Actions count and have results........
Actions count and have results........
The Bible knows nothing about karma.
This is an ignorant statement. Of course the Sanskrit word 'karm' (karma) is not in the Bible, for it comes from Hindu tradition and their sacred literature, but the principle of 'sowing & reaping', cause & effect, 'action & consequence' is found in the Bible and further confirmed by human experience. Actions have consequences. Why would anyone deny that?
I'd start with my earlier post
here, and follow along, first understanding what 'karma' is (its simply 'action' and its various 're-actions' as all activities are 'inter-active' and produce various effects. That's what 'karma' refers to,
fundamentally. Now there are various kinds of karma, and how 'intention' and circumstantial issues factor into producing results, but it still holds that "whatever a man sows, that also shall he reap". One's actions have consequences, they have their effect (these effects may be experienced sooner or later in time in one form or another). One doesn't need a 'Bible' or some other holy book to recognize such a law of nature, although some holy books speak about the principle. Therefore 'action' (one's deeds) are very vital in determining one's experience of life or death, blessing or cursing, joy or suffering.....since one is always experiencing in some form or fasion, the measure of his own doings, they are measured back to him. Such also corresponds to the concept of 'seedtime and harvest'. Whatever kind of seeds you are sowing, you can expect (as a veritable law of nature) the kind of harvest that those seeds(kind) determine. I don't think this is too difficult a concept to grasp.
While the eastern concept of 'karma' within its own various philosophical schools is different from a western traditional-orthodox Christian theological context, as far as how 'actions' affect ones condition of life, and ultimate destiny (salvation, enlightenment, etc.)...it still holds that actions have corresponding results and are ever 'inter-acting' with many other factors, to produce effects, but all these actions are inter-relating, inter-dependent, co-operating.
If you sin and you suffer the consequences karma has nothing to do with it.
If you commit an unlawful/harmful action (sin) you certainly suffer the consequence of that 'act', and this is what karma is, a perfect example. Remember, 'karma' simply means 'action' or 'doing'...and includes the creative power and result of the action itself,.....act and consequence,.....cause/effect. One can learn from his actions (karma) and no longer do the acts that cause suffering, pain, death, etc.....and do good actions to reap the rewards of right doing. There is also doing good karma for its own sake, in a self-less way, not for the rewards, but for the sake of goodness, compassion, kindness itself which transcends desire for reward or self-recognition.
We have to understand that 'karma' refers to the entire universe of activity,....
all existence/creation is an interacting cosmos of karmic interaction. Science proves this in its own realm of experimentation, as it follows and documents the patterns of action/reaction, cause/effect and discovers certain laws of nature, how atoms, forces, elements, chemicals, substances interact with each other to produce certain effects. We can correlate the law with almost every activity in human experience and the cosmos.
'Karma' has everything to do with 'sin' and suffering its consequences. You may not like the word 'karma' due to negative or mistaken connotations given it, but its a principle worth researching as understood in both eastern and western schools of thought, since they each have different perspectives and insights into its workings.
- I don't fear it, because I don't believe in a 'god' who would enforce or allow such an abject condition for any sentient being. - its insane.
