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A negative experience of Karma

T

The Great Architect

Active Member
I'm not going to go on and on about my disability, but I do have an interesting story to tell about Karma. It happened when I was quite young.

Somebody once came up to me in the school playground, and said that I was in a wheelchair, and had a disability, due to something bad that I had done in a previous life. Those were that person's words.

I found those words to be quite damaging and confusing. Questions began to spring up; like 'what could I possibly have done to bring on such karma?' And 'why would you say that somebody else?'

But I also understand that we were both quite young, and from two, completely different, backgrounds of faith. Even so, I can't get my head around it, or get to a mental space that brings me to understand his point of view. It must have been nearly 10 years ago, but it still troubles me.

What do all of you have to say about this? What is your take on it? :shrug: :help:I don't know what to think about karma, now.

(I don't have any anger towards this person. Why should I be angry with someone, whose position is obviously so different?)

Thanks.
 
yossarian22

yossarian22

Resident Schizophrenic
I have been told that a few times.
I normally respond by either
either
A. pointing out their general ugliness
B. Compare them to a vegetable
C. Insult their intelligence.
D. Punch them in the face.
Then I suggest that their karma is at fault.

But the reap what you sow idea, while reassuring, is never really accurate.
 
T

The Great Architect

Active Member
yossarian22 said:
I have been told that a few times.
I normally respond by either
either
A. pointing out their general ugliness
B. Compare them to a vegetable
C. Insult their intelligence.
D. Punch them in the face.
Then I suggest that their karma is at fault.

But the reap what you sow idea, while reassuring, is never really accurate.
Click to expand...
I knew I should have taken more decisive action!:D:knight::fight: Only kidding
 
YmirGF

YmirGF

Bodhisattva in Recovery
Sadly, the view that many people hold regarding karma is erroneous as their thinking is based on a mistaken notion of "time". Likewise they tend to think in terms of negative consequences that form the present experience.

I don't see "Karma" that way at all. To my thinking, "karma" is an instantaneous reaction by reality to a given action. I don't mean to sound contradictory, but it may take "time" for the reaction to filter through into one's experience, depending on the complexity of the action. All such "karmic reactions" are "resolved" within a given lifetime as karma is not baggage that is trotted about from one lifetime to the next.

In my warped view, it is possible that you may well have enjoyed a wonderful "previous" lifetime, enjoying the benefits of a robust body and now desire to understand life from the "other side of the tracks" for juxtoposition. In many ways, your current life will give the previous life a more realistic perspective by not having the same physical freedom that you once knew. I hope that makes sense.
 
Sola'lor

Sola'lor

LDSUJC
I believe disabilities are simply the result of our mortal state. Many times these are given to people as a form of trial. I believe that those with disabilities in this life will recieve greater blessings in the next life not to mention being resurrected and restored to a perfect body.
 
krsnaraja

krsnaraja

Active Member
Sola'lor said:
I believe disabilities are simply the result of our mortal state. Many times these are given to people as a form of trial. I believe that those with disabilities in this life will recieve greater blessings in the next life not to mention being resurrected and restored to a perfect body.
Click to expand...

How about the fetus being aborted? They said that if you are an abortionist, in the next life, you, too, shall become the victim of an abortion.:sorry1::shrug::faint::punk:
By the way,I like your avatar as Darna(Angel Locsin), Sola`lor.:angel2:
 
K.Venugopal

K.Venugopal

Immobile Wanderer
The Great Architect said:
I'm not going to go on and on about my disability ...
Click to expand...
At many forums you would no longer be called 'disabled'. You would be recognised as 'differently-abled'. This approach is correct. The theory of Karma explains why everyone's circumstances differ. It does not prescribe discrimination against the differently-abled or even suggest any negativity. In Hindu parlance, Karma (karma-phal or fruit of karma, actually) is simply the consequence of our action. In a culture that believes in rebirth, it is only natural that the fruits of action are posited over lifetimes. But the principle is that if we are to be singularly free of any debilitation, we have to transcend the need to act, understanding that all actions arise from a sense of lack. So whatever our current circumstance and however differently we are abled, we must get over our sense of lack to revert to our optimum self. Then all our actions will be spontaneous in nature and not motivated. Spirituality teaches this art.
 
MysticSang'ha

MysticSang'ha

Big Squishy Hugger
Premium Member
K. Venugopal beat me to it on my end. :D

This definition and interpretation of karma is precisely why many people tend to turn away from Buddhism as one can take "negative" karma to be some sort of "punishment." And karma does no such thing. It's true that karma=action, and that one most certainly reaps what one sows, so it naturally follows that if someone feels that they "deserve" good things coming to them and finds themselves suffering from any sort of affliction or what might look like bad luck..........said person very understandably can adopt a bitter outlook.

