NationStates Jolt Archive

First, a disclaimer: unlike the Buddhist Bashing thread, I am not using this thread to argue with people whose views differ from my own. I actually have a legitamate use for the information I am attempting to gather. Anyway, onto the question:

What are the typical justifications as to why Karma exists? Is it typically based on the validity of historical divine revelation/enlightenment, or is it something modern individuals come to on their own? Is it based on some logical proof of some sort, either originally or later? What do Hindu/Buddhist apologists have to say about it?

First, a disclaimer: unlike the Buddhist Bashing thread, I am not using this thread to argue with people whose views differ from my own. I actually have a legitamate use for the information I am attempting to gather. Anyway, onto the question:

What are the typical justifications as to why Karma exists? Is it typically based on the validity of historical divine revelation/enlightenment, or is it something modern individuals come to on their own? Is it based on some logical proof of some sort, either originally or later? What do Hindu/Buddhist apologists have to say about it?
Karma exists... you should have to enforce it yourself.

Someone's dog shits on your lawn, you stab their face... it all evens out

Karma exists... you should have to enforce it yourself.

Someone's dog shits on your lawn, you stab their face... it all evens out

Ah, just compensation. Gotta love it.

But seriously, the concept of Karma usually posits more than just people taking stuff into their own hands. The question is, why do people believe that fate will take care of these things?

I think I'll have to conclude that either no-one knows or, more likely, no-one cares. Oh well, as someone with less than 3,000 posts I suppose I'm not deserving of your attention.

Or, to put it another way...

BUMP

Karma is human initiative, specificially in violation of what "should be" according to the ego.

Karma adjusts effects to their spiritual causes, like the man who acknowledges retribution through a series of circumstances.

Karma is an ideal we all want to live up to and hope exists, but in this modern age it's nothing but a feel-good invention designed to make people feel comfortable about why they get screwed by life while certain total bastards get away with living the high life.

Karma is an ideal we all want to live up to and hope exists, but in this modern age it's nothing but a feel-good invention designed to make people feel comfortable about why they get screwed by life while certain total bastards get away with living the high life.
It is comforting to think that maybe Paris Hilton might come back as an abused poodle....

It is comforting to think that maybe Paris Hilton might come back as an abused poodle....
Or that Dubya might come back as a drug-addicted homosexual in a Muslim country.

Or that Dubya might come back as a drug-addicted homosexual in a Muslim country.

Or a fruit fly that's been genetically altered to be homosexual in Japan.

Or a fruit fly that's been genetically altered to be homosexual in Japan.
Okay, that's a step too far. No one deserves that, not even Dubya. :D

Well, maybe Cheney

Karma is basically the same thing as any other system of religion that holds that you will be rewarded (not nessesarily in this lifetime) for good deeds and you will be punished (again, not nessesarily in this lifetime) for evil deeds.

When tied in with reincarnation, it becomes important as a sort of "treat all of God's creatures well" type-a thing. Because the ant you just squished under your boot mighta been your grandfather reincarnated.

Of course, the whole karmic cycle varies on religion. In some Buddhist sects, you can be reincarnated as low as a demon or in a realm inhabited by a number of boddhistatvas and will make it easier for you to achieve nirvana.

Hinduism treats it in the obvious way: good people become cows (think about it, you get to be lazy and eat all you want to all day long!), bad people become flies.

It's functionally little different than Christian notions of heaven, hell, and God's judgement of those on earth.