Karma

:''For other uses, see Karma (disambiguation)'' Karma (Sanskrit: कर्म), or Kamma (Pali) is a sanskrit word and a concept of relgions born in India (eastern religions), meaning 'action, effect, destiny.' In Hinduism and, later, Buddhism and Sikhism, it is the sum of a person's actions, regarded as determining that person's future states of existence. The effects of those deeds actively create all that is to happen and determine every present and future experience, thus completely excluding random chance. The law of Karma originated in the Vedic system of religion, otherwise known as Hinduism or ''Sanatan Dharma'' (perennial faith). As a term, it can at the latest be traced back to the early Upanishads, around 1500s BC. == Karma in the Dharma-based religions == ===Hinduism=== The concept of Karma, based on the Vedas and Upanishads was a concept that was adopted by other religions like Buddhism and Jainism. One of the first and most dramatic illustrations of Karma can be found in the great Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. The original Hindu concept of karma was later enhanced by several other movements within the religion, most notably Vedanta, and Tantra. Karma literally means "deed" or "act" and more broadly names the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction which governs all life. Karma is not fate, for man acts with free will creating his own destiny. According to the Vedas, if we sow Goodness and value theory, we will reap goodness; if we sow evil, we will reap evil. Karma refers to the totality of our actions and their concommitant reactions in this and previous lives, all of which determines our future. The conquest of karma lies in intelligent action and dispassionate reaction. Not all karmas rebound immediately. Some accumulate and return unexpectedly in this or other births. As ^†Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami explains it, unkindness yields spoiled fruits, called papa and good deeds bring forth sweet fruits, called punya. He further notes that as one acts, so does he become. One becomes virtuous by virtuous action, bad by bad action." ====Three Kinds of Karma==== * There are three types of karma, *# sanchita karma, the sum total of past karmas yet to be resolved; *# prarabdha karma, that portion of sanchita karma that is to be experienced in this life; and *# kriyamana karma, the karma that humans are currently creating and will bear fruit in the future. Notably, Karma in Hinduism, which differs from Buddhism and Jainism, involves the role of God. For a detailed look at such a role, please see Karma in Hinduism. ===Buddhism=== In Buddhism, only intentional actions are karmic "acts of Will (philosophy)". The 'Law of Karma' refers to "cause and effect", but Karma literally means "action" - often indicating intent or cause. Accompanying this usually is a separate tenet called Vipaka, meaning result or effect. The re-action or effect can itself also influence an action, and in this way, the chain of causation continues ad infinitum. When Buddhists talk about karma, they are normally referring to karma/action that is 'tainted' with ignorance - karma that continues to ensure that the being remains in the everlasting cycle of samsara. This samsaric karma comes in two 'flavours' - 'good' karma, which leads to positive/pleasurable experiences, like high rebirth (as a deva, asura, or human), and bad karma which leads to suffering and low rebirth (as a hell-sufferer, as a preta, or as an animal). There is also a completely different type of karma that is neither good nor bad, but liberating. This karma allows for the individual to break the uncontrolled cycle of rebirth which always implies suffering, and thereby leave samsara to permanently enter Nirvana. The Buddhist sutras explain that in order to generate liberating karma, we must first develop incredibly powerful concentration, and proper insight into the (un)reality of samsara. This concentration is akin to the states of mind required to be reborn in the Deva realm, and in itself depends upon a very deep training in ethical self-discipline. This differentiation between good karma and liberating karma has been used by some scholars to argue that the development of Tantra depended upon Buddhist ideas and philosophies. Understanding the way enables sex to be of important to all universal law of Karma provides order to a beginningless and endless universe. Alongside this view is the related notion of Rebirth (Buddhist) - sometimes understood to be the same thing as reincarnation - which has its roots in the principle of Karma. ===Jainism=== Jains believe that karma is a form of matter. Mahavira described karma as "clay particles". Jains do not believe in "good karma" or "bad karma"; they try to avoid all karma. ===Parallels with Christianity=== Christian teachings do not usually include the idea of Karma, although some parallels can be made, as exemplified by biblical verses of ''God is not mocked, what a man sows he must reap'' and ''Vengeance is mine says the Lord''. Karma is thought by some Jesuit theologians to be consistent with the doctrine of Purgatory, For the most part, however, the idea of the Abrahamic God makes the concept of Karma redundant for Christians. It is also worth noting that most interpretations of Christianity do not emphasize the religious importance of thoughts and intentions (volition), that are usually understood to be a major form of Karma by the doctrines that use that concept. == Western Interpretation == An academic and religious definition was mentioned above. Although, the Karma cannot be proven as easily as the law of gravity, millions of people believe in it and is a part of many cultures and psyche of groups of people. Even more people, without a religious background, especially in a western culture or with a Christian upbringing, come to the conviction of the existence of Karma. For some, karma is a more reasonable concept than eternal damnation for the wicked. Spirituality or a belief that virtue is rewarded and sin creates suffering eventually leads to a belief in Karma. According to Karma, performance of positive action results with the reaction of a good conditioning in one's experience, whereas a negative action results in a reaction of a bad response. This may be an immediate result following the act, or a delayed result occurring either in the present life or the next. Thus, meritorious acts may create rebirth into a higher station, such as a superior human being or a godlike being, while evil acts result in rebirth as a human living in less desirable circumstances, or as a lower animal. While the action of karma has often been compared with the Western civilization notions of sin and judgment by God or gods, karma instead has been commonly perceived by Westerners to operate as an inherent principle of the Universe without the intervention of any supernatural Being. That notion is incorrect and holds true for only Buddhism and Jainism. In Hinduism, however, God does play a role and is seen as a dispenser of karma; see Karma in Hinduism for more details. Most teachings say that for common mortals, having an involvement with Karma is an unavoidable part of day-to-day living. However, in light of the Hindu philosophical school of Vedanta, as well as Gautama Buddha's teachings, one is advised to either avoid, control or become mindful of the effects of desires and aversions as a way to moderate or change one's karma (or, more accurately, one's karmic results). ===New Age and Theosophy=== The idea of karma was popularized in the west through the work of the Theosophical Society. Kardecist Spiritualism and Western New Age reinterpretations of karma frequently cast it as a sort of luck which is associated with virtue: if one does good or spiritually valuable acts, one deserves and can expect good luck; conversely, if one does harmful things, one can expect bad luck or unfortunate happenings. In this conception, karma is affiliated with the Neopaganism ''law of return'' or ''Threefold Law,'' the idea that the beneficial or harmful effects one has on the world will return to oneself. ==See also== *Edgar Cayce on Karma *Just-world phenomenon *Karma in Hinduism *Sin *Theosophy *Yuanfen ===References and Related Links=== ^† Cited from ''Dancing with Siva'' by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami *[http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/lofiversion/index.php/t10692.html Karma In Buddhism] *[http://swami-center.org/en/chpt/ecology/page_7.shtml Destiny and Its Correction] *[http://www.photonics.cusat.edu/article2.html Karma and the laws of Quantam Mechanics] *[http://www.lawofkarma.net/lpjarun/index.html Law of Karma - Dhamma Practice, by Luang Paw Jarun of Wat Amphawan, Thailand] *[http://www.religiousbook.net/Books/Online_books/Sh/Heart_10.html Hell, Paradise, and Karma] Hindu philosophical concepts Buddhist philosophical concepts

Karma

