Dr.Oliver
Section 13
04 December 2019
The Law Of Karma
We have all heard about karma and how it relates to our actions. Whatever we do, good or bad, comes back to us. Or as Google defines it, "the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences." This cause and effect situation can be traced back to its origin in the Buddist and Hindu religion. But does everyone actually believe that God punished or rewards all human actions? In Buddhism and Hinduism, karma first appeared in the Hindu text the Rigveda. Karma attaches more guilt weight when there are consequences associated with it. Thus, karma is connected with a spiritual and moral feeling. However, in South Asian philosophy, karma is defined with the cycle of birth and death (Nirvana) which shows how karma differs from religion or traditions.
In Hinduism, there are 3 karma theories: "prarabdha, samcita, and kriyamana." They mean that karma is "to be experienced in this lifetime, latent karma which we have not yet reaped, and karma that will result in our future lives." Hinduism believes in reincarnation and they also justify that the karma that remains unpunished will follow you onto the next life. If you achieve good karma, you will reincarnate into a human being. But if you are punished, you will become an animal or some other sort of non-human form.
In Buddhism, they believe that an action driven by intention descends into their own life consequences. It is believed that the karma that has not been punished or rewarded ascends into a "new form composed of five skandhas (constituent elements of a being)." The righteous ways one's own actions, suggested by Buddha, can allow one to attain nirvana. The purpose of Buddhism is to be conscious of our behavior. And have good behavior for our own sake and not just for the purpose of trying to reach nirvana because karma will make one continue the cycle of birth and death.
Quiz:
1. What are the two main religions that believe in karma?
2. What is buddhism's main goal at the end of life?
Discussion:
1. Do you believe in karma? If you are a christian and believe in this, do you believe it will help you reach heaven?
2. If you don't, why do you not believe in karma?
commented on:
Sources:
Video:
"But does everyone actually believe that God punished or rewards all human actions?" No
ReplyDelete"have good behavior for our own sake" - for all our sakes. That's the impetus behind secular Buddhism, a growing movement that renounces supernaturalism.