The word karma means 'action', and this indicates something important about the concept of karma: it is determined by our own actions, in particular by the motives behind intentional actions. These states, while preferable to human life, are impermanent: even gods eventually die. However, the aim of Buddhism is to escape the cycle of rebirth altogether, not simply to acquire good karma and so to be born into a more pleasant state. Bad karma can cause rebirth as an animal, or torment in a hell realm.īuddhists try to cultivate good karma and avoid bad. Good karma can result in being born in one of the heavenly realms. On a larger scale, karma determines where a person will be reborn and their status in their next life. He explained that this was karmic retribution for trying to kill his step-brother in a previous life. Although the attempt failed, the Buddha's foot was injured. One story tells that the Buddha's cousin tried to kill him by dropping a boulder on him. Bad actions in a previous life can follow a person into their next life and cause bad effects (which Westerners are more likely to interpret as 'bad luck').Įven an Enlightened One is not exempt from the effects of past karma. Beyond this lifeįor Buddhists, karma has implications beyond this life. Whilst there might be doubt, or different opinions, about why we are experiencing some sort of misfortune, there is no doubt that we can resolve any suffering in the present moment through the Buddhist teachings of mindfulness and action based upon good motives. This is one point on which early Buddhism appears to differ somewhat from later Tibetan teachings, which suggest that all the good and bad things that happen to us are the results of past actions. Tibetan Buddhists use prayer wheels to spread good karma © Solely through our actions?Įarly Buddhist writings (particularly SN 36.21: see related links for an annotated translation) suggest that not all that we experience is the result of past action it may be due to natural events of one sort or another. Teachings about karma explain that our past actions affect us, either positively or negatively, and that our present actions will affect us in the future.īuddhism uses an agricultural metaphor to explain how sowing good or bad deeds will result in good or bad fruit (phala or vipāka, meaning 'ripening'). Karma is a concept encountered in several Eastern religions, although having different meanings.
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