Is Karma Dead?

[Misty_Morning]

So, I got a little time on my hands to do some thinking.

As I have previously stated in other threads, I believe in the concept of doing what is right or righteous.

I can remember giving one of my nieces a boomerang for her birthday. On it I wrote "What comes around, goes around". I wanted her to realise that all of her actions have a reaction (yeah, remember I am a chemist...this is one of our mottos ).

Right and wrong, and the ability to understand the difference and choose to do whats right, I believe, is critical for not just survival but also positive growth in our society.

This is what I believe fundamentally. In my opinion it doesn't matter what religion, if any, you prescribe. If you are able to recognise right from wrong, you should always strive to do what's right.

Sometimes, and in more cases than other, this just doesn't seem to matter any more.

Seems more like "Do what you can do and get away with."

I have to live with myself. I have to sleep at night. So I am gonna keep on doin what's right. I want to make sure that my actions do not cause a negative reaction in another persons life.

But, somehow, I feel as though I am dying breed.

I don't watch television or read the newspaper anymore cuz I am sickened by what I see, hear and read. Not only that, I just can't seem to escape the negativity created by some folks who are only out for themselves and their fuck everyone else attitude.

It's just odd.



Sometimes I feel as though I am the only one out there who still believes in choosing to do what's right. I keep thinking that SOMEHOW...good will always come around.

So please tell me what you think. I am an idiot for holding on to this fantasy of karma?

 

[cloudy]

No good deed goes unpunished.

 

[starrkers]

If you are, then so am I.

And I know what you mean - you do the right thing and watch others getting ahead by doing wrong everywhere, and there seems no payback.

It used to be "do unto others as you would have them do unto you", now it's "screw unto others before they screw unto you".

I still believe our time will come (but gee, I hope it's not too far away )

 

[MagicaPractica]

So please tell me what you think. I am an idiot for holding on to this fantasy of karma?

Darlin',

Remember that the news picks things that will bring in the greatest ratings and that's usually the bad news. There are still a lot of people striving to do the right thing out there and help others. Many of us just also remember the lesson that it doesn't count if people find out so we try to do it in secret.

 

[Misty_Morning]

Darlin',

Remember that the news picks things that will bring in the greatest ratings and that's usually the bad news. There are still a lot of people striving to do the right thing out there and help others. Many of us just also remember the lesson that it doesn't count if people find out so we try to do it in secret.

Thanks. This made me smile.

I remember back about 15 years ago when I was working in industry, I had a lab tech that that only had a high school diploma. She was so bright and energetic and eager. And she really needed the money.

After about a year, it was determined that I was so effecient in my job that her position was no longer needed, so she was laid off. I was outraged. Her presence made me effective in my position, plus she was hard working and honest. It took me about 18 months to get her hired back, with the only stipulation that she was not to know that I was the one who INSISTED on her return. To this day, she still doesn't know, but many other do. She deserved it, and I am proud that I was able to make her life brighter.

 

[BlackShanglan]

This is just a trifle alarming as a thread title given that my dog's name is Karma.

But I believe in it. Not just in a mystical/spiritual sense, but in a practical one as well. The only way to be surrounded by people of good will and kindness is to be one of them and to work with them to continually uplift our best ideals and suppress our baser urges. If you give nothing to the world but ugliness, you create nothing but ugliness, and that's what you'll end up living in.

 

[MagicaPractica]

This is just a trifle alarming as a thread title given that my dog's name is Karma.

There now, you see? Karma is alive and kicking, also barking and wagging his tail at times.

 

[Misty_Morning]

This is just a trifle alarming as a thread title given that my dog's name is Karma.

Question....does he/she ride side saddle or bareback?

 

[R. Richard]

"My karma just ran over your dogma!"

 

[Jubal_Harshaw]

Bad Dogma! Bit Karma! NO BISCUIT!

 

[mismused]

delete

 

[BlackShanglan]

Bad Dogma! Bit Karma! NO BISCUIT!

*laugh*

Yes, we realized after settling on the name that our house would ring with cries of "Good Karma!" "Bad Karma!" But she's a darling, and really I think that every dog should be named Karma. It's exactly what a dog is. You get out what you put in (with a large dose of forgiveness and love thrown in).

We're quite accustomed to saddle jokes with her. She's about 100 lbs. and could well be ridden by a child. But with me, she's content to trot along beside.

 

[elsol]

Where some people see karma... I see causality.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Where some people see karma... I see causality.

I like that. Truly, I think that being kind and decent is the pragmatic choice as well as the moral and ethical one.

 

[elsol]

I like that. Truly, I think that being kind and decent is the pragmatic choice as well as the moral and ethical one.

I believe the other person THINKING you're kind, decent, even helpful is the pragmatic choice. Makes them easier to manipulate into doing what you want... and lowers their guard if you have to shank them.

