Karma

An interest thing about western civilization is that western civilization tends to bend and distort practices, ideas, theories, and mistranslated from other cultures or history. I have started to notice this a lot in regards to eastern philosophies. 

One of the biggest things that I learned western civilization has gotten wrong is Karma. I also fell into this wrong translation because I have always believed in Karma in one way or another, even before I knew of the word/concept of Karma. Basically, the western civilization of Karma is a concept of a cosmic bank account. Each mind stream/soul has this bank account and good deeds are deposits and bad deeds are withdrawals. This translation can create a  Karmic debt that multiple lives would need to work off before even getting into a positive balance. People want a positive balance because they better people and after enough lessons are learned and their balance is high enough that mind stream can ascend. 

Well, this is wrong. Karma as understood by eastern traditions and civilization is a system of cause and effect. When we do good (constructive) things, good things (happiness) can happen to us and others and when we do bad (destructive)  things, bad things (suffering) can happen to us and others (this also circles back to one of my core believes about everyone being connected). These affects can be felt immediately, or later, or even in yours/others next life. Outside of just being a good person, a person wants to do mostly good things so they can have a positive rebirth and move forward towards ascension. Karma possesses the following characteristics:

• Beings are heirs to their Karma, have Karma as their refuge
• There can be a gap between study and practice
• Karma is definite
• Happiness comes from constructive actions
• Suffering comes from destructive actions 
• Karma is expandable, small actions can yield big results
• If causes are not created, then results do not come
• Karmic Seeds do not get lost and they can be affected

Here are some great videos from BhikShuni Thubten Chodron that go into great detail regarding Karma. I think these are very informational and enlightening. 

The Foundation of Buddhist Practice 51: Karma and its Effects

The Foundation of Buddhist Practice 52: General Characteristics of Karma

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