http://beginningwitchcraft.blogspot.com/ 2009-11-03 daily 0.8 Beginning Witchcraft Beginning Witchcraft: KARMA

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Sunday, November 8, 2009

KARMA




KARMA: A Sanskrit word that means "action." Sometimes you might see the Pali spelling, kamma, which means the same thing. In Buddhism, karma has a more specific meaning, which is volitional or willful action. Things we choose to do or say or think set karma into motion. The law of karma is a law of cause and effect.
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Sometimes Westerners use the word karma to mean the result of karma. For example, someone might say John lost his job because "that's his karma." However, as Buddhists use the word, karma is the action, not the result. The effects of karma are spoken of as the "fruits" or the "result" of karma.

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What You Do Is What Happens to You
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When we seem stuck in old, destructive patterns, it may not be the karma of the past that's causing us to be stuck. If we're stuck, it's more likely that we're re-creating the same old patterns with our present thoughts and attitudes. To change our karma, and change our lives, we have to change our minds. Zen teacher John Daido Loori said, "Cause and effect are one thing. And what is that one thing? You. That’s why what you do and what happens to you are the same thing."
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Certainly the karma of the past impacts your present life, but change is always possible.
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No Judge, No Justice
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Buddhism teaches that there are other forces beside karma that shape our lives. These include natural forces like the changing seasons and gravity. When a natural disaster like an earthquake strikes a community, this is not some kind of collective karmic punishment. It's an unfortunate event that requires a compassionate response, not judgment.

Some people have a hard time understanding karma is created by our own actions. They want to believe there is some kind of mysterious cosmic force Out There somewhere, directing karma, rewarding good people and punishing bad people.
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Buddhist scholar Walpola Rahula said:

"The theory of karma should not be confused with so-called 'moral justice' or 'reward and punishment'. The idea of moral justice, or reward and punishment, arises out of the conception of a supreme being, a God, who sits in judgment, who is a law-giver and who decides what is right and wrong. The term 'justice' is ambiguous and dangerous, and in its name more harm than good is done to humanity. The theory of karma is the theory of cause and effect, of action and reaction; it is a natural law, which has nothing to do with the idea of justice or reward and punishment."
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Good and Bad Karma?

Sometimes people talk about "good" and "bad" (or "evil") karma. Buddhist understanding of "good" and "evil" is somewhat different from the way Westerners usually understand these terms. To see the Buddhist perspective, it's useful to substitute the words "wholesome" and "unwholesome" for "good" and "evil." Wholesome actions spring from selfless compassion, loving kindness, and wisdom. Unwholesome actions spring from greed, hate, and ignorance.

The Wiccan Three-fold law and Karma:

The Three-fold law reminds us to think before we act, and this means in all things we do and say, not only when we do deliberate magical acts.

Ever mind the Rule of Three
Three times what thou givest returns to thee
This lesson well, thou must learn,
Thee only gets what thou dost earn!
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A Christian Interpretation of Karma
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As you sow so shall you reap

Origin
From the Bible, Galatians VI (King James Version):
Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Meaning
Your deeds, good or bad, will repay you in kind.
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See, there is common ground to be had in religion!

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