Define Karma.

[Killa Rican]

Thought it would be fun to get individual definitions/views.

What Is Karma?

What Fuels it?

How does Karma Balance?

[Stookie_]

For me, Karma in intertwined with multiple incarnations. Our higher selves create a physical life where we can gain certain experiences that we can bring back to our HS. Depending on what was actually gained and what wasn't determines other incarnations. If you miss something in one incarnation, then what was missed will be moved over to another incarnation. That's where balance come into play.

I don't believe in the stereotypical "do something bad and something bad will happen to you". I don't believe in judgements or punishments. It's just another experience to bring back with you that will help determine other incarnations.

(It's even more complicated, I just simplified it because it's Friday afternoon and I'm ready for the day to end.)

[KarmicBeats]

Just listen to my beats while watching "My Name Is Earl"

I think part of it is having a positive attitude.  Which is real hard to do when people keep messing with you. 

[gdo]

The word Karma is of sanskrit derivation and its literal meaning is Work.    Karma is work, as in what you are working on.  Many people confuse Karma with the laws of cause and effect and Justice.

[Xanth]

I asked myself "what is karma"... and the response I got was:

"confusion on a spiritual scale."

[mon9999]

I believe in karma.. Since I started tithing, blessings and good luck started to flourish in my life.

[Stookie_]

I asked myself "what is karma"... and the response I got was:

"confusion on a spiritual scale."

Care to elaborate what you mean by that?

[NoY]

i think its an energetic consequence like cause and effect

:NoY:

[Xanth]

Care to elaborate what you mean by that?

It's what I got when I asked myself that question.  When I figure out what it means, I'll be sure to let you know. 

With that said... is karma confusing?

[Stookie_]

It's not very confusing to me. It's nice to know how it works, though there's not much everyday practical application. I would guess a huge majority of people aren't aware of what their karma entails to actually use it to their advantage.

[AteBits]

I don't believe in Karma.
I think many missinterprets karma with the concept of having to deal with stuff you did in earlier life/lives when reincarnating. For example, if you were a woman hater in an earlier life, you will have to deal with that in another with you beeing a woman and someone else beeing the hater so that you learn the whole experience. But this to me is not Karma. So you could do all the bad things you want in life, but if you don't know what it means to do so and how it affects others you will have to experience those bad things yourself so that you understand what it is and means, so that yu can become more complete as a soul. But you create your own reality so you set the stage yourself in your next life.
Anyway, what I described above I feel is real and many psychics confirms this, but Karma is not (IMO).

[Bedeekin]

I get slightly confused also as to what to judge as good Karma and bad Karma, other than the simple "Do unto others what you want done unto you."

This is the golden rule... and doesn't take a fool to understand it (you would think). Even this can be misused or turn negative... so the positive "One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself." can become the non karmic, ego-centric and negative form of "One should not treat others in ways that one would not like to be treated."

Karma is too black and white and doesn't take into consideration the finites of what is the right action to receive good Karma.

Would I receive bad or bad Karma if I was to kill a murderer?

[Stookie_]

Would I receive bad or bad Karma if I was to kill a murderer?

That's what I was saying in my original post, is that Karma isn't based on good/evil or the superstitious views of it, like the woman-hater example. You don't get bad or good karma, it's basically just cause and effect. What actions you take in one life will help determine others. Whatever you need or have missed (or whatever the higher self is looking for) is applied to other incarnations (all incarnations, as time/space doesn't exist for the higher self and all incarnations are simultaneous). Without access to your higher self and knowledge of other incarnations, knowing about karma doesn't help much with your current life. You have to ride it out while doing what you think is right.

[Mini stapler]

I get slightly confused also as to what to judge as good Karma and bad Karma, other than the simple "Do unto others what you want done unto you."

This is the golden rule... and doesn't take a fool to understand it (you would think). Even this can be misused or turn negative... so the positive "One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself." can become the non karmic, ego-centric and negative form of "One should not treat others in ways that one would not like to be treated."

Karma is too black and white and doesn't take into consideration the finites of what is the right action to receive good Karma.

Would I receive bad or bad Karma if I was to kill a murderer?

There are considerations made when it comes to karma, it's not actually black & white, it accounts for subjectivity... So they say, I'm just repeating what I've read... Personally, I am unsure of our common understanding of karma, & am trying to research the concept & get down to the bottom of it, & so far it seems the concept when westernized was construed into something it was original not... - if the law doesn't catch you, karma will...  - Just a thought! Anyway, I'm researching the shhhh out of it, cause I find it very interesting. 

[Bedeekin]

Actually... once again... My Big TOE rears it's fractal head. If you haven't already read it...

Heres a section that talks about Karma..

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=RYHtBPiZVgsC&printsec=frontcover&dq=my+big+toe&source=bl&ots=t11op2t5zl&sig=6LZGMpdWwiaYiS6f48amb4yAS5M&hl=en&ei=eGszTbftMYyqsAOU68XaBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=karma&f=false

It is just another viewpoint. 

[Mini stapler]

"There is no punishment, retribution or vengeance implied in this process" - I completely agree with that statement.

& think that this is the most common misunderstanding (just my opinion that it is such) I have heard from people in general, is that karma is essentially 'pay back', a kind of cosmic fairness to right the wrongs, make the bad guys pay, & reward the good guys.

