Karma revisited.

• allkosong

  30 Nov 11, 19:28

  Hi there -

  I know this topic has been asked many times but please bear with me.  I have read from many different sources that one's present life is determined by the karma created in one's past lives and that the karma one creates in this life will affect our future lives.  This explains why some people who have done very bad things in this life are enjoying a very good life, and vice versa.

  My problem is that I am not convinced of the existence of past and future lives.  The concept of past/future lives is something very much faith-based (I tend to think that when I die, my physical body and whatever mental energy left will just disintegrate and become part of nature).

  Could someone kindly explain the existence of karma please without having to make the assumption of the existence of past and future lives?

  Thank you.

   

   

   

   

• bohiruci

  30 Nov 11, 20:01

  the thing is you dont need to be convinced .its there all the while

   

  peace

   

• An Eternal Now

  30 Nov 11, 20:34

  Hi allkosong, karma wouldn't make sense without rebirth, as karma spans lifetime, so things you do this life may not ripen (you can be a very evil person and still live good life without being caught as karma can take lifetimes to play out, or you can be a very good person and still get persecuted by others due to past life karma).

  As for rebirth: this should be taken by faith if you are a Buddhist. There are 1) countless practitioners, including those in this forum who have very clear vivid memories of their past lives due to their meditation practice 2) scientific evidence from research done by scientists like Dr Ian Stevensons that supports the existence of rebirth, which are published in well known scientific and medical journals, research into children's past life memories and tracking what they remember to their source like their past life location and house and family members which all turns out to be true. This is fascinating to say the least, and there are other scientists doing the same and you can find some of their videos in youtube.

  If you cannot accept rebirth, at least keep an open mind.

• Dharmadhatu

  1 Dec 11, 09:10

  Originally posted by allkosong:

  Hi there -

  Could someone kindly explain the existence of karma please without having to make the assumption of the existence of past and future lives?

  Thank you.

  I think you can think this way. Whether there is past lives or not, there are certain factors prior to your present life that determines how you are born. Eg. the date you are born, your characteristics, your constitution, the amount of suffering or fortune in your life etc. are all unique and different from others. Therefore, there is some unseen factor governing these differences.  And these factors has to come before your birth in terms of time for it to be able to affect you at the beginning of youor life.  If we go by common-sense, the kind of factors that affect one is dependent on the conditions that give rise to them, there is some kind of rule that is abided by.  So you can consider this rule to be karma.

  If you are wise and smart, you will create conditions that will lead to future positive factors, ie. what you do now could affect you further down the road.  It doesn't matter when that is, because the person it will affect is you.  Eg. if you want to have a certificate, you have to study hard for many years before you get it.  You can't get the certificate by quitting school. It is the same logic here. Create the conditions for the outcome you want.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

• simpo_

  1 Dec 11, 09:25

  Hi,

  I can remember some of my past lifes and can confidently say that certain things that happened (and how one respond to it) in life is due to what transpired in previous lifes.

  Also, since we are at the topic of karma, will also like to share some opinions on Merit.

  It may sound controversial, merit appears to be an influential factor regarding one's potential and level of 'smoothness' for gaining enlightenment.

• Dharmadhatu

  1 Dec 11, 10:16

  Originally posted by simpo_:

  Hi,

  I can remember some of my past lifes and can confidently say that certain things that happened (and how one respond to it) in life is due to what transpired in previous lifes.

  Also, since we are at the topic of karma, will also like to share some opinions on Merit.

  It may sound controversial, merit appears to be an influential factor regarding one's potential and level of 'smoothness' for gaining enlightenment.

  Can you share how to create the merits for smoothness of gaining enlightenment?

• Whimsy

  1 Dec 11, 11:20

  一�因缘，亦�亲因缘，�自心中业识的��，彼为�熟心法之主因，故�亲因缘。

  二�无间缘，亦�等无间缘，�众生攀缘的心��念��念接续�断，故�无间缘。

  三�所缘缘，指众生心念所攀缘的物件，�云：「心本�生，因境有�，故一切外境皆为所缘之缘。

  å››ã€�增上缘，除å‰�三ç§�缘外，其它所有增加上去的力é‡�，皆å��增上缘。此四缘生法，譬如会抽烟的人，想抽烟是出于自心中习气的ç§�å­�，å�³æ˜¯äº²å› ç¼˜ï¼›æŠ½çƒŸçš„欲念ä¸�æ–­å�³æ˜¯æ— é—´ç¼˜ï¼›å¾—é�‡è§�了香烟å�³æ˜¯æ‰€ç¼˜ç¼˜ï¼›çƒŸç˜¾å¤§å�‘å�³æ˜¯å¢žä¸Šç¼˜ï¼›æ­¤å››ç¼˜æˆ�熟了抽烟的行为。色法ä¾�二缘生起：一ã€�亲因缘，比如一粒椰ç§�具有能生椰树为因，是最有亲切的关系å��亲因缘。二ã€�增上缘，比如肥沃的泥土以å�Šé˜³å…‰ã€�空气ã€�温度ã€�水份等等帮助椰ç§�å�‘育长大的助力，å��增上缘。世间一切诸法的生起都离ä¸�了这四缘的关系. http://iask.sina.com.cn/b/1712761.html  

