Karma?

[-Samurai-]

I don't believe in it. Hell, all the good stuff I've done in my life while expecting and receiving no reward, and the current state of my life is what I have to show? Yeah. I don't believe in it.

[small]This isn't one of those "my life sucks" posts, because it doesn't. But, if karma existed, It'd be much better than it is now.[/small]

 

[sircashews]

If it does exist I'm boned.

 

[unoleian]

I'm a firm believer that you reap what you sow. In the broadest sense, our lifestyles, our actions, our mentality define the quality of life we lead. Our action is everything, whether it's immediate, or something that positively (or negatively) affects the unknown future. Is this karma? Can we judge?

However, karma does not imply retribution for every act, nor does it imply an eye for an eye, or even an ear for an eye. Nor does it imply that all good deeds are rewarded, or that we build some sort of cosmic "credit" for our own luck and fortunes by doing good things.

Karma isn't even necessarily meant to apply to your life as you know it now. For anyone who takes any stock in the idea of reincarnation, or even casually flirts with the topic, though, you realize that we apparently come into life carrying the karmic debt of our previous life. Our goal is to identify these and work to improve them, to move into "higher" state of consciousness in our next life. Aiming to attain a higher level of peace, tranquility, spirituality (in a broad sense) and enlightenment by carrying out our lives to the fullest, and we carry that into the next. But, only if that concept carries any weight at all.

Again, can we judge?

Who knows. It's fun to be on the fence about this kind of stuff. At the very least, it's a motivation to do the best we can.

 

[KindOfnElf]

It does and it does not exist.
When I say it does it's in a picture far larger than just here and now. If we talk Karma, than we talk past lives and that is inevitable. Because the very term Karma is about passing energy (that will bring "good" or "bad" events into existence) from point A to point B, and point A can be now, and point B in your next life, or, point A was in past life and point B is now. It's much more complexed than just: if I do good then good will come, if I do bad - bad will come to be. Time, per se does not exist when we talk Karma cause Karma is attribute of the soul which is immortal and unbound in time and space, and the body is a tool through which soul experiences.
So, you can believe Karma, or not believe, and I find both stupid. (that is just my opinion) You either experience it, understand it, figure it, and be free of it or you don't. The spiritual disciplines call for experience not for dogmatic beliefs.For instance, if your religious beliefs bound you to religion like Christianity, and there you have only one life, one chance and no second shot, than you can't possibly think or discuss Karma cause you don't support reincarnation. The thing about "what goes around comes around" is bound to the punisher God there: you are bad - He teaches you a lesson through suffering, you are good - He rewards you (in the afterlife), and everything about the temptations fit in this image (very roughly put).
And Karma has nothing to do with rewards or penalties: it is perceived as an flow energy, not necessarily labeled as good or bad, but that has a lot to do with with Karma not existing, and the concept of "truth will set you free".

 

[Riobux]

Absolutely none existent. Even if it is, it's deeply flawed due to twisted cycles.

 

[Funkiest Monkey]

What goes around, comes around. That's all there is to it.

 

[TerribleAssassin]

I'd like there to be. Because, I'm a nice guy so I'll get a good girl and live happily ever after...


Sorry, I forgot where I was going with this. But it's a nice idea, but sadly it can't be proved OR de-proved, so I'll sit on the bench for this.

 

[similar.squirrel]

I'd be sceptical about its supernatural connotations, but I do believe in the old 'what goes around, comes around' adage.
It has more to do with the way you act, and the manner in which you are consequently perceived.
There are exceptions, of course. Plenty of unsavoury people keep doing what they do unhindered.

 

[SomeLameStuff]

For me, karma is more of an event that happens because you made a desision.

Like say you make fun of some guy, then it turns out said person has biiiiig friends who then beat your face in. That's karma for me.

Karma is also the name of an awesome song from a band with a very odd name.

