{"id":270,"date":"2022-06-01T08:27:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-01T08:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/preparing-for-dying.com\/?page_id=270"},"modified":"2022-06-01T21:19:58","modified_gmt":"2022-06-01T21:19:58","slug":"karma","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/preparing-for-dying.com\/?page_id=270","title":{"rendered":"Karma"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Law of Karma and Its Effects<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These beings who engaged in misconduct of body<\/em>, speech<\/em>, and mind<\/em>, who reviled the noble ones, held wrong view, and undertook actions based on wrong view, with the breakup of the body, after death, have been reborn in a state of misery, in a bad destination, in the nether world, in hell; but these beings who engaged in good conduct<\/em> of body<\/em>, speech<\/em>, and mind<\/em>, who did not revile the noble ones, who held right view, and undertook action based on right view, with the breakup of the body, after death, have been reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world. (The Book of Causation, Samyutta Nikaya<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karma is intentional action<\/em>. Such actions leave latencies<\/em> [states of existing but not yet being developed or manifest] on our mindstream that influence what we will experience in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karma has four general aspects<\/em>. Relate each of these to events in your life:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Karma is definite<\/strong>. Happiness always comes from constructive actions and pain from destructive ones. Therefore, it is to our advantage to create the former and abandon the latter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Karma is expandable<\/strong>. A small cause can lead to a large result. Thus we should take care to abandon even small negativities, and to do even small constructive actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. If the cause hasn\u2019t been created, the result won\u2019t be experienced<\/strong>. If we don\u2019t act destructively, we will not experience hardships and obstacles; if we don\u2019t create the cause for realizations of the path<\/em>, we will not gain them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Karmic latencies do not get lost<\/strong>; we will experience their results. However, negative latencies can be purified by the four opponent powers<\/em> and positive latencies can be impaired by our getting angry or generating distorted views<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion: Determine to observe your motivations and actions so you create the causes of happiness and avoid the causes of suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The Results of Karma<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It is, monastics, as with seeds that are undamaged, not rotten, unspoiled by wind and sun, capable of sprouting and well embedded in a good field, sown in well-prepared soil: if there is plenty of rain, these seeds will grow, shoot up, and develop abundantly. Similarly, monastics, whatever action is done out of attachment<\/em>, hatred<\/em>, or confusion<\/em> will ripen wherever the individual is reborn; and wherever the action ripens, there the individual experiences the fruit, be it in this life, or the next life, or in subsequent future lives. (Buddha, \u201cCauses of Action,\u201d Anguttara Nikaya<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each complete action<\/em>\u2014that is, one with (1) preparation<\/em>, (2) actual action<\/em>, and (3) completion<\/em>\u2014brings three results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contemplating the relationship between specific actions and their effects<\/em> helps us to understand (1) the causes of our present experiences and (2) the future results of our present actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This, in turn, enables us to take responsibility for our happiness<\/em> by (1) avoiding destructive actions, (2) purifying those already done, and (3) acting constructively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For each of the ten virtues<\/em> and non-virtues<\/em>, contemplate their:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Ripening result<\/strong>. In general, this refers to the body and mind we take in our future lives<\/em>. All destructive actions result in unfortunate rebirths. All constructive actions result in happy rebirths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Result corresponding to the cause<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 In terms of our experience. We experience things similar to what we have caused others to experience. For example, if we criticize others, we will receive unfair criticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 In terms of our actions. Each action causes us to form habitual behavior patterns. For example, frequent lying develops in us the habit of lying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Environmental result<\/strong>. We live in a pleasant or unpleasant place. For example, divisive, disharmonious speech brings rebirth in an inhospitable environment with severe storms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion: Not wanting to experience the painful or unpleasant results of your harmful deeds, resolve to purify them through applying the four opponent powers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Source: Based on Chodron, Thubten. Guided Buddhist Meditations<\/em> (pp. 87-88). Shambhala. Kindle Edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Listen, Contemplate, Meditate<\/strong>

The Four Laws of Karma

1. Results are similar to the cause<\/strong>. Karma and its results are certain and unfailing. Positive actions of body, speech, and mind will always bring the positive result of some form of happiness and benefit. Negative actions of body, speech, and mind will always bring the negative result of some form of suffering. Karma and its results are exactly like a seed and its fruit.

2. No results come without a cause<\/strong>. Actions not engaged, will not brings results. It is obvious that things do not just appear out of nothing. If the cause has not been created, the effect will not be experienced.

3. Once an action is done, the result is never lost<\/strong>. An action done, is not lost and will definitely ripen and bring a result.

4. Karma expands<\/strong>. Once we have an imprint of an action in our mind, it tends to be habit- forming.

(The Heart of Dharma Collection<\/em>)
https:\/\/sourcepointglobaloutreach.org\/what-we-offer\/<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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