• Whimsy

  1 Dec 11, 11:24

  �周颂尧居士书 Karma Vs Buddhism path

  This piece of advice from Patriarch Venerable Master Yin Kuang is enlightening and beneficial in the context of blissful and serene living, as well as the necessity to understand the causual complexity for a smooth journey along the path towards inherent nature of enlightenment. In view of my shallow practice and wisdom in Buddha teachings, the translation is not perfectly in tune with Patriarch Venerable Master Yin Kuang's perfect and rightful perception stated in the letter. It is merely a translation of this letter and it requires further elaboration. Pls consult practitioners with deep insight on sages teachings of love.

   

  《�光大师文钞》（�周颂尧居士书）中�到一��素念佛已二�余年, �太太��车祸惨死的故事

  http://www.dizang.org/wj/yg2/036.htm

   

  Patriarch Venerable Master Ying Kuang's letter answering a laity's doubt, named 周颂尧居士 about an old lady who died from car accident. This lady has been a vegetarian and Buddha remembrance practice for about 20 years.

   

  （民国二�年 - 1920）（附原函 - The original version of letter seeking enlightenment by 周颂尧居士）

  　　今有一疑问，请求�法师慈悲开示。弟��素念佛，已�多年。因为信佛之人，为�方三世诸佛之所护念，天龙八部，大力神王，常�拥护。往世�业，亦�消�，纵有怨对，�能为害。此乃佛�所说，决�虚语。讵于三月间，接到上海�亲处�一讣闻，系一�信佛之张太太，�素已二�余年，常到居士林��。逢人必�念佛�素，心�慈悲行善。�料一日，�素�与�师兄，在马路上行走，为汽车轧死。�为巡�房收去，至三日�，其家�孙晓得，始去领归安殓。余闻悉之下，心中�常惊惶，至今疑惑�解。且佛会中人闻之，亦��安。故特上书，�求�法师开导，指示所以然之故。何以临终如是之苦，究竟�能往生西方�。说个明白，�使大家安心念佛，�胜感德之至。

  Honorable Venerable Master, I have a doubt that required your enlightenment.

  As a Buddha's disciple, I have been observing vegetarian and Buddha remembrance practice for many years. According to Buddha/sages teachings, the practitioners would be blessed by Buddhas of the past, present and future, blessed by the spirits of the nether world and those powerful heavenly beings. In addition, past evil karma, would gradually eradicated, even if there are animosity, it will be protected from good will. The aforementioned was firmly in accordance with the teachings stated in Sutra,and is certainly not falsity or false-tell. However, in the month of March 1920, an obituary letter from ShangHai has shaken our understanding on causual effect. It was pertaining to an old lady - Mdm Teo who was cultivating  Buddha remembrance and observed vegetarian for more than 20 years. She was also often present at the Buddhist Lodge attending Dharma Lecture. This old lady was always urging others to practice Buddha remembrance and to observe vegetarian. She was very compassionate in doing good deeds. Unfortunately, one day, while on her walking journey delivering vegetarian meal to a fellow practitioner, she was knocked down by a car and died. Thereafter, her dead body was in the custody of police for three days, before her children and grandchildren knew it and transported it back to perform burying in peace. After reading this unfortunate episode in the context of Buddhism teachings, I personally felt extremely astonished and worried. Up till now, my doubt on causaul effects in this regards has still not been clarified. Even those practitioners in the Buddhism community also had developed similar doubt. Henceforth, I wrote this letter, pleading for Venerable Master's compassionate clarification and guidance, on the rationale behind her unfortunate encounter in her final breath, and whether she was rebirth in Amitabha Pureland,and also to let all practitioners understand and be peace of mind on the path in Buddhism. My utmost respect and thankful for the unsurpassed compassionate enlightenment advice.

