What are peoples views on Karma? Does it really exist?

[Suade7]

If your deliberately a bad person, will you have bad fortune? Does what go around come around? Do the mighty fall eventually? Has anybody got any examples of karma and somebody who did something not very nice and caused trouble intentionally and is perhaps now paying the price? Thank you in advance for answers.

[luna-tic]

That's a good question Suade7 and not an easy one to answer. I suppose it may depend on the level of wrong but whatever the person has done, it will still be considered as wrongdoing. We would all like to think it will play on the person's conscience but does it?
Would the karma theory affect a psychopath who had killed but not been found out?
You could of been good all your life and then one minor injustice could play on the mind forever.
And yet, there are people that are always lying and don't think anything of it.
Sorry, hasn't really answered your question.

[Theland]

To believe in a link between behaviour and reward / punishment, one would have to first acknowledge the existence of some sort of spiritual justice system, otherwisw science would have to explain it away.
But, Karma as understood by Hindus, is, I believe, a fatalistic approach to life similar to muslim belief of, "if allah wills it" (Insh'allah .. or something like that) This takes away personal responsibility, and enterprise, and is I believe a factor in backwardness in those countries where these kind of views are held.

[naomi24]

I disagree with Theland. It isn't necessary to believe in some sort of spiritual justice system. Karma I believe is the effect that one's actions and thoughts have upon one's conscience. To experience good karma one must have a deep awareness of right and wrong - something that some don't appear to possess. Man's intrinsic selfishness and greed can often overpower any basic instinct of right or wrong, and unless a scheming or criminal mind is delusional, good karma cannot result.

I don't believe the mighty do necessarily fall. Prosperous and influential people often achieve their aims by deliberately trampling upon the weak, and perhaps these people can never experience good karma. However, I have known people to commit wicked acts, but see no wrong in what they've done. Likewise I've known people who truly believe their own lies, so whether they can ever experience a sense of great inner peace is debatable.

[Theland]

"A deep awareness of right and wrong ... " but right and wrong being entirely subjective in the absence of moral absolutes.

"If it feels right it must be right."

[WaldoMcFroog]

And yet isn't it strange how different cultures from across the world, some with relgious beliefs, some without, all seem to develop moral codes that have broadly the same basics? It's as though human beings don't actually require a book to develop sophisticated systems of ethics and morality.

Particularly when that book is frequently morally and ethically repugnant.

[naomi24]

Theland, good morals are not necessarily dictated solely by Christianity, which let's face it, is what you're suggesting.

[Octavius]

I agree with luna-tic. Some quarters say that crime doesn�t pay, and of course there are those that disagree. But that mainly refers to justice in this world. Belief in karma as a �spiritual� entity might assume that punishment for bad deeds comes around by misfortune in later life - or that justice awaits you on the �other side�!

I prefer to think of karma in this world and although that may be fanciful, I like to believe that if someone is a particularly nasty person to me or generally, then one day they may suffer the same fate at the hands of someone else and realise the error of their ways (not a certainty). You know, like the moralistic sentiments of your average American TV show. If there is a heaven and hell, then one hope�s that once they expire, such a person would be standing somewhere in the very long queue to purgatory!

Either way, any essence of karma relies on individual conscience, so like many things in life and spirit, you either have it or you don�t.

[jake-the-peg]

I would have thought that the very existance of religions that preach a last judgement - be they Abrahamic or further afield is clear testamony that people look around and see "bad people" prospering and "good people suffering" .

Interesting that Theland should think countries like India backward due to their spiritual beliefs.

Indian Mathematics lead the world for centuries even up to the present day and owed much to religous practices. All this at a time when Christians were torturing each other over who's particular flavour was right.

Interesting concept of "backward"

[reachesme]

Theland, bless you, lol.
What goes around, comes around.... Thats it, there is no more.

[artemis63]

Being deliberately bad or not may be immaterial. maybe its natures way of making you a better person. you hurt something, something hurts you back. Thus a learning experience? Methinks karma exists? I know of someone who was bullied as an adult by a woman who verbally harrassed her and threatened her physically. between 6 months to a year later the bullys car was vandalised and her dog died all in the same week. Go figure?

