karma

If bad perimeter defense is indicative of bad karma, Rockets management must have killed Mike James's parents or something...

 

Well the sporting world would probably say "it's a sin not to cover that guy" etc., when they don't actually mean it's an offense to god (unless it's the Cowboys)

But you're right. Most people here don't really understand karma. They think it means things bounce back to you, or it just implies luck.

I don't know if there is a Christian equivalent. That's why there are books like "Why do bad things happen to good people?". They don't understand the nature of things, they don't see that there is a lot of karma beyond their control.

 

I was sitting here wondering why so many writers use a simplified (or simplistic) evocation of 'karma' as a literary device, but for some reason all I can call to mind is an image of Jeff Van Gundy eating a plate of shrimp.

 

I agree. Karma is often used as a substitute for irony. It just sorta helps put a sense of direction/narrative structure into a series of events. It's just a natural thing human beings do...

 

They're mistaking "Karma" with "luck".

 

i doubt that Herman Edwards has been exposed to Jainism, but its view of Karma is slightly different from that of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism (and other religions originating in the indian subcontinent). For followers of Jainism, Karma is an actual material subtstance or mass of energy that can enter the body and bind to the soul.

heres a very simplified view of the Jain concept of Karma:

http://www.umich.edu/~umjains/jainismsimplified/chapter08.html

 

Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head
You better get yourself together
Pretty soon you're gonna be dead
What in the world you thinking of
Laughing in the face of love
What on earth you tryin' to do
It's up to you, yeah you

 

Karma is actually against Christian teaching.

As Christians if we follow God we are told to expect hardship and rejection from the world. The only bounce back we are guaranteed is in the next life.

 

That's not Karma. Jesus taught that you reap what you sough. That's karma.

 

The Bible reference is Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Karma seems to have several variations, as I try to understand.

Karma does not deal with a personal God and it does not include the idea of flesh, Spirit and life everlasting.

The idea of actions and consequences is certainly covered in Christian theology but not at all in the way I understand Karma.

Karma is not a Christian concept- action/ choices having consequences is.

Cesar-Geronimo is accurate in his statement and it shows that a Christian worldview includes suffering in this life and future blessings for those who follow Christ.

Jesus has promised Christians trouble in this life and heaven after death.

The sufferings a Christian experiences are temporal sufferings. Paul said his outward man suffered, but his inward spirit was blessed. A Christian experiences inward peace, joy and love even though outwardly there are trials, troubles and persecutions.

It is a wonderful trade.

That is the program as I understand it.

 

http://www.buddhanet.net/fundbud9.htm

In its most basic sense, the Law of Karma in the moral sphere teaches that similar actions will lead to similar results. Let us take an example. If we plant a mango seed, the plant that springs up will be a mango tree, and eventually it will bear a mango fruit. Alternatively, if we plant a Pong Pong seed, the tree that will spring up will be a Pong Pong tree and the fruit a Pong Pong. As one sows, so shall one reap. According to one’s action, so shall be the fruit. Similarly, in the Law of Karma, if we do a wholesome action, eventually we will get a wholesome fruit, and if we do an unwholesome action eventually we will get an unwholesome, painful result. This is what we mean when we say that causes bring about effects that are similar to the causes.

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Do Christians really disagree with this? It makes perfect sense to me...

 

from the website your linked, i think this is an important part of the meaning of karma that many people miss:

 

No as you explained above- that is also the Christian concepts of choices/ consequences.- There are some addition variables of importance in Christian theology, but the essence of meaning is the same.

 

I think this comes down again to the difference between Christianity being a monotheistic religion and Buddhism being essentially a no-theistic religion. Under the Christian world view God is the mediator of cause and affect so while you may suffer in this life God will reward you in the next. As I said in another thread Buddhism doesn't view there being a mediator that grants our rewards or punishments but that the Universe is run under the law of cause and effect. Actions have consequences so what we percieve as being bad acts have bad consequences.

 

That I have learned, right here. Thanks

I might add that as a Christian what often men perceive as a good consequence is actually a bad consequence in God's view. And what a person may see as a bad consequence would actually be a good consequence for a Christian.

That is one reason I question the reasoning of men trying to judge for themselves 'good and bad'- in my opinion leaving this up to human interpretation has lead to great tragedy, I just read about a Hindu widow who was burned alive because of a Hindu tradition called 'Sati' it was explained that this would prevent the Karma of being born again as a woman.

I do not understand why a Hindu widow would be burned alive for Karma? I know that is not a Buddhist teaching but I have heard of this being done in India even though it is against Indian laws.

 

I would be hesitant to judge a religion based upon the barbaric actions of some practitioners. People accused of being witches were once burned on the supposed authority of a Christian God yet it would mistake to judge Christianity on that.

You're right that we as humans are imperfect in our perception and sense of judgement. The most we can do is try to seek to understand what is perfect judgement whether it be God's or the Universe's.