  　　

  接手书，知�下于佛法��，尚未真明。�人从无始以�，所作�业，无�无边。�严�云，�使�业有体相者，�方虚空�能容�。须知人之修�，果真诚无伪，便能转业。转�报�报，为现报轻报。凡夫肉眼，�能�当时之�凶事实，�能知过去与未�之因果何如。此�太太，多年精修，一�惨死，或者由此苦报，便�消�所造三途��之报，而得生善�。或在生有真信愿，亦�往生西方。但�人既无他心�眼，�敢臆断，谓决定往生，与决定�往生也。

  From your letter, it revealed that you were not really clear about the truth of Buddha Dharma. I personally (Venerable Master Ying Kuang), since neither from the beginning, has conceived evil karmic seeds that are beyond calculator. Elaborated in the Flower Adornment Sutra - if evil karmic seeds have its form,the atmosphere in the 10 directions (north, south, east, west, northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest, top and bottom) and across atmoshperes of all the universes, are not able to accommodate them. You ought to understand that the sincere cultivation of the Absolute one, would be able to transform karma. It would transform heavy karmic into lighter one; future retributions into present retributions. The naked eyes of sentient beings only can experience the truth of good & bad phenomenons at that given moment. They are unable to realize the episodes of past & future karmic development. This old lady has been cultivating good deeds for many years, although she may have experienced this unfortunate accident, it eliminated her bad causual effects of the past lives,  that supposed to be atoned in the 3 bad realms, and rebirth in the 3 good realms. If she has true faith and vow towards Amitabha Land of Ultimate Bliss, she was able to rebirth in the Western Paradise. However, my enlightenment mind were not opened yet (他心é�“眼 [Psychic Power with regards to the mind] is one of the inherent Six Psychic Power == 六神通 (http://fodian.goodweb.cn/dict_read5.asp?ID=332)) Therefore, I cannot firmly state that she has already rebirth or not rebirth in Pureland.

   

  其�决定者，为善必有善报，作�必有�报。为善而得�报，乃宿世之�业果报，�现在之善业果报也。�等诸人，�此�人，得此果报，心中便有为善无�，善�足为之邪�，故致惊惶疑惑。其知�，与未闻佛法之人，有何�异。倘深信佛言，决�以此事，作此惊惶疑惑之�。以因果之事，��无尽，此因未报，彼果先熟。如�稻然，早�者早收。如欠债然，力强者先牵。

  Nevertheless, I only can firmly claim that good deeds beget good causual effects, while bad deeds beget bad causual effects. Conducting good deeds resulted in bad effects, is due to past lives of bad karmic retributions, and is not as a result of present good deeds being cultivated. As for you all, experienced this old folk undergoing this bad effect and arose the doubtful on sages teachings that good causes begets bad eventuality, this was due to your lack of kind nature that had given rise to evil perception/view. As a result, astonishment, worried and doubts had taken precedence. This sentience's point of view is no different from those haven't contacted with the teachings of inherent wisdom / Buddha dharma. For practitioners who have deep root and nature faith in sage words, would never develop egoism of doubt and worry. Matter related to causual effects are heaped piled endlessly. The result of this cause is not being retributed, while the result of that effect erupts first. It is liken  to the nature of sowing paddy rice, the earlier one would harvest first; It is also liken to owing of debt, the most powerful would be in force first.

   

  �有一生作善，临终�死，以消�宿业，次生便得富贵尊�者。如宋阿育王寺一僧，欲修�利殿，念沂亲王有势力，往募，所�无几，愤�，以斧于�利殿�断其手，血�而死。�时，其王生一�，哭�止。奶�抱之游行，至挂�利塔图处则�哭，离开�哭。�将其图�下，奶�常�彼�之，则永�哭。王闻而异之,�使人往育王问其僧，则�于其�生日，断手�血而死。彼王�独修�利殿。�年二�，�宗崩，无�，�令彼过继，为皇�四�一年，�宋�宗也。此僧之死，亦属惨死，使无常哭�止，��利图则�哭，人�知此�，乃此僧断手惨死者之�身乎。此事载阿育王山志，光于光绪二�一年，拜�利数�日，看之。

  Thus, there are those doing good deeds, and met with evil death. In fact, it is the eradication of past evil deeds, while the next rebirth is being retributed with rich & honor, wealth & rank and nobility. For instance, during the Song Dynasty, there was a Venerable who dearly wished to renovate this hall by the name called precious stone hall [èˆ�利殿]. He proceeded to seek for donation from a wealthy and powerful official, the title of this official was known as “brother-in-law king” (( 亲王 based on transliteration from mandarin) or the  brother of the Emperor whom the title was being conferred by Emperor in the kind of dynasty throne). He was very worked up with the meager sum being donated, and reacted negatively by chopping off his own hand in front of the hall. He was bled to death. On the other hand, the wife of this official had given birth to a son, but this baby has never stopped crying. The nanny cradled him here and there in the hope to pacify him. When she has walked towards the place displaying the picture of this precious stone hall, the baby immediately stopped his crying, as and when she moved away from the picture, the baby started to cry again. The nanny then brought along this picture to accompany the baby to stop his cry and never seen him crying again. When this official came to know about this abnormal occurrence, he sent a man to inquire about this Venerable. He realized that his son birth date and the death of this Venerable matched perfectly. The official then realized something amissed and begun to do and completed the renovation of this precious stone hall. When his son reached 20 years old, the Emperor of that time has no son to take over his throne. He  ordered to past over his throne to this child, and had became the Emperor then, for a period of 41 years, historically known as 宋ç�†å®—.The venerable who died badly rebirth as a crying child. This eventful story was recorded in the magazine called 阿育王山志. I read this article while I (referring to Patriarch Yin Kuang) was performing the practice of prostration of the precious stone for tenths of days.

