What IS Karma?
From biblical references to pop songs to TV shows, the law of karma has long been a fascinating topic for humans. Karma is quite simply the process of cause and effect: you get what you give. This concept is not really mysterious. If you are generous to others, generosity flows back to you. If you are kind to others, kindness will come your way. If you are mean-spirited and bitter, guess what?
Karma is not about punishment. In the grand cosmic overview of things there is no right or wrong, just lessons and experiences. The idea that we are punished for sins was created to allow those in power to maintain control. Once again, there is no punishment…just lessons to be learned and growth to be experienced.
Karma can represent unfinished business, or lessons not learned, from past lives. Becoming aware of, and acknowledging, the karma we are dealing with is the first step. Are there patterns that seem to repeat in your life? If so, that may suggest a karmic influence. Future karma is created with our every thought and action. With every action we begin the process of cause and effect and karma continues.
This deck was created to assist in tapping into that awareness and acknowledgement of your past lives and the karmic influences that were created. May your karmic journey be a fulfilling one!
“I am the owner of my karma .
I inherit my karma.
I am born of my karma.
I am related to my karma.
I live supported by my karma.
Whatever karma I create, whether good or evil, that I shall inherit.”
The Buddha, Anguttara Nikaya V.57 – Upajjhatthana Sutta
“Countless rebirths lie ahead, both good and bad. The effects of karma (actions) are inevitable, and in previous lifetimes we have accumulated negative karma which will inevitably have its fruition in this or future lives. Just as someone witnessed by police in a criminal act will eventually be caught and punished, so we too must face the consequences of faulty actions we have committed in the past, there is no way to be at ease; those actions are irreversible; we must eventually undergo their effects.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, from ‘Kindness, Clarity and Insight‘
The Sanskrit word Karma (or kamma in Pali) literally means action. In Buddhism however, karma mainly refers to one’s intention or motivation while doing an action.
The shortest explanation of karma that I know is: ‘you get what you give’. In other words; whatever you do intentionally to others, a similar thing will happen to yourself in the future. Our largest obstacle to understanding or even believing in karma may be time. The ‘re-actions’ or results of our actions show up with a time delay, and it becomes extremely hard to tell which action caused which result. Actions done in a previous life can create results in this life, but who can remember their past life? For ordinary humans, the mechanisms of karma can be intellectually understood to some extent, but never completely “seen”.
The idea behind karma is not only found in Buddhism and Hinduism; it seems that the Bible certainly conveys the same essence:
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A person reaps what he sows.
(Gal. 6:7)All things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
(Matthew 7:12)
Also the ‘Golden Rule’ of Confucianism makes a similar statement:
Tzu-kung asked, “Is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one’s life?”
Confucius answered, “Is not reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”‘From His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s book Path to Bliss:
“Some people misunderstand the concept of karma. They take the Buddha’s doctrine of the law of causality to mean that all is predetermined, that there is nothing that the individual can do. This is a total misunderstanding. The very term karma or action is a term of active force, which indicates that future events are within your own hands. Since action is a phenomenon that is committed by a person, a living being, it is within your own hands whether or not you engage in action.”More info on Karma…
As the Buddha taught:
“Do not think a small sin will not return in your future lives.
Just as falling drops of water will fill a large container,
The little sins that steadfast accumulate will completely overwhelm you.Do not think a small virtue will not return in your future lives.
Just as falling drops of water will fill a large container,
The little virtues that steadfast accumulate will completely overwhelm you.”Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
Unknown source
