Karma?

The literal consequences, such as poor lifestyle choices leading to ill health for an individual?
Or a collective thing such as global warming?
Or both?

Karma= consequences in my opinion

Karma is the result of what's occurred before- And no more-

Looking at it as good/bad/mysterious makes it appear confusing or like either payback or reward-

The things we do as individuals or society are always connected.
It's not mystical. Anymore than the sun coming up is.

As for things like climate change being 'the sins of the Fathers'.

Everything that has brought todays problems were heralded by people hoping for social and economical benefits for society (electricity was supposed to be free, nuclear power too etc.). They were invented and promoted by people hoping for the best.
That they turned out bringing problems of their own, which have fallen to us to sort out isnt Karma, it's what happens in a chaos filled unpredictable world.

What about cancer or all the other diseases? Are people who get ill being paid back for previous mis deeds?
Thats a medieval way of thinking in my view.

What would the results be of this thinking?

Do we leave a person with a broken leg on the road side because he did something in a previous life?
A life we cant even prove existed let alone prove he actually did something to warrant his leg being broken.

Maybe I'm over thinking it, but pay back for things ^I^ choose to see as wrong is an alluring idea.

But really it's just me wanting to make sense of my own personal pain.

That makes sense rosecarmel, thanks.
My friend used to talk about "the one" as being connected and in harmony with the universe (something like that, anyway!)

She said it doesn't matter what we call it, as long as we are connected to it, and aware of our part in it.

It maybe twaddle, coincidence, or karma......
My husband left me for someone else. The day he came to the house to remove his stuff, at a pre-arranged time, I decided, for obvious reasons, to walk down the road to a friend's house. As I walked past the house of one of my neighbours, who just happened to be a clairvoyant, she called out to me and said " I know you're sad, but don't worry, karma's just round the corner" or words to that effect. The very next week my Ex had a heart attack, followed by a triple by-pass op. That certainly didn't make me happy, because I have 3 children with him. And for their sake, I wanted him to be ok. As it happened, the operation was a success, and he is doing very well.
Make of it what you will, but I'm just saying ........

Karmic effects are infinite- What one does, or doesn't do, doesn't necessarily effect them directly or immediately- They can be immediate, but generally eventual-

Climate change, for example, isn't impacting those that caused it that are dead- But whatever we currently do to reverse it will benefit our children, our children's children and so forth- And we currently benefit by our efforts-

This is why the practice of do no harm exists- Everything is interconnected- It doesn't matter if you believe in past lives or reincarnation- Karmic activity is carried from one generation to the next-

Looking through the lenses of good and bad only muddies the view, opposed to clearly seeing what's actually occurring and addressing it -- although it's much easier for me to put into words than it is to do/practice-

This is basically how I was taught to understand it-

What a horrible article! Thank you for the link Petra, I’m using it to illustrate the ways in which people with impairments are regarded as ‘bad’ and to blame for their condition.

I too would really like karma to be inevitable.
Unfortunately some really awful people seem to live a charmed life while some lovely people have so many troubles to bear.

In what way did Saville pay the price for example.

I've put this up for posters who might want to know more about Karma. It's an easy read ?
www.mindbodygreen.com/0-20223/5-ways-karma-from-your-past-lives-affects-you-today.html

Thank you, woodmouse.
Do you think that implies some higher power at work? God? The force of nature, or of science?

Yes, I do believe in Karma. You reap what you sow. Whilst it seems that some people escape punishment for their actions, I sincerely believe that eventually they will pay the price.

Jane10

I would really like Karma to be real.

This, me too - and it’s not ???

EllanVannin Do you think the natural consequences of our actions come into play, or is it some balancing "force" that sets karma in motion?

I hate the idea of karma, its nonsense of course but it implies that those who have had terrible things happen to them somehow deserve it.

If it’s true that ‘handicaps’ (horrid word) are payback for misdeeds in a previous life I was obviously super evil

Oh I think it does appear. It might take time but eventually it strikes when least expected and that's the beauty of it

I'd like to think that karma would catch up, but the longer I live, the less optimistic I am unfortunately. On the rare occassion that I've seen devine retribution occurr, it's been very satisfying.

Jane10

I would really like Karma to be real.

I would too. I love this -
‘ The mills of God grind slowly
But they grind exceeding small.
Though with patience He stands waiting,
With exactness grinds He all.’

I know it does sound really vengeful, and suppose I shouldn’t take pleasure in the idea of someone getting their comeuppance!

I wish it were true. Karma never catches up with some people.

I worked with an absolute witch years ago, she was very nasty and made my working life most unpleasant.
She bragged about everything and was very materialistic.
It was all about cars, handbags, holidays etc.

Fast forward 15 years and were visiting our great friends for the weekend, we arrived early on a Friday afternoon as we were being shown to our accommodation, a guest cottage in the grounds of the house...... madam came out with a bucket and cloth!

She scurried away fast!!

Me too.
I think a lot of people could sleep more soundly knowing that karmic debts would be paid.

I would really like Karma to be real.

Not sure whether I’m into the karma belief either - I’ve seen too many bad deeds be rewarded and good turns go punished.

I do remember however, the then England manager Glenn Hoddle, get into trouble for suggesting that handicaps were punishment for previous lives misdeeds.