   

  明�之人，任彼境�如何，决�疑因果有差，佛语或妄。�明�，守死规矩，而�知因果��，�致妄生疑议，总因心无正�故也。如所说念佛之人，有三�加被，龙天护佑，此系一定之�，断�致或有虚妄。然于转�报�报，为现报轻报之�，未能了知，故��有此����之疑议也。

  For practitioner who has insight on the nature of enlightenment, in whatsoever the encounters of life that are undergoing, the doubt on causual effects would never arise. Practitioners that lack of insight, and remained strong guarded on rule and custom of practice, and without understanding the complexity of its causual effects, and given rise to delusion of view and doubtful, was generally due to lack of rightful perception. For instance, the saying of blessings accorded to those Buddha remembrance practitioners is in fact, true. However, the complete lack of understanding on sages teachings relating to the transformation of heavy and future karma into present retribution and light effects, would result in the aforementioned doubtful view against sages teachings, and it can never be precluded.

   

  昔西域戒贤论师，德高一世，�震四竺。（四天竺国。）由宿业故，身婴�病，其苦�酷，�能��，欲行自尽。适�文殊，普贤，观世音三���，谓曰，�往昔劫中，多作国王，�害众生，当久堕��。由��扬佛法，故以此人间�苦，消�长劫地狱之苦，�宜��。

  In the past in India, a highly honorable and great Abhidharma  Master namely Venerable “Precept Virtue” (戒贤论师) –

  (Tripitaka 三è—�（經ã€�律ã€�論）：Sanskrit; literally, "the three baskets". It refers to the Buddhist canon, which has three parts: the sutras, the Vinaya, or monastic code, and the Abhidharma – Buddhist philosophical treatise.].. He was a renown venerable across India with high attainment. In view of his past evil deeds, born with diabolical illness, the affliction he undergone was extremely bad that he no longer could endure it. While desire arises for suicide to end this suffering, Manjushri 文殊è�©è�¨, Samantabhadra 普贤, and Avalokitesvara 觀世音 appeared to explain the rationale of his suffering, that he has been a ruler for many lifetimes in his past lives, who had conducted harmful acts towards sentience under his ruling, and hence, should rightfully demoted into the hell realm in this lifespan to atone his past evil deeds. Nonetheless, attributing to his dharma propagation, this small human sufferings in this present life was actually the atonement of his lengthy kalpa periods of hellish retribution. The advice was to endure and go through with it.

   

  大�国有僧，�玄奘，当过三年，�此�法。戒贤论师闻之，��苦�悔，久之�愈。至三年�，玄奘至彼，戒公令弟�说其病苦之状。其说苦之人，哽咽�泪，�知其苦太甚。使�明宿世之因，人将谓戒贤�得�高僧。或将谓如此大修行人，尚得如此惨病，佛法有何�感利益乎。�等?中所知者�，故��异相，便生惊疑。无善根人，�退�心。倘造�之人现得�报，亦�如是起邪�心。�知皆是�因�果，�转�报�报，为现报轻报，�转现报轻报，为�报�报等，������之故也。（续．�上）

   The aforementioned Bodhisavattas further informed him that there was this venerable Hsuan Chuang (玄奘) who would be arriving 3 years later to receive the transferring of Buddha dharma. Upon listening the advice, 戒贤论师 endured the sufferings and remorse for his past evil deeds done as rulers. Gradually, he recovered and 3 years later,  venerable Hsuan Chuang arrived.  戒贤论师then asked his disciple to tell Venerable Hsuan Chuang about the terrible experience of suffering undergone by his teacher. In the process, this disciple cried badly while conveying the painful experience. In this regard, the tremendous degree of suffering undergone by  戒贤论师 was very palpable. This is some good examples for those practitioners who lack of wisdom in the causual effects and those who failed to understand the karma of past lives and  defame Buddha dharma based on the bad effect experienced by high attainment like that of Venerable 戒贤 or doubtful on those great practitioners who have suffered in extremely bad circumstances along the path of Buddhism. For moderate level practitioners who are mildly realized, would certainly arise misleading view and developing doubt. For those who are lack of kindness nature, they would withdraw the faith in pursuing the goal of enlightenment path. There is this incorrect perception arises upon witnessing the living example of those who conducted evil acts but gained prosperity and fame, which in fact, it is the devoid of understanding on the complexity of past deeds and future fruition. The transformation of future and heavy effects into the present and light effects, and further transformation of present and light retributions into future and heavy effects. This is the result of various types of causual effects and its complexity as well as the nature of its disorderliness.

