Do you guys believe in Karma?

b.c.

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In the general sense of the word (connotation is it?) I'd say no because as others noted, there are too many instances where evil does not seem punished. It the spiritual/theological sense (as explained by b-man) I don't have enough evidence to substantiate (a belief in) it.

If for example, Karma requires several "lifetimes" (reincarnations) to fulfill its ultimate outcome, how can I know whether the cockroach I'm dosing with a wiff of Raid was or wasn't some conniving bastard in a previous life who underpaid his workers, mistreated his (or her spouse), and generaly made the lives of others miserable?

It sure would be nice if it were, though, wouldn't it?
 

sdbg

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I have a very strong conscience and a deep sense of right and wrong. Is it inborn? Is it conditioning? I don't know. I'm not a religious person, and I question the existence of god as a being you can pray and talk to. That whole deal sounds too much like a fairy tale to me. Somehow, I feel that my good deeds will be rewarded and my bad deeds will be punished. I live my life accordingly. I'm proud to say that there are few, if any, people who would have anything bad to say about me. I'll be 60 on my next birthday and want to have a clean slate when it's time to move on to the next life.
 

green carnation

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I have been thinking a lot about this very thing recently. Up until about two weeks ago I believed very strongly in karma and living my own life along 'karmic principles'. However, after having two years of one thing after another, I am now feeling (slightly bitter?) karma is bulls**t. Almost every morning for the past week I tell the universe Enough is Enough, Just Stop it Now, I have had my share, time for some good to happen to me as I always (well I'm not a complete angel) treat others with respect, compassion and how I expect to be treated myself. But I am not being treated how I treat others, I am constantly being treated appallingly. And I wonder what more can the universe throw at me...

On top of this I see friends and family connections I have grown up with, who were born with more than any average person can comprehend, and have advantages in life that only a miniscule proportion of the population have, grow up to be the most astonishingly selfish, grabbing, evil bullies. (yes they are my friends because I have known them for so long that I accept them the way they are). I see these people chew others up and spit them out and forty years on they are still doing it and still popular, still rich, still privaledged, still stress free and protected from life's realities. When does this karma thing hit them? While I am struggling and being a nice person considering others, they continue to thrive. I have even wished for something awful to happen to one of my friends just to restore my faith in karma! Hasn't happened yet.

I have decided to put myself first now. Screw other people, I have to look after myself. Afterall it is this life I have to look after now, the afterlife may come sooner than anticipated if I dont. I'm not going to purposefully be nasty to somebody, but I am going to be more selfish. Maybe I thought that giving to others was good karma, when maybe good karma comes from looking after yourself first?

And just as I was wondering what more the universe can throw at me...a natural disaster destroys my family home! I've gotta laugh and look on the positive side: I have my health and my devistatingly handsome looks (for now)!
 

JustAsking

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I agree with the pragmatic definition of karma that has been floating around in this thread. You can often contribute to bad situations that can hurt you in the end. But that is just cause and effect, however indirectly.

I am a devout Christian, but it is not a mainstream Christian notion that your destiny and even your salvation is dependent on things that you do. If that were the case, we would all be screwed.

On the other hand, the world is full of misery and suffering. We minister to that suffering because it is needed, not because we are obligated. And certainly not because there is some cosmic scale to balance in our own lives.
 

helgaleena

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I have been thinking a lot about this very thing recently. Up until about two weeks ago I believed very strongly in karma and living my own life along 'karmic principles'. However, after having two years of one thing after another, I am now feeling (slightly bitter?) karma is bulls**t. Almost every morning for the past week I tell the universe Enough is Enough, Just Stop it Now, I have had my share, time for some good to happen to me as I always (well I'm not a complete angel) treat others with respect, compassion and how I expect to be treated myself. But I am not being treated how I treat others, I am constantly being treated appallingly. And I wonder what more can the universe throw at me...

On top of this I see friends and family connections I have grown up with, who were born with more than any average person can comprehend, and have advantages in life that only a miniscule proportion of the population have, grow up to be the most astonishingly selfish, grabbing, evil bullies. (yes they are my friends because I have known them for so long that I accept them the way they are). I see these people chew others up and spit them out and forty years on they are still doing it and still popular, still rich, still privaledged, still stress free and protected from life's realities. When does this karma thing hit them? While I am struggling and being a nice person considering others, they continue to thrive. I have even wished for something awful to happen to one of my friends just to restore my faith in karma! Hasn't happened yet.

