Is it wrong to have a mindset that you can't improve your life
if you're fated to a poor life?
Heard that some Thai buddhists (not monks) have this mindset
thus they do nothing to try and improve their lives.
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/karma.htm
There
are some who criticise thus: "So, you Buddhists, too, administer
capitalistic opium to the people, saying: "You are born poor in
this life on account of your past evil karma. He is born rich on
account of his good Karma. So, be satisfied with your humble lot;
but do good to be rich in your next life. You are being oppressed
now because of your past evil Karma. There is your destiny. Be
humble and bear your sufferings patiently. Do good now. You can be
certain of a better and happier life after death."
The
Buddhist doctrine of Karma does not expound such ridiculous
fatalistic views. Nor does it vindicate a postmortem justice. The
All-Merciful Buddha, who had no ulterior selfish motives, did not
teach this law of Karma to protect the rich and comfort the poor by
promising illusory happiness in an after-life.
While
we are born to a state created by ourselves, yet by our own
self-directed efforts there is every possibility for us to create
new, favourable environments even here and now. Not only
individually, but also, collectively, we are at liberty to create
fresh Karma that leads either towards our progress or downfall in
this very life.
According
to the Buddhist doctrine of Karma, one is not always compelled by
an ‘iron necessity’, for Karma is neither fate, nor predestination
imposed upon us by some mysterious unknown power to which we must
helplessly submit ourselves. It is one’s own doing reacting on
oneself, and so one has the possibility to divert the course of
one’s Karma to some extent. How far one diverts it depends on
oneself.
Is
one bound to reap all that one has sown in just
proportion?
The
Buddha provides an answer:
"If
anyone says that a man or woman must reap in this life according to
his present deeds, in that case there is no religious life, nor is
an opportunity afforded for the entire extinction of sorrow. But if
anyone says that what a man or woman reaps in this and future lives
accords with his or her deeds present and past, in that case there
is a religious life, and an opportunity is afforded for the entire
extinction of a sorrow." (Anguttara Nikaya)
Although
it is stated in the Dhammapada that "not in the sky, nor in
mid-ocean, or entering a mountain cave is found that place on earth
where one may escape from (the consequences of) an evil deed", yet
one is not bound to pay all the past arrears of one’s Karma. If
such were the case emancipation would be impossibility. Eternal
recurrence would be the unfortunate result.