• Whimsy

  1 Dec 11, 11:58

  众生附体实录 宿世�亲附体 亡�往生录

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o74x5C8CW40

  å�‘生在山东淄å�šé‡‘陵寺的附体实录 触目惊心，震撼人心的视频。æ�¥è‡ªè¢«æ�€è¢«å�ƒåŠ¨ç‰©è¡€æ³ªæ–‘斑的控诉和宿世因果纠缠的的附体真实录åƒ�。这些视频é�žå¸¸çœŸå®žï¼Œæ„ŸæŸ“力ã€�åŠ�化效果æž�强，已使我身边许多人å�šå®šçš„无神论者和­å”¯ç‰©ä¸»ä¹‰è€…改过è¿�善，å�ƒç´ ä¿®è¡Œï¼�强烈推è��，æ�³è¯·å�„ä½�大德广泛æµ�通ï¼�

• sinweiy

  1 Dec 11, 14:45

  quote: What is Reborn ? A very good, classic & somewhat complex question! In brevity: Causes & Conditioning is passed on & reborn ... No being, substance, soul or self is reborn as such assumed constant entity or core substance has never existed or ever been observed in the first place... So how can it then ever be 'reborn' !!! Existence is a chain of discrete mental states (dhammas) all new yet conditioned by the prior, both proximate and far. Just like the pearl in a necklace is in contact with the next & next & next etc. In that way do the prior mental moment condition the next; Some Examples: If angry now in this moment one cannot be happy in the immediate next moment, but is conditioned to be either angry also there or indifferent! If glad now in this moment one cannot be angry in the immediate next moment, but is conditioned to be either glad also there or indifferent! One is 'reborn' in every moment of life! Frequency = ~ billions/second! The conditioning in the terminal life moment is crucial as it determines the next state: If having killed many beings in life how then to die in a peaceful & calm state ? Due to the agitation of remorse & regrets in death moment => bad state rebirth. If having given & done much good in life it is easy to die in peaceful state ! Due to the satisfied serene content in death moment => good state rebirth. Mind or consciousness descends & settles at a new level corresponding or fitting to its last mixture of characteristics. Very mechanic & not metaphysical at all! Like a protein molecule sediments in a mixed solution according to its boyancy. or Like a comet goes into a orbit around a planet according to its own speed, mass & inclination angle. No entity or person is found: But a Noself state1 arising and ceasing conditioning state2 arising and ceasing conditioning state3 arising and ceasing conditioning state4 arising and ceasing conditioning state5 arising and ceasing etc ... endlessly until Nibbana ... bhikkhu samahita : - ]
• Whimsy

  1 Dec 11, 16:54

  宋僧入定知安阳劫

  在宋æœ�徽宗皇å¸�时代，北方金兵å�‘å�—攻下æ�¥ï¼Œæ‰€åˆ°çš„地方，都通通被他焚烧残æ�€ï¼Œå°¤å…¶æ²³å�—安阳镇，所é�­å�—çš„ç�¾ç¥¸æœ€æƒ¨é‡�。当时在安阳的地方，有一ä½�高僧能入定观察因果的事情ï¼�安阳的人觉得这样惨é‡�çš„ç�¾éš¾ï¼Œä¸�知什么原因，其中必有缘故，就去拜问这ä½�高僧，高僧就对大家说：‘因为安阳的人过去所造的æ�€ä¸šï¼Œæ¯”别的地方多的缘故，所以这次所é�­å�—的刀兵劫ç�¾ç¥¸ï¼Œäº¦æ¯”别的地方利害；å�¯æ˜¯è¿™ä¸ªæ�€ä¸šçš„报应，还没有尽，刀兵的ç�¾å®³è¿˜ä¼šç»§ç»­è€Œæ�¥ï¼Œä½ ä»¬å®‰é˜³çš„人赶快回心转æ„�戒æ�€ï¼Œå°±å�¯å‡�轻将æ�¥çš„æ�¶æŠ¥ã€‚’但是安阳人都ä¸�相信这ä½�高僧的è¯�，ä¾�然还是大æ�€ç‰¹æ�€ã€‚以å�Žè¿žç»­å¥½å‡ å¹´å…µç�«è¿žç»µï¼Œå®‰é˜³äººæ°‘æ¯�次都是惨é�­å± æ�€ï¼Œå�Žæ�¥æ‰�相信这ä½�高僧的è¯�是对的，å�¯æ˜¯å·²ç»�æ�¥ä¸�å�Šäº†ã€‚è¿™æ�¡å…¬æ¡ˆè¯�明：æ�€ç”Ÿæ˜¯å› ï¼Œåˆ€å…µåŠ«æ˜¯æžœã€‚

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  Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu!!