At the moment my interpretation of karma, is that the way I interact with the world around me will have an effect on how the world around me reacts to me. If I'm hostile & involve myself in those kinds of situations, the world around me is more likely to be hostile back, if I'm accepting & understanding & kind & friendly & all things nice & colourful, & involve myself in those kinds of situations, the world around me is more likely to pay back the favour. That's basically been my personal experience of life so far, with a fair share on both sides.

I've not read big toe yet, may have to sit down and read through it soon, though I some what felt like I was reading an I.T manual at the bits I glanced over...  I'm guessing that's the model he uses to get the concept across.

I don't know, I think a cup of tea may solve this issue...  how british!

[Lionheart]

 If right and wrong is only a perceived as Man's rules, then could Karma be self inflicted by inner guilt?  One person's right could be another person's wrong. So just like the Consciousness can create a Freudian slip, can it also create self inflicted pain due to Karma?

[Bedeekin]

I think that's where Karma becomes negative! "I don't want to get bad luck so I wont be naughty"

Whereas I suppose the true intent would be "I know what it feels like to be done bad too so therefore I wouldn't dream of doing bad myself"

It's almost a basic empathy.

Sorry if someone has already said that. 

[Xanth]

I think that's where Karma becomes negative! "I don't want to get bad luck so I wont be naughty"

Whereas I suppose the true intent would be "I know what it feels like to be done bad too so therefore I wouldn't dream of doing bad myself"

It's almost a basic empathy.

Sorry if someone has already said that. 

I still view karma as nothing more than a fear-based teaching method... "do this and be nice or something BAD will happen to you!!"  oOOoOoooo scary.  lol
It's akin to increasing the quality of your consciousness though control and manipulation.

[Mini stapler]

If right and wrong is only a perceived as Man's rules, then could Karma be self inflicted by inner guilt?  One person's right could be another person's wrong. So just like the Consciousness can create a Freudian slip, can it also create self inflicted pain due to Karma?

yeah totally, you could do an ever so awful thing & no one would ever know about it, but if it went against your own conscience, then you will suffer none the less.

I think that's where Karma becomes negative! "I don't want to get bad luck so I wont be naughty"

Whereas I suppose the true intent would be "I know what it feels like to be done bad too so therefore I wouldn't dream of doing bad myself"

It's almost a basic empathy.

Sorry if someone has already said that. 

Indeed, coerced morality could be said to not be morality at all...

[Bedeekin]

It's the difference between not killing because it's illegal and you would go to prison or not killing because its fundamentally wrong to take another's life.

Even then... there are masses of grey areas. 

[Xanth]

Indeed, coerced morality could be said to not be morality at all...

If you do something nice before thinking about doing it... that's generally good.
If you do something nice after thinking about doing it... that's generally not good. 

Spiritually speaking.

But there's no force in the cosmos dealing out this "good/not good"... nor is anything but yourself judging yourself.

[dreamingod]

If you accept the idea of free will,
then
Karma is not a punishment.
Karma is self imposed and self judgement.

My understanding of karma is desire in action.
It is not a moral judgement of good versus bad.
If your soul seed of desire wants to have certain experiences or
is attached to certain ego (definition of self),
it can be said that you have karma and will cycle (repeat) through those experiences
until you are free from those attachments.

[Stookie_]

If you accept the idea of free will,
then
Karma is not a punishment.
Karma is self imposed and self judgement.

My understanding of karma is desire in action.
It is not a moral judgement of good versus bad.
If your soul seed of desire wants to have certain experiences or
is attached to certain ego (definition of self),
it can be said that you have karma and will cycle (repeat) through those experiences
until you are free from those attachments.

Right, and from what I read, that's exactly what Thomas Campell is saying. I think a problem is that the actual word "karma" brings up too many stereotypical concepts that are hard to get around.

[Mr.Flip]

i had a couple of friends over whom i really didnt know much of
i was unwise in doing so of my over trusting others
later on we get robbed
obviously u know who it was

this wasnt due to forces of good nor evil
it was because certain measures were not taken and things that could of prevented such actions were not done
thus letting the domino effect or chain of events occur and resulting in the final outcome

i think of Karma as a butterfly effect
but i also like to personify her
so that i can use her image and symbol as a moral teaching (lol especially for my lil nephew)
its amazing he thinks of karma in that way of if i do something bad then karma will come and make something bad happen to me
he gets terrified!! i got him thinking she is a Zombie
it was perfect to stop him when he started mis-behaving
but then one day -(!)- he gets sinical
what if i do something good then karma will do good things to me right?? hes ask, i respond "yeah sure sorta kinda why?"
he starts doing all these good little things for me like helpin me out, giving me rocks and leaves ha
so i had to explain this to him in the most simples terms, which is quite ironic because if u cant put this stuff in the most simplest format that a kid can understand it, then adults won't get it either (i know its hard to believe but...eh, human capacity) anyway

lil Oscar u dont have to keep doing all of that because its not really from the haert, see Karma is always working she doesnt stop matter of fact she has others who help her out, because they are always moving the wheels and setting up the next steps, when you do something bad or good it is put out there in the universe and someone notices it regardless it be Karma or your Dad, then because time doesnt stop things will start to change and the Karma you have inside yourself will determine if good or bad things happen to you, if you can use the situations that are given to you in the right way then you will have the best outcome period. She gives you what you Need not what you Want