Karma: The Big Lie?

[Nameless]

For me, there is no question. I do not buy it. So what prompted this topic?

EV ( @EscapeVelocity ) and I had a long conversation in which karma became a major topic of discussion. He encouraged me to share my thoughts here and in the end I caved, lol.

But first let me say that I am not talking about day to day karma. Sure that is real, as in actions have consequences. What you do in this life (here and now) most certainly carries weight, consequences (karma) that can and will affect not only your life but those around you.

What is in question is cosmic karma that carries down through the ages. That whole concept makes zero sense to me. This karma (theory) hinges on a belief in re-incarnation. The point of reincarnation it seems is to clear our karma and karma hinges itself to that very thought. I see this as a flawed theory. For if we have to spend each consecutive lifetime correcting our flaws of the past we will surely never be free. And, I see this as the trap and the reason for this idea that we live on a prison planet.

That's my thoughts in a nutshell. I understand I am going against centuries worth of dogma. Many lifetimes have been devoted to this very subject and it makes me weary of approaching this subject even now but I feel it is time to break another link in the chain.

[Xanth]

For me, there is no question. I do not buy it. So what prompted this topic?

Karma as most people think of it, yes, I agree completely, I also do not buy it.

But first let me say that I am not talking about day to day karma. Sure that is real, as in actions have consequences. What you do in this life (here and now) most certainly carries weight, consequences (karma) that can and will affect not only your life but those around you.

We see this on a daily basis... someone does something bad and they have to carry that with them throughout the rest of their lives.  That's what I call the individual-level karma.

What is in question is cosmic karma that carries down through the ages. That whole concept makes zero sense to me. This karma (theory) hinges on a belief in re-incarnation. The point of reincarnation it seems is to clear our karma and karma hinges itself to that very thought.

This is what I call the consciousness-level karma.  I spoke about this in my post the other day about "Why Love? Love vs Fear".  I've also spoken about this before regarding the "bathtub theory of reincarnation" I have.  I feel that the karma we have earned at the end of our life, goes back to the consciousness system and either increases or decreases the karmic level of us as a whole.

Consciousness (the One) either reduces its entropy - or increases its entropy by whatever TEENY TINY little bit our bit of awareness allows it to.  What the end goal of this is, is anyone's guess. 

I see this as a flawed theory. For if we have to spend each consecutive lifetime correcting our flaws of the past we will surely never be free. And, I see this as the trap and the reason for this idea that we live on a prison planet.

Yes, and I completely agree.  It's the flaw I see as well in it, and it also entirely depends upon the suggestion that our individual awareness units actually do continue on in some manner - this is also something I don't really believe happens.

That's my thoughts in a nutshell. I understand I am going against centuries worth of dogma. Many lifetimes have been devoted to this very subject and it makes me weary of approaching this subject even now but I feel it is time to break another link in the chain.

Sometimes it takes just ONE person thinking outside of the dogmatic box for wholesome change to begin. 

[Nameless]

Thank you for your insights Xanth. Lately I've been seeing lots of things in a new light. Must tread carefully, last thing on Earth I want to do is start a new religion, lol.

[Brave]

The perception of karma through the Western paradigm is problematic. It attempts to rationalize death, poverty, disease, sexism, racism, etc.. Additionally, many people believe that karmic justice is served by a greater power than oneself. This sometimes results in people not taking action because they pass on the responsibility of karma to someone else rather than just doing something about it. I opt to believe in "cause and effect" rather than "karma". I just can't rationalize that we must suffer now to obtain a greater life in the next reincarnation cycle. Just my two cents

[Xanth]

The perception of karma through the Western paradigm is problematic.

Ugh, the "western" view on most things always seems to boil down to whatever is good for capitalism. haha
So yeah, I'm not a big fan on most western ideas on things.

I just can't rationalize that we must suffer now to obtain a greater life in the next reincarnation cycle. Just my two cents

I couldn't agree with that statement more. 
This is probably the main point which puts me off on the western idea of what karma is.

[LightBeam]

To me everything is about lessons. We may interpret it as Karma, but if we don't learn the set lessons they keep repeating maybe a few cycles over one lifetime. If not learned in one lifetime, it will carry over to another.
On another hand, everything we think to do to other people in terms of harming them, we actually bring this intention upon ourselves, we create it within our own energy surrounding and it reflects back to us. On the surface people may think that they harm another to gain something for themselves, but all they do is bringing this harm and manifesting circumstances in their own life. These manifestations can happen within one life cycle or over a few. But there is no punishment coming from anything external. We do it to ourselves, but we have agreed on a higher level that we would experience the consequences of our learning process which in itself is also learning. Overall it's for our growth, expansion and benefits. There is no punishment of any sort.

[omcasey]

Lightbeam, exactly!

We are the very first recipient of all we think and feel. <--this is "karma"

It is not as though we ever have to go back ( or forward ) to correct anything. We are right now in our current life expression the sum total of all we are ever meant to harmonize. So the cessation of what is causing disharmony in us NOW is all that is required to end [ - ] karma. We learn. We are very first recipient of all we think and feel. And we begin to change the way we think and feel. Which changes the way we perceive and experience reality, .. ie: ourselves. Which, in turn, opens us up to the larger order of reality. It is a thing of perfect beauty.