• allkosong

  1 Dec 11, 20:34

  Hi all,

  Thank you for taking time to answer.  Just to clarify:  I do not dispel the existence of karma and past/future lives, I am just not sufficiently convinced at this point.

  Let me give an example:

  Even if cause and effect ie. karma does indeed exist, there are so many hundreds and thousands of other factors in life that even if I plant a mango seed, I may not end up with mango fruits, eg. there may not be enough rain or sunshine, the mango seedling may get eaten up by bugs, the mango tree may be uprooted in a storm before it bears fruits, etc etc etc.  With the same logic, it seems that if one does good, one may not necessarily reap good results since so many other influences/factors in life come into play.  (Like wise, when one does evil, one may not necessarily reap bad results.)

  Kindly advise what is wrong with the above line of reasoning.

   

• 2009novice

  1 Dec 11, 23:41

  Originally posted by allkosong:

  Hi all,

  Thank you for taking time to answer.  Just to clarify:  I do not dispel the existence of karma and past/future lives, I am just not sufficiently convinced at this point.

  Let me give an example:

  Even if cause and effect ie. karma does indeed exist, there are so many hundreds and thousands of other factors in life that even if I plant a mango seed, I may not end up with mango fruits, eg. there may not be enough rain or sunshine, the mango seedling may get eaten up by bugs, the mango tree may be uprooted in a storm before it bears fruits, etc etc etc.  With the same logic, it seems that if one does good, one may not necessarily reap good results since so many other influences/factors in life come into play.  (Like wise, when one does evil, one may not necessarily reap bad results.)

  Kindly advise what is wrong with the above line of reasoning.

   

  
  Personally i don't think there is anything wrong with it... imagine the "pest", "barren soil" or "drought" u facing are your negative karma taking places.

  What I know is- if the "weight" of the karma can take precedence over the "lighter" ones. Which means to say, heavier good or bad karma can bear fruit 1st then u have to reap what you sow. That's why even good people do good things cannot enjoy good result in this life. They got all the bad things happened to them.

  Karma complicated to explain leh lol. Some actions you do doesn't means you can reap in this very life. It can only grow maybe the next few lifetime lol

   

• simpo_

  2 Dec 11, 08:24

  Originally posted by Dharmadhatu:

  Can you share how to create the merits for smoothness of gaining enlightenment?

  Hi,

  The definition of merits and how to acquire them are not difficult to find. So, will not write about them.

  Basically, my understanding is that the Dharma Teaching is the mechanism for leading Beings out of suffering and the rebirth cycle. So activities that promotes its right understanding and peoples' contact with the Dharma benefits ones' right understanding and progress along the path.

  Likewise, activities that obstruct or confuse others with regards to the Dharma, will result in obstruction and confusion on the path.

  We don't have to go far to see this effect. Already there are people patronising this forum who are experiencing the effect of confusing others with regards to the teaching, leading to their own confusion.

   

• sinweiy

  2 Dec 11, 09:59

  Originally posted by allkosong:

  Hi all,

  Thank you for taking time to answer.  Just to clarify:  I do not dispel the existence of karma and past/future lives, I am just not sufficiently convinced at this point.

  Let me give an example:

  Even if cause and effect ie. karma does indeed exist, there are so many hundreds and thousands of other factors in life that even if I plant a mango seed, I may not end up with mango fruits, eg. there may not be enough rain or sunshine, the mango seedling may get eaten up by bugs, the mango tree may be uprooted in a storm before it bears fruits, etc etc etc.  With the same logic, it seems that if one does good, one may not necessarily reap good results since so many other influences/factors in life come into play.  (Like wise, when one does evil, one may not necessarily reap bad results.)

  Kindly advise what is wrong with the above line of reasoning.

   

  
  indeed complicated.

  it's a mental seed. i see the seeds as something indestructible. like a lotus seed, as hard as a rock and can last for thousand years, and yet can still sprout.

  it can also be like a ripple dropped into a pool of water that radiates out and effect others to ripple and interact, in the form of collective karma. as when u are near someone that's angry, u will also not feel good.