I have decided to put myself first now. Screw other people, I have to look after myself. Afterall it is this life I have to look after now, the afterlife may come sooner than anticipated if I dont. I'm not going to purposefully be nasty to somebody, but I am going to be more selfish. Maybe I thought that giving to others was good karma, when maybe good karma comes from looking after yourself first?

And just as I was wondering what more the universe can throw at me...a natural disaster destroys my family home! I've gotta laugh and look on the positive side: I have my health and my devistatingly handsome looks (for now)!

The I ching says, Care of the cow brings good fortune. Green, you have been giving but now and then you need to keep the wellspring cleaned out, that is, care for the care-giver.

Sounds like you are handling the huge loads of things coming down on you with grace and humor, and may you continue to do so. It's not selfish to take care of yourself first, it's basic maintenance of your own good will source.
 

Drifterwood

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The notion of a metaphysical karma predates Buddhism.

Whilst Oedipus was written after Buddha, it treats the ancient ways through the example of Oedipus, who as karma goes (if it does), was dealt a pretty shit hand by his infanticidal rapist father. A tough call to be the instrument to exact the karmic reckoning.
 

D_Salvatore Speedbump

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I would love to believe in the full power of karmic justice an all that but like others have said. There's a fair amount of f-ed up stuff going on out there. Seems to be more complicated than do good get good immediately. Time seems to play an important part of it too. Not only that but personal acknowledgment of past wrongs. And maybe other people's willingness to punish a person once they find out what that person has done.

Hell sometimes the things we see as evil turn out to be the exact opposite. And some deeds could have had very good intentions behind them but ended up making things worse. (ok my head hurts now) lol
 

SweetLovesVick

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No not really, but I feel better looking at myself in the mirror and I sleep well at night knowing I'm not an evil dick.

Not really karma but I do believe that lying and cheating has a funny way of coming back and biting you in the ass.

I also believe like Nudeyorker. Sleeping at night and not being an evil witch to others brings me peace.

Having seen first hand many "karma" --> "what goes around comes around" ugly paybacks leads me to believe in it. I have seen it come back around and knock people on their ass!
 

helgaleena

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I also believe like Nudeyorker. Sleeping at night and not being an evil witch to others brings me peace.

Having seen first hand many "karma" --> "what goes around comes around" ugly paybacks leads me to believe in it. I have seen it come back around and knock people on their ass!

Nice to know it is at work, even if we haven't all seen it.
 

B_crackoff

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The notion of a metaphysical karma predates Buddhism.

Whilst Oedipus was written after Buddha, it treats the ancient ways through the example of Oedipus, who as karma goes (if it does), was dealt a pretty shit hand by his infanticidal rapist father. A tough call to be the instrument to exact the karmic reckoning.

Whilst karmically not disagreeing with you - as soon as I saw this - I was damn sure that Oedipus was Homeric, which is well before Buddha, & the gist of the story (prophecy, patricide, & incest) was pretty well known.

http://www.gradesaver.com/oedipus-rex-or-oedipus-the-king/study-guide/about/

Of course the main plays were written around the same time, or just after Buddha, so in a spirit of karmic peacemaking, I give you Tom Lehrer.

YouTube - Tom Lehrer - Oedipus Rex

I also believe like Nudeyorker. Sleeping at night and not being an evil witch to others brings me peace.

Having seen first hand many "karma" --> "what goes around comes around" ugly paybacks leads me to believe in it. I have seen it come back around and knock people on their ass!

It's nice to be nice! Being vicious, self absorbed & vengeful is a recipe for a troubled life. We've all got to realise that we need to let the small stuff go, & realise that almost all of our problems are small stuff feasting their way to becoming something big.
 

Redwyvre

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To be honest I'm not sure I know or agree with the concept of karma. Seems like a punishment and reward sort of system. The ego loves this sort of thing with a special emphasis and fascination with the punishment aspect. Thing is I'm beginning to think the ego isn't real. It seems to be something we've made up for creating DRAMA. To get through life I've settled into the concept that there is a price to pay. There is a price to pay if you're good and there's a price to pay if you're bad. For some reason I feel comfortable thinking this way.
 
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I believe the more positive you place in the world the better it will become. Although the negative has to be there for the current of life to work, our bodies work on electrical current, much like a battery I spose. So the human body has a negative energy built into it. If it was not there it would not work. I don't know enough on how the electrical current in the body works...google it and it would probably tell me, but hey...

Airy fairy that belief maybe..but I like mystery in life.
 

Krusader

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Theres a chinese saying 恶有恶报,不是不报,时晨未到. Which means whatever you do, it will ultimately come back and haunt you.