The Law Of Karma, of action and reaction, is applicable to the spiritual sphere and is absolute. It states for every action there will be an equal and opposite reaction. "Opposite" of course means 'opposite in direction'. Whatever interactions I have with others, I receive the equivalent in return. This means that, if I have given happiness, I will receive happiness in return and if I have given sorrow, I will receive sorrow in return. The law is simple and, when understood in its full depth, it can give insight into the significance of events in my own world and in the world at large. "As you sow , so shall you reap". It is the Law of Cause and Effect.The tricky part is that sometimes we heard of people crying and asking, "How come such an innocent small child has to go through such hardship as to endure a certain disease for eg hole in the heart, cancer and what not. He or she hasn't done anyone any harm." It is true the child hasn't done anyone any harm. People are talking about this life. They have just forgotten about his/her previous life deed. What he or she has done in his or her past life?.
The negativity of the past life has led him/her into "karmic-debts" in this present life of him/her. He or she is now repaying that debt by sickness suffering for example.
Ignorant of law is no excuse. Just like we are still affected by the law of gravity either we aware or non-aware of its existence.
Good writeup.
ReplyDeleteThere is another commonly misunderstood aspect of karma, and that is karma cannot be changed. Sometimes you see people give up and say, "What to do, my karma is so bad in this life I might as well give up and die."
To believe that is to believe that your future is already predetermined, the way other religions believe their God has carved your life in stone and there is nothing you can do to change it. The Buddhist system does not see it that way.
In the Buddhist system, karma can be changed by present action. You can influence the outcome of an exam by studying hard. You can ease up a difficult life by being generous and so on. You can change where the river flows with correct understanding and action.
You might this article interesting: Misunderstandings of the law of Kamma
@Damien,
ReplyDeleteThank you Damien.
Not only, are we not the slave of destiny, but the understanding of Karma philosphy makes us the creator or master of our own destiny. If we perform pure and beneficial actions, we create our own positive future in the direction of our choice. Same as the Buddhist teaching.