  

  it can also be like a snowball that roll down from a mountain and slowing become bigger and bigger untill it cause a destruction. as at time, anger are builded up slowly in abuse cases.

   

  i also see one who attain Nirvana (or in western PL), there are no conditions(greed, hatred, folly) at all for the seeds to grow or effect to take place.

  

   

  /\

• Dawnfirstlight

  2 Dec 11, 10:36

  May be this video clip can help to convince you that there's past life. This boy's parents are non Buddhists, they believe in God. There's no reason for them to prove that there's past life.

  The only answer is there's really past life which they do not believe but have to accept the fact that there's past life.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWCUjx4nI98

• Dawnfirstlight

  2 Dec 11, 10:43

  Originally posted by allkosong:

  Hi all,

  Thank you for taking time to answer.  Just to clarify:  I do not dispel the existence of karma and past/future lives, I am just not sufficiently convinced at this point.

  Let me give an example:

  Even if cause and effect ie. karma does indeed exist, there are so many hundreds and thousands of other factors in life that even if I plant a mango seed, I may not end up with mango fruits, eg. there may not be enough rain or sunshine, the mango seedling may get eaten up by bugs, the mango tree may be uprooted in a storm before it bears fruits, etc etc etc.  With the same logic, it seems that if one does good, one may not necessarily reap good results since so many other influences/factors in life come into play.  (Like wise, when one does evil, one may not necessarily reap bad results.)

  Kindly advise what is wrong with the above line of reasoning.

   

  Precisely. What you are referring to are conditions (因缘）for the good or bad "seeds" to be ripen. What had been done cannot be undone. However, what Buddhism is teaching is how to change the conditions (缘) inorder not to let the bad karma or bad seeds to have the conditions to "grow". Meaning not to let the bad karma has the chance to materialise. There are many ways, repent according to Buddhist teachings is one of the way.

• winsomeea

  3 Dec 11, 00:15

  Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:

  Precisely. What you are referring to are conditions (因缘）for the good or bad "seeds" to be ripen. What had been done cannot be undone. However, what Buddhism is teaching is how to change the conditions (缘) inorder not to let the bad karma or bad seeds to have the conditions to "grow". Meaning not to let the bad karma has the chance to materialise. There are many ways, repent according to Buddhist teachings is one of the way.

  
  Can chanting help to get rid or reduce the ye zhang of a person if the person refuses to repent?

• Dawnfirstlight

  3 Dec 11, 09:08

  Originally posted by winsomeea:

  
  Can chanting help to get rid or reduce the ye zhang of a person if the person refuses to repent?

  No, repent means sincerely knows that he has done wrong and will never do it again. There are many people including Buddhists who don't understand the true meaning of Buddhist repentance, many thought that after chanting a certain sutra, one's sins (ye zhang) will be reduced. That's not true. 佛法是心法，以心为宗.

• Dawnfirstlight

  3 Dec 11, 09:21

  Repent to reduce one's bad karma. Please read the following link for the event at Dabei Temple at Lavendar (near Lavender MRT station).

  http://www.dabei.org.sg/zz-20111225.html

  Following is the link which explains the importance of repentance to reduce one's bad karma.

  http://www.dabei.org.sg/xx-20111225.html

• Dharmadhatu

  3 Dec 11, 14:57

  Originally posted by simpo_:

  Hi,

  The definition of merits and how to acquire them are not difficult to find. So, will not write about them.

  Basically, my understanding is that the Dharma Teaching is the mechanism for leading Beings out of suffering and the rebirth cycle. So activities that promotes its right understanding and peoples' contact with the Dharma benefits ones' right understanding and progress along the path.

  Likewise, activities that obstruct or confuse others with regards to the Dharma, will result in obstruction and confusion on the path.

  We don't have to go far to see this effect. Already there are people patronising this forum who are experiencing the effect of confusing others with regards to the teaching, leading to their own confusion.

   

  Thank you. Reminds me to be careful

• simpo_

  3 Dec 11, 18:54

  Originally posted by Dharmadhatu:

  Thank you. Reminds me to be careful

  Welcome :)

  Can do kind deeds and contribute (financially, physically, etc) to activities that promotes the dharma.

  In my experience, life actually got tougher (with more obstacles) after i practice seriously. But don't get discouraged.... I use the obstacles in life to appreciate Buddha's teaching.

• winsomeea

  5 Dec 11, 15:58

  Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:

  No, repent means sincerely knows that he has done wrong and will never do it again. There are many people including Buddhists who don't understand the true meaning of Buddhist repentance, many thought that after chanting a certain sutra, one's sins (ye zhang) will be reduced. That's not true. 佛法是心法，以心为宗.

  
  Ok, now I understand.    