 

[Jack_Uzi]

It does and it does not exist.
When I say it does it's in a picture far larger than just here and now. If we talk Karma, than we talk past lives and that is inevitable. Because the very term Karma is about passing energy (that will bring "good" or "bad" events into existence) from point A to point B, and point A can be now, and point B in your next life, or, point A was in past life and point B is now. It's much more complexed than just: if I do good then good will come, if I do bad - bad will come to be. Time, per se does not exist when we talk Karma cause Karma is attribute of the soul which is immortal and unbound in time and space, and the body is a tool trough which soul experiences.
So, you can believe Karma, or not believe, and I find both stupid. (that is just my opinion) You either experience it, understand it, figure it, and be free of it or you don't. The spiritual disciplines call for experience not for dogmatic beliefs.For instance, if your religious beliefs bound you to religion like Christianity, and there you have only one life, one chance and no second shot, than you can't possibly think or discuss Karma cause you don't support reincarnation. The thing about "what goes around comes around" is bound to the punisher God there: you are bad - He teaches you a lesson through suffering, you are good - He rewards you (in the afterlife), and everything about the temptations fit in this image (very roughly put).
And Karma has nothing to do with rewards or penalties: it is perceived as an flow energy, not necessarily labeled as good or bad, but that has a lot to do with with Karma not existing, and the concept of "truth will set you free".

This I found very interesting to read. Thank you for posting your thoughts on it because it gave me a bit of new insight on it and agree with your way of thinking.
For me, it still remains a struggle between the way I think and the things I've experienced that sometimes clash. I do believe in reincarnation but sometimes wonder about the way things like karma and destiny could/couldn't play a part in the life of a 'new' soul.
I don't look at it from a religious point of view because I think of myself to be an agnost with my 'own' ideas about it that I'd rather keep open for discussion than stand rigorously by. Don't know why I'm typing on like this at the moment. The only thing I realy wanted to say, actually, was: Thanks!

 

[Zhukov]

No.

Bad things happen to good people. Frequently. And vice versa. Expecting some kind of moral justice from the universe at large strikes me as rather odd and a bit silly.

Don't get me wrong, karma is a nice idea. But it's also a horribly naive one.

 

[PureChaos]

i don't think it exists.

 

[Jake the Snake]

I think it exists, even if it mostly only affects little things. Like, usually when I make fun of someone (which isn't a very usual occurrence) or say something mean, I usually trip or get hit by something. In general? Idk, probably, I just try to be a good person so I don't have to worry about it.

 

[FeetOfClay]

I admit, I dont know much about what it's supposed to be, I mean, is it meant to be balance, or bad things happen to bad people etc.? Because if its the former, that would mean evil acts are rewarded (in order to keep balance), and in the latter, its a positive feedback, and so is the exact opposite of balance.

 

[PAGEToap44]

I don't know if I believe in Karma as such. I believe, if you do good, good things will happen to you. Basically, be nice to people and they should treat you the same. Or achieve something worhwhile and you'll reap the benifits. Break the law and you might get caught and go to jail.

 

[Israirie]

I don't see Karma as a mystical force.

To me it's simply escalating cause and effect. All actions cause reactions. Your actions may never come back around to you directly, but you've helped to perpetuate a sort of negative chain reaction, and you may one day find the environment around you less than peaceful or hospitable. I like to think of it as "you've made your bed, now sleep in it" on a massive scale.

 

[Crabturtleking]

For me, karma is more of an event that happens because you made a desision.

Like say you make fun of some guy, then it turns out said person has biiiiig friends who then beat your face in. That's karma for me.

Karma is also the name of an awesome song from a band with a very odd name.

That song also happens to be the theme to Tales of the Abyss

I believe in karma, just not as a force of nature as some people like to see it as.

 

[Jack_Uzi]

-snip-

I believe in karma, just not as a force of nature as some people like to see it as.

How do you think it works then? Care to explain?

 

[Helbrecht]

Huh. Some people here don't understand what Karma is. It's not an ordinary natural cause-reaction law, it's natural cause-reaction law that extends to "past lives". And also not only as a direct cause-reaction, but a "good-bad" cause-reaction, in which if you do bad, bad will be done to you. Maybe in your next life. And since past lives and "the world is just" statements are bullshit that are necessary side effects of human thinking and psychology, there is no karma.