| |
|
Agreed, from a Buddhist view of Karma.
When I refer to Karma, Dharma, etc. I usually refer back to Hinduism considering that was the origin of the concepts.
In Hinduism there are 4 paths or 'Margas'. One of them is Karma-Marga (the way or path of action). Again, in the Bagavad Gita Krishna lets Arjuna in on the secret of Karma-Marga (which also explains the relationship between Karma and Dharma) which is that action performed purely out of a sense of one's duty (Dharma), with no thought of selfish gain, leads to spiritual fulfillment.
Here's a quote on the main difference between Hinduism and Siddhartha's teachings by Theologian John Renard:
"But perhaps the most striking Buddhist turn of thought is its rejectiion of Hinduism's substantialist view that the core of every person is an indestructable soul that must either be set free or condemned to suffer the consequences of negative karma in subsequent rebirths. Buddha considered the notion of an immortal self that needs to be saved just one more delusion to grasp at in desperation, one more cause of suffering."
Which kinda gets back to my main point which is that, in a lot of occult/new age circles there is this belief that 'karma' (however the individual defines it) is an absolute law of the universe. But everyone, from the various sects of Hinduism, to the various Buddhists, to the western occultists, have a different definition of it. So which one is right? Is it the people who came up with the concept originally?
Or is it Siddhartha that while being a major religious figure was first and foremost a man who basically disagreed with his Hindu teachings and made his own.
Or is it the many other 'reformers' who modified the concept over the ages.
Also, plenty of people in western culture have this belief of Karma as having to do with retribution within this life. Sometimes colloquially termed 'instant karma'. Karma, as far as I can tell, was always about how you reincarnate. Not any retribution you'll recieve in this life.
Karma, by nature of being about the afterlife (i.e., what form you'll reincarnate into, if you don't free yourself from the cycle), is a RELIGIOUS concept that cannot be tested, even by magical standards, within this life.
Saying that 'don't do this or you'll suffer the consequences of karma' is effectively the same thing as saying to someone 'don't do this or God will condemn you to hell', or any other religious cautionary statement.
I definitely agree that there is an inevitable mixing of religion and magical theory and technique but it's helpful, and honest, to at least realize when one has moved from one into the other.
[ 13-12-2001: Message edited by: Lothar Tuppan ] |
|
|
), bad luck etc? 
)