• Metta with Mindfulness

  5 Dec 11, 23:15

  I believe someone once asked the Buddha: 1) Why someone is born smarter than others? 2) Why someone can be beautiful, not so beautiful and some born ugly? 3) Why someone is born in a rich family while someone is born in a poor family? Why is there such disparity and inequality in the world? The world-honored one then gives a sermon on it but i can't find the link where i read it from!!! Karma is can be "quite a scientific topic". You need to go deeper to understand it. ------ Looking at your example : Let me give an example: Even if cause and effect ie. karma does indeed exist, there are so many hundreds and thousands of other factors in life that even if I plant a mango seed, I may not end up with mango fruits, eg. there may not be enough rain or sunshine, the mango seedling may get eaten up by bugs, the mango tree may be uprooted in a storm before it bears fruits, etc etc etc. With the same logic, it seems that if one does good, one may not necessarily reap good results since so many other influences/factors in life come into play. (Like wise, when one does evil, one may not necessarily reap bad results.) Kindly advise what is wrong with the above line of reasoning. ----- Ans: If one wants mango, what are the cause and condition for having an apple? 1)mango seed The conducive conditions: 2) Soil, water, sunlight and right climate 3) Time 4) No external conditions to disrupt its growth. You are right. When we plant mango seed, does not mean that we will get mango. We need all the other conditions in order for a mango tree to grow and eventually reap a fruit. However, it does not dispel the fact that, in order to have mango, we need mango seed. We can't use durian seed to grow mango right? When one does good, one is planting good cause and also fostering good conditions. The reasons why we have a mixture of good and bad experience is because we have done both good and bad in the past. Don't underestimate the power of doing good deed. A single drop of water (good deeds) can accumulate to an ocean which can dissolve the salt (the bad karma) in the water. I hope you can understand this analogy. "A spoon of salt in a glass of water makes the water undrinkable. A spoon of salt in a lake is almost unnoticed."
• allkosong

  6 Dec 11, 03:39

  Originally posted by Metta with Mindfulness:

  I believe someone once asked the Buddha:

  1) Why someone is born smarter than others?

  2) Why someone can be beautiful, not so beautiful and some born ugly?

  3) Why someone is born in a rich family while someone is born in a poor family?

  Why is there such disparity and inequality in the world?

  The world-honored one then gives a sermon on it but i can’t find the link where i read it from!!!

  Karma is can be “quite a scientific topic”. You need to go deeper to understand it.

  ---

  Looking at your example :

  Let me give an example:

  Even if cause and effect ie. karma does indeed exist, there are so many hundreds and thousands of other factors in life that even if I plant a mango seed, I may not end up with mango fruits, eg. there may not be enough rain or sunshine, the mango seedling may get eaten up by bugs, the mango tree may be uprooted in a storm before it bears fruits, etc etc etc. With the same logic, it seems that if one does good, one may not necessarily reap good results since so many other influences/factors in life come into play. (Like wise, when one does evil, one may not necessarily reap bad results.)

  Kindly advise what is wrong with the above line of reasoning.

  ---

  Ans: If one wants mango, what are the cause and condition for having an apple?

  1)mango seed
  The conducive conditions:
  2) Soil, water, sunlight and right climate
  3) Time
  4) No external conditions to disrupt its growth.

  You are right. When we plant mango seed, does not mean that we will get mango. We need all the other conditions in order for a mango tree to grow and eventually reap a fruit. However, it does not dispel the fact that, in order to have mango, we need mango seed. We can’t use durian seed to grow mango right?

  When one does good, one is planting good cause and also fostering good conditions. The reasons why we have a mixture of good and bad experience is because we have done both good and bad in the past.

  Don’t underestimate the power of doing good deed. A single drop of water (good deeds) can accumulate to an ocean which can dissolve the salt (the bad karma) in the water. I hope you can understand this analogy.

  “A spoon of salt in a glass of water makes the water undrinkable. A spoon of salt in a lake is almost unnoticed.”

  
  Thank you for your reply.  Yes, I understand that if I want mango fruits, I have to plant a mango seed to begin with.  I guess it is the part where I am not guaranteed mango fruits even when I plant a mango seed due to so many external conditions (which are really beyond my control) which bothers me.  Planting a mango seed only ensures that the probability of getting mango fruits is not zero, but then the probability could be just 1 percent with the other 99 percent dependent on external conditions.  It is a bit like buying a lottery ticket - the ticket gives you a chance to win the lottery, but the probability of winning is 0.000000001 percent, so why bother?

  It just seems to me that with so many external factors in life which are beyond our control, what we reap is really quite randomly determined.  So does it really matter what we do?

  I want to believe in karma but I just haven't come across any explanation/observation/analogy that is sufficiently convincing.