Talk:Karma ARCHIVE: New age, Western interpretation, Step by step, Edgar Cayce, Universal need to believe, fidelity to original Hindu concept From :karma: "Life is a cycle of conceptual rebirths evident in what can be defined as consciousness. Far from being a strictly action/reaction agent, karma is at work during our physical lives albeit in an unfathomable manner at times (ie. great beings who suffer much)." I think I actually agree with that. But I'm not sure. Can it be said any more clearly?? *Also* -- we need to phrase this in a :Neutral point of view manner, not "X is", but "Some people think X is", or "X may be regarded as ..." Thanks!! ---- I think the opening sentence puts ''karma'' in the context of Eastern religion; it's not necessary to pepper the entire article with "Some people think..." and "It is believed by some that...". Besides, that's just bad style. ;-) --User:Stephen Gilbert ==moved from article== ' Karma as a term is often misunderstood to mean specific accumulation of a sort of negative energy from misdeeds (compare with aspects of the Golden Rule). In fact, while karma includes this concept just because it includes the consequences of all human existence, it is really about accumulation of worldliness, in the sense of worldliness inhibiting spiritual passage. ' :I'm not sure if I understand exactly what you are saying, and I think that a refrased version of this would be better suited to later in the article, rather than as the introduction. User:Sam Spade User talk:Sam Spade 04:37, 19 Apr 2004 (UTC) ::Tbis is an article that explains NOTHING about karma to the reader unless and until they are willing to wade well into it. There needs to be an introductory summary to give a) the casual reader who won't go deeply into the subject a rudimentary understanding, and b) the serious reader an initial orientation to better form a framework of understanding. The article like it is reads fine as an abysmally arcane piece of esoterica (I do not mean to cast any aspersions on either writing or substance, which seem fine); it needs to be more accessible to the average reader. User:Jaknouse 15:58, 19 Apr 2004 (UTC) :::I tried to refrase it. I agree with Jaknouse that there should be a summary in the introduction before the table of contents.User:Andries 19:02, 19 Apr 2004 (UTC) ::::I like it how it is now, great work. User:Sam Spade User talk:Sam Spade 19:52, 19 Apr 2004 (UTC) :::::Much better. Thank you. User:Jaknouse 03:24, 20 Apr 2004 (UTC) ===Request: Explain Diff with Karma and Christian sin; and Karmic implications of Thoughts=== Somebody, please explain a difference in the concepts of Christian sin and karma. e.g. Something like sin deals with punishment and reward for good behaviour, etc. Also, Christianity does deal not much with thoughts. For example , is bad karma created by wrong thoughts, resentments, hate, etc.? Please place under the Christianity paragraph. Thanks User:Jondel 07:06, 28 Apr 2004 (UTC)~~ :What about "if you have sinned in your heart" and all that rah rah? - User:Nat KrauseUser_Talk:Nat Krause 09:47, 28 Apr 2004 (UTC) ::I suppose that should be considered equivalent to volitive Karma. However, the schools of thought of what is generally meant today by "Christianism" tend to claim that such "Karma" is made null and void by proper practice and faith in God. I am not sure how best to word it - if at all; IMHO Karma simply isn't a very good fit to Christian teachings. User:Luis Dantas 13:06, 28 Apr 2004 (UTC) :::Thanks for the parallel with Christianity and mention of thoughts.I believe that Karma covers a broad field, including thoughts, although it is a Hindu concept. Jesus seemed to hint that even wrong thoughts can be sinful because the Jews (no offence intended to Jews)in his time seemed to be satisfied at overtly just following the 'Laws' as pointed out in the 'If you have sinned in his heart...' . User:Jondel 08:00, 13 May 2004 (UTC)~~ == Categorization == We should only use the most specific pertinent categories; i.e., if Karma is a Hindu and Buddhist philosophical concept, it shouldn't also be categorized as "Hinduism" or "Buddhism".User:Kukkurovaca|User talk:Kukkurovaca 20:24, 22 Jun 2004 (UTC) : My problem with this whole categorizing business is that it is liable to be extremely redundant, as you've pointed out. The additional problem with Indian philosophy both Hindu and Buddhist is that it is inevitably a deeply-rooted and practiced religious stream. They were not like the Greeks sitting on marble steps and discussing long dialectics. While they perhaps did do some of that (replace marble steps with kusha grass) the religions we today speak of as Buddhism or Hinduism with their various denominations are