helped someone or something and felt better for it? Everyone I mean, not just yourself. How many times have you done something that is detrimental to someone or something, only later on to have it returned, or else done something to benefit another being and then have the favour returned?

While we can't prove beyond doubt Karma exists, I personally feel it affects everything around us. And truth be told, its' every bit as realistic/unrealistic as the idea of God or the Devil, Heaven or Hell. Its' just no-one ever thinks about it these days.

Actually, thinking about it, its' the same idea as the Chaos Theory ultimately. You know, a Butterfly flaps its' wings over in one part of the world, on another side there's a tornado. Not every time, and it could take a very long time to happen, but its' the knock-on effect.

I think that's really the basis behind the Wiccan Three-Fold law as well. Whatever you do is going to be reflected back at you 3 times greater. Doesn't mean it'll happen straight away though...

Toodles

Answer 7

Karma is not the term for things that happen in this life as a result of actions in this life.

The Law of Return, or cause and effect, are not the same as Karma. The Law of Return does work.

Answer 8

Who said it doesn't? Have you read the famous novel CRIME AND PUNISHMENT? Every culture has supported the need for exemplary conduct and promised retributive justice for violators. Every passing day brings more and more evidence that those who do not believe in the inexorable chain of Karma come to grief, sooner or later.The more arrogantly the head is held high the more violent is the fall of the tyrant.

Answer 9

Karma doesn't work because it isn't real...the only thing that comes close to karma is in the Bible when God says that he isn't mocked and what you reap you will sow...but as for karma and spiritual elevation...coming back as a rodent if you aren't a nice person...it is a whole bunch of bologna.

Answer 10

"those who stay in glass houses shouldn't throw rocks" is what they many times ask human beings to describe. i do not recognize. "Karma doesn't like gruesome because Karma IS gruesome. you'll see." it extremely is the meaning.