 

[BlackShanglan]

I believe the other person THINKING you're kind, decent, even helpful is the pragmatic choice. Makes them easier to manipulate into doing what you want... and lowers their guard if you have to shank them.

*sigh*

Well ... can one at least hope that you don't shank them if you don't have to?

 

[R. Richard]

I like that. Truly, I think that being kind and decent is the pragmatic choice as well as the moral and ethical one.

Kind and decent is a good choice in many situations. However, there are situations where vicious and abusive are called for. There is no one size fits all solution.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Kind and decent is a good choice in many situations. However, there are situations where vicious and abusive are called for. There is no one size fits all solution.

Severe, perhaps. Even lethal, I agree. Vicious? Never. Vicious is not an external action. It is an internal state. And the same for abusive. I'm not willing to make myself those things - and it profits no one to teach others to make themselves that, either.

 

[English Lady]

Severe, perhaps. Even lethal, I agree. Vicious? Never. Vicious is not an external action. It is an internal state. And the same for abusive. I'm not willing to make myself those things - and it profits no one to teach others to make themselves that, either.

Completely agree, Horsey.


And I feel such pain when I read the papers or watch the news but I know that the evil, the unrepentant will get what is coming to them. It's onle of the many blessings I get with the whole Christian Faith package, it has some great bonuses I can tell you

 

[BlackShanglan]

Completely agree, Horsey.


And I feel such pain when I read the papers or watch the news but I know that the evil, the unrepentant will get what is coming to them. It's onle of the many blessings I get with the whole Christian Faith package, it has some great bonuses I can tell you

*laugh*

I like the "Christian Faith Package." It sounds like a holiday plan.

Good company on the cruise, too.

 

[English Lady]

*laugh*

I like the "Christian Faith Package." It sounds like a holiday plan.

Good company on the cruise, too.

Hee, well it kinda is and I gree on the good company, too.

 

[Vermilion]

I think it's pretty fucking comatose, even if it's not dead.

The Fiance keeps getting fucked even when he's doing his damndest to treat others well.

One of the university cleaners chucked out nearly 300 quid's worth of his tools while we were on holiday.

Seems to be two steps forward, one step back.

x
V <in a bad mood, tired and disillusioned>

 

[Chantilyvamp]

Karma is very much part of my life. When I'm good life goes along a little bit easier. The minute I think something nasty about someone or do a very bad thing I am payed back right away. But that might more be me believing in it so much that I change my own path for the worse without realising it.

I do try and follow a good path though there are things that I do that will lead me down a dark path of the likes most have not seen. Be it Karma kicking me in the ass or not its a path I don't like and try to stay off of as much as possible.

As a friend said once...'In the end we choose our own path to walk good or bad and nothing will stop that not even karma.'

 

[Vermilion]

Karma is very much part of my life. When I'm good life goes along a little bit easier. The minute I think something nasty about someone or do a very bad thing I am payed back right away. But that might more be me believing in it so much that I change my own path for the worse without realising it.

I do try and follow a good path though there are things that I do that will lead me down a dark path of the likes most have not seen. Be it Karma kicking me in the ass or not its a path I don't like and try to stay off of as much as possible.

As a friend said once...'In the end we choose our own path to walk good or bad and nothing will stop that not even karma.'

Could partly be psychological - in that: because you believe in karma you read that into what happens to you, provide links to things you've done and it all reinforces itself. The Fiance has much the same approach to money. He religiously *ahem* gives 10% of his income to charity or charitable causes when he can spare it and, as long as he does this, he claims money is never tight. If he fails to make this donations when he can spare it then he starts suffering financial problems...

Me, I just do the best I can and try not to think about everything too much, because that way madness lies.

x
V

 

[denalirayne]

wow - it seems as though like minds really DO think alike

i am grateful for the power of karma in our lives. it helps keep us moving forward in a way we can be proud of when we go to sleep at night.

my wife and i are having these conversations a lot lately. . . . why do we struggle so hard to do what we believe is "right" and "good" only to have others who are doing, well, i don't want to say "wrong" and "bad" but just "not-our-choices," succeed instead? all we can think is that we can not go against our own nature to do anything that would negatively impact others.

it does seem to be a lonely existence, however.

one question we have on this metaphysical topic is, "how do we maintain our own sense of "rightness" (MUCH different than "righteousness") and still love/accept those who choose to live another way without letting it influence us?" for example, my sister-in-law has no problem lying or cheating or stealing to "get ahead" in life, but it is not a lifestyle we condone. to protect ourselves, we try to limit our interactions with her. this reaction, however, often comes across as being judgmental and intolerant and makes her angry and resentful towards us.

how do we balance our desire to live our lives as "purely" as possible with our desire not to want to offend others in our lives?