Why we should not think too much about karma/kamma

last SG · 2010-01-08T15:35:42+00:00

think so far very hard ledun even know can survive next year a notGot money just enjoy lar

noahnoah SG

recent case

A teenager gave birth then hide

the baby in the washing machine

sia..

I wonder she got on the washing machine a not

next time might end up hiding it in the microwave oven

Isis SG

I think conscience is just something you are brought up to believe. Like in the past it was ok to own slaves, but not now.

Don't you think people without conscience will create a harm to the society?

It was okay to own slaves to those people who own the slaves.

But do you think it will be okay if you are a slave to them?

Fantagf SG

Maybe last time even more babies thrown away, just no news to report it

Yes and no about it

SevenEleven SG

Maybe a better word for conscience is the mind.

You may leave a mark in your mind stream.

dhammapada1 & 2

"Mind is the fore-runner of all state"

Fantagf SG

oh ya, reading about mind in this thread reminds me that Buddhism is about mind.

yet to know more about buddhism

pardon me for my lack of knowledge

noahnoah SG

last time i took buddhist study during my sec days

teacher always brought us to temple and meditate

one...

but too bad i fall asleep..and my mind was totally blank

Fantagf SG

last time i took buddhist study during my sec days

teacher always brought us to temple and meditate

one...

but too bad i fall asleep..and my mind was totally blank

so bad of you to sleep

knotty knotty

dadeadman1337 SG

Don't you think people without conscience will create a harm to the society?

It was okay to own slaves to those people who own the slaves.

But do you think it will be okay if you are a slave to them?

That was not my point. My point was that conscience was not universal, but a system which people were brought up to believe.

Isis SG

That was not my point. My point was that conscience was not universal, but a system which people were brought up to believe.

I think it works in both ways - not just by learning but also by our natural instinct.

dadeadman1337 SG

I think it works in both ways - not just by learning but also by our natural instinct.

Hmm, if we followed instinct, we would behave like animals wouldn't we?

noahnoah SG

Hmm, if we followed instinct, we would behave like animals wouldn't we?

actually some times

humans behave in a way that

they are far worse then animals

Isis SG

Hmm, if we followed instinct, we would behave like animals wouldn't we?

My natural instinct does not refer to animal instinct.

For example if you see someone suffers or someone lose their loved ones, what do you feel for them? Do you feel pity for them? Do we need to be taught?

Actually all beings wants happiness and do not wants suffering. This is our natural inborn instinct.

Fantagf SG

actually some times

humans behave in a way that

they are far worse then animals

I agree. for eg, like the case of throwing babies away

Weychin SG

Hmm, if we followed instinct, we would behave like animals wouldn't we?

Weychin SG

Hmm, if we followed instinct, we would behave like animals wouldn't we?

If you are an animal(not literally!), you use whatever within your ability to survive, and to care for your offspring. If you are a human, you will also use whatever available to you. Instinct and also reasoning(intelligence). That your parents give birth to and love you without reason, that's instinct. That they use their reasoning (empathy) to be kind to other peoples' children and other people will be kind your children! That throwing babies away is bad, because you use your reasoning!

dadeadman1337 SG

Ah the love of the parent is quite simillar to the kind shown in animals where the adults are protective of the young.

dadeadman1337 SG

My natural instinct does not refer to animal instinct.

For example if you see someone suffers or someone lose their loved ones, what do you feel for them? Do you feel pity for them? Do we need to be taught?

Actually all beings wants happiness and do not wants suffering. This is our natural inborn instinct.

Protectiveness shown towards members of your own species, shown in animals as well. I remember an article in the newspapers where a child stabbed, yet failed to give any reaction. Thus a basis for assuming that certain things have to be taught

Dawnfirstlight SG

but then i see krama differently. the effect does not need to be direct. for example, if he got away with the stealing, he would be free with the direct impact but not his consciencious.

I remembered there was a monk (could not remember his name), he said there was once he counselled a murderer who was in jail. The murderer told the monk that he was really innocent, he did not kill the victim. The monk told him there must be a reason (karma) why he was jailed even though he was innocent. He confessed to the monk that he once killed someone but got away with it.

This just got to show karma will get you one day, either now or later.

Spnw07 SG

Wow I did not expect this to become a thread with so many comments.

Anyway I wish to comment a bit on some points raised so far:

My personal opinion is that inside humans, we do have some instincts that would put us in the same category of animals or maybe worse, as some suggested here..

For example, we can now get to read or hear about news of natural fathers sexually abusing their own daughters...

Now, how many fathers would do that to their own flesh and blood? Why is the natural paternal instinct of a father unable to overcome the sexual perversions?

Without the concept of karma as explained in Buddhism, I would find it very hard put to convince myself logically and emotionally, after seeing and hearing such shocking news.

These are some of those many moments that I thank myself for having the chance to be in touch with Buddhism.

Dawnfirstlight SG

Followings are some of the LAW OF KARMA which I believe many people (including myself) who have misunderstood in the past :

1) Good deeds cannot redeem bad deeds. They are accounted for separately. For eg, a man who is very rich but short life. Reasons being he was very generous in donations in his past life but had committed a lot of killings. His generousity could not redeem his killings.

2) Sins cannot be eliminated, it can only be lightened by repenting sincerely in front of Buddha. Repenting sincerely means one has regretted what one had done and will not do it again.

3) There are many people who said it is not fair for they have to suffer for something they cannot remember (past life). It is just like killing someone while drink driving or one falls down and breaks a pair of legs while drunk. When one sobers up, one has to face the consequence of a pair of broken legs even though he cannot recall what he had done when he was drunk.

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