[naomi24]

artemis, I'm not sure the scenario you describe can be attributed to some sort of retribution. Perhaps it's just one of those things. We all go through bad times. I had a spate of awful things happen to me all within a few months and if this was retribution, I wish someone would tell me what I'd done to deserve it because I have no idea.

[wizard69]

naomi, Mani has already enlightened you as to why you can expect awful things happening to you...you remarried.
(what a terrible thing for you to have done...)

[naomi24]

Damn, never thought of that Wiz!!

[mibn2cweus]

I like to think of "karma" as getting caught . . . eventually!

We owe it to each other in the name of justice to see that those who deserve to be are caught, not simply for breaking the law (snitch) but for giving or taking from others by means of force that which is not rightfully their own, just as much as we owe it to those who deserve to be rewarded to see that they are given their due.

Reality has no regard for right and wrong or justice. It is our personal responsibility to ourselves to see to it that we do not fall victims to our own ignorance or evasions of reality. It is unfortunate that justice is not inborn but this gives us reason to value and have an appreciation for the lessons we have had to learn in order to live in freedom and the need to defend each other from those who prefer to live in ignorance.

[lizzysparkle]

I think it is dangerous to think that when something bad befalls us we have somehow brought it upon ourselves, I know of a parent who's child died in a tragic accident who has been torturing herself trying to think of what she has done to deserve this.
I do not believe in any form of Karma, people do good and bad things and good and bad things happen to them. The two in my opinion are completely unrelated.

[missrandom]

I have an example of karma. A few years ago, I was pregnant and sitting at my desk when a fellow worker walked past and banged her knee, I found this amusing and had a little (and i mean little) giggle, she got nasty and said, "well I hope nothing horrible happens to your baby"!! I was upset and angered by this, obviously. However a year or so later, she had 2 ectopic pregnancys. There have been a few other things happen to other people who have been nasty to me, so much so my friend jokingly said she wouldnt want to cross me!! so watch out! Lol

[naomi24]

Could this have been a coincidence? Tell us more missrandom.

[missrandom]

haha, yeah I am sure it could have been a coincidence! One of the other examples isnt anywhere near as specific. Another woman at work (god iam not really that annoying!!) was really rude to me and then a few years later her husband, tragically died, he was only young. Despite the fact I couldnt stand her, it was really sad as they had two small children. There was another thing but I cant remeber it. As for karma...who knows?!

[RATTER15]

A friend of mine was brought up as an Irish Catholic (Southern Ireland) by the kindest loveliest family.

at about 10 years of age she fell off a horse and damaged her spine, at 14 she was savagely attacked by a man at about 16 she had a football forcibly kicked into the back of her head accidentally whilst sitting down, this broke her neck. During childbirth due to an unknown at the time problem) she twice broke her back. as an adult of 35 Her first husband beat her black and blue on a regular basis, her second husband left her the day she told him that she had bone and was given 6 weeks to live, she fought this and after an experimental treatment programme and many life threatening operations she was cured, all the others on the programme died. Once given the all clear!! her Son fell ill and after many trips to the Dr and being told her Son was faking illness, he was eventually diagnosed with brain cancer and it was now too far advanced to treat effectively, he went through the most traumatic illness imaginable and has been the case study of surgeons worldwide, he died 2 days before his 22nd Birthday in a Hospice that the local Ambulance crew would not take him too because it was new years day and they were on strike!!! She has suffered many tragedies in her life and is know going through 2 total knee replacements, she suffered severe damage to her already weak bones after twice falling helping her Son to walk as he was paralysed down one side due to the brain cancer.

This lady is the most gentle person on the planet and would never say anything offensive to or about anybody, she spent many years running a charity single handed that saved maybe thousand of lives worldwide, she eventually had to give it up due to high demand and lacking in funds and volunteers which lead to further health problem!!

So tell me, when does this Karma crap kick in!!

[RATTER15]

Sorry!!!Should have read *she had bone Cancer and was given 6 weeks to live*