Let me put it this way, Architect, there are lamas out in retreat that pray for your condition. In their eyes, you are extremely fortunate. To be able to wake up in what many would see as a sufferable condition, and to see past this condition with an open heart and an open mind to others, is that much closer to enlightenment. :)

Again, ultimately the view on karma is that it is not a reward/punishment system, it's seen as a law of the cosmos, in a way. It's just the way things are. So, if the child in your story may be right in any way about you and your experience, it is just as likely that he/she is experiencing the karma that creates suffering from delusion and ignorance.




Peace,
Mystic
 
F

!Fluffy!

Lacking Common Sense
The Great Architect said:
I'm not going to go on and on about my disability, but I do have an interesting story to tell about Karma.
Click to expand...

Hey I believe we are all differently-abled, it's just that some ppl's disabilities are more apparent than others. Some people are easy to look at and difficult to live with, some of us have all kinds of disorders and maladies of the heart, emotions, and spirit too.

We shall overcome. You didn't do anything to "deserve" being in a wheelchair.
 
krsnaraja

krsnaraja

Active Member
!Fluffy! said:
Hey I believe we are all differently-abled, it's just that some ppl's disabilities are more apparent than others. Some people are easy to look at and difficult to live with, some of us have all kinds of disorders and maladies of the heart, emotions, and spirit too.

We shall overcome. You didn't do anything to "deserve" being in a wheelchair.
Click to expand...


Maybe in his past life, he was a great yogi. Who was always meditating sitting down throughout his life.:bow::bow:
 
Super Universe

Super Universe

Defender of God
The Great Architect said:
I'm not going to go on and on about my disability, but I do have an interesting story to tell about Karma. It happened when I was quite young.

Somebody once came up to me in the school playground, and said that I was in a wheelchair, and had a disability, due to something bad that I had done in a previous life. Those were that person's words.

I found those words to be quite damaging and confusing. Questions began to spring up; like 'what could I possibly have done to bring on such karma?' And 'why would you say that somebody else?'

But I also understand that we were both quite young, and from two, completely different, backgrounds of faith. Even so, I can't get my head around it, or get to a mental space that brings me to understand his point of view. It must have been nearly 10 years ago, but it still troubles me.

What do all of you have to say about this? What is your take on it? :shrug: :help:I don't know what to think about karma, now.

(I don't have any anger towards this person. Why should I be angry with someone, whose position is obviously so different?)

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Karma is law but it is not enforced in this dimension. Your disability is not a punishment, it is a unique experience.

This universe is a free will place. It is not supposed to be good nor is it supposed to be bad, it's just supposed to be. A "good" place already exists, we call it heaven. And a "bad" place already exists, we call it hell.

In order to ascend from the next dimension you must be forgiven by every thing that you have caused harm to and you must forgive every thing that has harmed you as well. God does not hold judgement over you. You have always been forgiven by Him.
 
T

The Great Architect

Active Member
Thanks, everybody. Having heard about karma from both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, that particular person's view didn't necessarily match up with what I had heard and read.:confused:

However, the wonderful people here have set me straight, and set things right. I would still like to continue this discussion, though.

It is important to note that I don't view my disability as a bad thing. In fact, I would not trade places with anyone. I have a unique insight, for which I am very thankful.

Each of us has our place in this world.:namaste
 
Willamena

Willamena

Just me
Premium Member
Super Universe said:
Karma is law but it is not enforced in this dimension. Your disability is not a punishment, it is a unique experience.

This universe is a free will place. It is not supposed to be good nor is it supposed to be bad, it's just supposed to be.
Click to expand...
What he said, up to here.
 
T

The Great Architect

Active Member
People would not be able to live, under the weight of every little bit of Karma, from umpteen previous lifetimes. It would be the proverbial 'millstone around the neck' scenario.

I can just imagine some 'Karmic Accountant' occupying some cosmic realm -- adding and subtracting even the smallest bit of Karma, with a calculator -- so that everything balances out. Imagine doing that for each one of us!:eek::sad4:

The image just doesn't work, for me.
 
YmirGF

YmirGF

Bodhisattva in Recovery
The Great Architect said:
People would not be able to live, under the weight of every little bit of Karma, from umpteen previous lifetimes. It would be the proverbial 'millstone around the neck' scenario.

I can just imagine some 'Karmic Accountant' occupying some cosmic realm -- adding and subtracting even the smallest bit of Karma, with a calculator -- so that everything balances out. Imagine doing that for each one of us!:eek::sad4:

The image just doesn't work, for me.
Click to expand...
Nor for me either. Suffice to say that anyone who talks about "karmic debt" really doesn't know what he/she is talking about. Make as many moments "count" as you can and you will have no regrets.
 
Don Penguinoini

Don Penguinoini

Modi.
Karma is a practice to make a person better. Essentially, be doing bad, bad will come around to you. But by being good, you will prosper in many ways, sometimes, people dont recognise what is really good in life.
 
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