such because of their having actively utilized this 'philosophical' concepts. How does one begin to delineate?? Are the philosophical concepts sections irrelevant when dealing with Indian religion? Brahman, for instance, is certainly a philosophical concept of Hinduism and yet it is completely vital to any Hinduism category stated. The philosophy and religion of Buddhism are similarly intertwined. What to do? --User:LordSuryaofShropshire 20:32, Jun 22, 2004 (UTC) ::That's certainly fair, and I've had a related concern myself, but I was planning on waiting until other natural categories presented themselves (Buddhist Ethics, for example, would probably cover all of the non-philosophical uses of Karma in Buddhism) and then add them, rather than using redundent supercategories.User:Kukkurovaca|User talk:Kukkurovaca 21:02, 22 Jun 2004 (UTC) == Western Interpretation Section == I'm not happy with the burgeoning size of this section, particularly because a lot of it doesn't 1) seem appropriate and 2) present anything new. Some of the sections sound like moral apothegms and others represent certain ideas of 'collective karma' (and other such thoughts) as if they were established, brought to new light or revolutionized by Cayce (and new schools in the West), none of which things is true. Also, beyond these two problems, these sections are meant to be either ''brief'' elucidations of karma or mentions of influential systems utilizing karma; I understand Cayce and the supposedly 'new western' looks are ostensibly both of these, but in actuality neither is Cayce (or the West) so looming a figure nor the information and theories so original as to merit devouring half the article. I'm not going to excise any material that is not mentioned elsewhere, though the Cayce examples don't seem appropriate and at best should be featured on a separate 'Cayce' article; {with)in a week or so, I'll be trimming it down substantially. :I 'll be creating a Edgar Cayce on Karma and transferring. Hope this is agreeable to everyone.--User:Jondel 00:24, 4 Aug 2004 (UTC) ::Works for me. And when you do, you can transfer the :Category:New religious movements tag over to it, since this section is the reason for that tag being on this article. Thanks. --User:Gary D 01:11, 4 Aug 2004 (UTC) ::OK with the New religous tag. How about this Talk/discussion ->Archive? delete ?Transfer to E.C. on Karma from Categorization 2 par down?. I'll be doing this very soon.--User:Jondel 02:40, 4 Aug 2004 (UTC) :::I'd say archive or sort or sort and archive, use your discretion. --User:Gary D 03:09, 4 Aug 2004 (UTC) ::::Archive was done. Also a new wiki page on Edgar Cayce on Karma . The Cayce material was transferred. --User:Jondel 00:09, 5 Aug 2004 (UTC) :::::What is "the Karma cannot be proven as easily as the law of gravity" supposed to mean? Karma isn't something that is/can be proven, it's an ideology. The first sentence is just a waste of words and should be removed as well. User:Prometheus235 17:14, 26 May 2005 (UTC) So, anyone else bothered by the characterization of Newton's 3rd law as 'action is reaction'? A more proper statement of it is 'for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction'. Stated this way it loses any real connection to karma and should be removed IMHO. == Karma is good. == I like the concept of Karma. I makes me awake. I see myself quite smoking because I see the cause not the fun of smoking. I see the result of extreme pain and suffering. :Karma includes everything, even thoughts.--User:Jondel 08:42, 22 Mar 2005 (UTC) == Initial Definition == I wrote a brief, very simple definition at the begining. The article is long and detailed, but someone simply wanting to know what karma stands for would have had a hard time. I am sure it will help the uninitiated. --User:Subramanian 19:08, 5 May 2005 (UTC)

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Words begining with Karma:

Karma
Karma
Karma-mimamsa
Karma2000
Karmafist
Karmafist
Karmageddon
Karman
Karmana
Karmann
Karmann
Karmann_Ghia
Karman_Ghia
Karman_line
Karman_line
K�rm�n_line
Karmapa
Karmapa
Karmapa_controversy
Karmapa_controversy
Karmapa_Lama
Karmarpa_controversy
Karmathian
Karmathians
Karmatron
Karma_(album)
Karma_(comics)
Karma_(disambiguation)
Karma_(software)
Karma_and_Effect
Karma_and_Effect
Karma_ARCHIVE:_New_age,_Western_interpretation,_Step_by_step,_Edgar_Cayce,_Universal_need_to_believe,_fidelity_to_original_Hindu_concept
Karma_Chameleon
Karma_in_Hinduism
Karma_Kagyu
Karma_Police
Karma_Sutra
Karma_whore
Karma_whoring
Karma_Yoga
Karma_yoga