Why has Karma been so mysticized and mythologized? It's become yet another abused concept?

Question

Karma is just a fancy word for 'conditioning'. For example, If I beat/abuse my kids, this conditioning/karma will negatively affect them. If they don't get help, it continues to shape their lives (and they affect their kids and others -- 'karma lasts lifetimes'); if they get help, this counters it. And all of our conditioning is this way - until we see what it is (with deep enlightenment resolving it because the psychological self - the thing that's conditioned - is seen as illusory).

Answer 1

That's not a correct understanding of "karma" from a Buddhist POV. You only generate your own karma and reap the results, however there is such a thing called "collective karma" like all of us being reborn as humans on this planet, in a given locale, etc. and so forth, but it's YOUR karma first and simply shared in similarity.

The concept of "illusion" is simply about incorrect perception that things exist inherently and solid from their own side. If you look deeply enough, logically, there is nothing that exists inherently... not even your thoughts or moods. All things arise due to causes and conditions, which include karmic debt, and are changing and impermanent.

www.buddhanet.net for a better understanding of it from a Buddhist perspective. Branch off in study as it pleases you.

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Answer 2

Your Karma , conceptually speaking, in your terms is viewed in complete reverse from the truth; your beating your kids will cause you to obtain the negative Karma, not them.

Many who have read some words of wisdom have been warned about the negative effects of violence; hence, "turn the other cheek" was this warning: if you strike another, the ripple effect of Karma will come back at you; eventually, you must pay this back to evolve spiritually. Unfortuanately this concept was lost to a religion I need not mention.

You mention, upon your kids being beaten; "eventually they get help and "this is countered"; Consider your words may have had good intentions, yet, you missed the Karmic point completely; you, the violent one will pay back the violence by "good deeds" in this or another lifeltime; they owe you, the violent one nothing.

Consider "Karma", not as Conditioning, but as a "Natural way of reality"; what comes around goes around, in effect this is what it is all about.

Do not literally interpret the words of great masters as the words of One religion; "The Christian "God: , so to speak, is not "owned" by Christians, they simply interpret events differently based on what they are told to see as truth; this does not mean it Is an accurate interpretation, but mearly, One of many; Consider that, yes, events did occure in a percieved past as "Holy", many saw the events, some wrote of them and some created a religion out of them; This is Christianity and the rest of all religions that follow; simple interpretations.

Thgis does not indicate each had some truth; as they did, yet, none came close to the intent of the events purpose; and that was to shed light on Truth, the self, the "I AM" in You.

Answer 3

Utter nonsense. Karma simply means what goes around comes around. If you abuse your kids, this will negatively affect them in this lifetime but it will negatively affect you in many perhaps thousands of lifetimes.
If this is a clumsy attempt on your part to pacify your own conscience, it will not work.

Answer 4

Karma is usually the explanation of what you get in this life is because of the life you led in your past life.

Karma is a component of reincarnation and it is so popular today because it is seen as an alternative to the Christian God who says you only get one shot at life, so make it a good one because you were created with a purpose in mind.

Answer 5

In this abusive, self-centered culture, you're surprised by this?