Karma is very misunderstood.
It’s a Sanskrit word which is directly translated as action.
One misunderstanding about karma, is that anything that happens to us is the result of past karma.
Karma is only one form of conditionality There are several other levels of conditionality including: inorganic (laws of physics/chemistry), organic (biology/ecology), mind/heart (thoughts), morality/intention/ethics which is our focus here. And in Buddhism we also talk about nature of existence which take us back to last week’s post on conditionality.
Originally, in Brahmin communities, karma meant a cleansing ritual to purify misconduct. In the Jain community karma was an invisible substance that would cling to our souls which needed self mortification in order to purify.
But in Buddhism we understand that pleasant or unpleasant consequences arise from the intentions behind actions. Intentions have an ethical quality and it is this which determines whether the consequences are pleasant or unpleasant. Intentions could be led by greed, aversion, hatred, delusion, confusion; or led by generosity, kindness, wisdom, and clarity. The focus is not on the act itself, but the agency of the action.
Think about an action you have done recently that stemmed from a positive or skilful intention. It could be as simple as giving someone a lift, or offering to wash up. How did you feel after doing this action?
We are exploring the connection between intention, action and consequence. The result is interdependent on a web of conditions. So, when someone says that something is a result of bad karma that is simply a misunderstanding of cause and effect. It’s far more complicated and mysterious than that.
But it is true that an ethical intention will lead to a more pleasant consequence.
Everything that happens, happens because of conditions. Conditions are multiple and manifold, including our intentions. This is not about fate, we have agency.
What I’ve been reading
I accidentally discovered this memoir I May Be Wrong by Forest Monk Bjorn Natthiko Lindeblad. It’s very warm, readable, has some fundamental pithy teachings. Apparently, it’s a best seller, which makes me hopeful that many people are seeking some Buddhist wisdom.
Here’s a couple of quotes from the book:
We have thoughts, but we are not our thoughts. The only thing fuelling our thoughts is our attention. Directing our attention is the best and probably the only thing we can do when things get really hard. It’s the thoughts we have real trouble letting go of than harm us the most.
Wise words and this one really resonates with me too.
Letting go of our need for control …is a lot about courage to face uncertainty…we pretend that things are more predictable than they really are, even though we live with uncertainty all the time. A big part of spiritual growth is finding enough courage to face uncertainty.
Comments
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this post or to any of the links and resources I signpost to. Do let me know what you think. If you like, you can also post any thoughts on the book we are reading in the Wabi Sabi Life book group. Let’s keep up connections!
Gratitude
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Good Karma Bad Karma
Thanks for another lovely and illuminating post. That’s such a clear explanation of karma. I’m very glad I came across your writing. And I really appreciated the quotes about our thoughts. Finally understanding that I’m not my thoughts was a pivotal moment on the path to peace of mind.
"makes me hopeful that many people are seeking some Buddhist wisdom. " I found your Substack by investigating my subscribers to see what else they were reading. I love your work, and hope that there is a growing interest in Buddha's teachings. I'll be sharing this post with others.
love alwaz
mike