The Secret Meaning of Karma
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The Secret Meaning of Karma
Taoism advocates doing good works.
It does not regard good works merely as alms to others and sacrifice by oneself. On the contrary, it holds that the result of good works benefits not only others but also oneself, for these good works contain the perfection of one's own personality, and while benefiting others, they create conditions for the perfection of one's own cultivation. Thus doing good works is an active process.
Correspondence between cause and effect:
In Taoist teachings, the relation between cause and effect refers to the relation between one's words, actions and thoughts and the influence and effect caused by them on oneself.
One's words, actions, and thoughts are the cause, and the influence they exert on oneself is the result. Cause means reason and effect means result, referring particularly to the retribution brought about by the cause. Cause and effect, or words, actions, thoughts and retribution are closely related. Cause is the root and reason that gives rise to the effect, while the effect is the retribution for the cause.
One's words, actions and thoughts will always cause certain effects and produce certain retribution and reward.
It is impossible not to receive retribution after the cause has been created. As the saying goes, good will be rewarded with good, and evil with evil; if the reward is not forthcoming, it is because the time has not yet come; when the time comes, one will get one's due reward. In Daoism, karma is classified into two kinds: karma outside this world and worldly karma.
The cause of the karma outside this world is Wisdom and its effect is Detachment. Here the effect is called a the Fruit of Tao. The cause of worldly karma is good and evil, and the effect is sorrow and joy. Sins will certainly receive retribution and bear the fruit of sorrow, while good will be rewarded with good and bear the fruit of joy. What is generally discussed is worldly karma, but those practicing Tao should take both kinds of karma into consideration. In the human world, one should never forget the reward of good and retribution of evil, and do more good works and accumulate more merits in order to free oneself from sorrow and obtain joy. On this basis, one should go further to cultivate great Wisdom, acquire great merits and obtain great fruit of Tao.
Karma Depends on the Person:
Karma is inevitable. For each person, certain causes bring about corresponding effects. Each person determines it by himself. Everyone should bear responsibility for his own conduct, and should never shirk it. The person who sins will certainly receive retribution of evil, while the person with good works will be rewarded with good, and it is impossible for someone else to undertake it instead. One kind of retribution is that in this world, and if it is too late, there is still the retribution in the nether world or in the Fengdu Hell. What each person does and what cause he plants is all determined by his own choice.
In this sense, the cause lies in the mind, thus Taoism believes that the reward for good and retribution for evil just arise from the mind.
Simultaneously, the Chinese attach importance to the clan, and personal honor and disgrace are closely attached to the destiny of the clan. The Commentary of the Book of Changes6 says that clans that accumulate good will certainly leave surplus jubilation for the later generations, while clans that accumulate evil will certainly leave surplus sufferings for the later generations. In the Book of Supreme Peace (Tai Ping Jing) this is called Inherited Burden, which refers to surplus jubilance and sufferings, especially sufferings, accumulated through generations. Descendants can turn calamities into happiness only if they immediately abandon evil and do good, convert themselves to the Great Dao, and get rid of "the old Vital Breath" and the evil Vital Breath accumulated over a long period of time.
The idea of Karma is the ideological basis for carrying out conversion by good teachings and encouragement and practice of good in Taoism. -
so erm... does tat mean tat in some way... ppl who are always happy do more gd things
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no necessary.Originally posted by RaiNtReE:so erm... does tat mean tat in some way... ppl who are always happy do more gd things
the term 'ppl who are always happy' can mean alot of things. and also in order to achieve that, doing good deeds, may reap good results, good karma, but dun forget we have the 'inherit burden' too.
our fathers, grandparents, forefathers may also done alot, so much that it benefits the desendent, sons, children too.
to think in a logic way, this is possible. imagine our father, during their time, he made alot of good relations with ppl(creating good karma) by getting along well with ppl, helping ppl, been a helpful person. we as children will surely benefits when ppl know we are the children of that person.
our forefathers hard work, unity in Singapore, and thus benefits the next generation of sg, is also a kind of inherit burden.
remember, inherit burden or karma, is more of cause and effect. it does not restrict to only do good things and bad things. it stretch over to everything we do.
been happy, one could have a character that always look things in a positive manner, a brighter side. this is his/her personality, personal cultivation too.
heavenly blessings -
Karma is an indian word, and in simpler terms, it means "cause" rather than "effect".
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bo lang?
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yes. karma is an indian word. but the concept of 'yin guo bao ying' and 'cheng fu' is not only restricted to Hindu or Buddhist. Taoism has its own explaination and believe there is such things as cause and effect.Originally posted by SnowFlag:Karma is an indian word, and in simpler terms, it means "cause" rather than "effect".
A very good example is the book 'tai shang gan ying pian'. it is a very popular Taoist scripture on cause and effect and doing good.
In all rituals, repentance is one of the key objectives. thus this show that Taoist does believe in karma. if not, why repent? Praying for blessings and not seeking repentance is pointless in the Taoist religion.
heavenly blessings -
Just to say that Karma means "cause" rather than "effect". There is subtle meanings to it.
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is it? then what is the complete term for cause and effect then?Originally posted by SnowFlag:Just to say that Karma means "cause" rather than "effect". There is subtle meanings to it. -
Note that whenever there are Indian words in a translation. It means the translator is unable to translate to the new language, without affecting the meaning.Originally posted by wisely_xu:is it? then what is the complete term for cause and effect then? -
Yup. This is what i found out to be too. Yin Guo, cause and effect, its hard to find a more suitable word then the indian word 'karma'...Originally posted by SnowFlag:Note that whenever there are Indian words in a translation. It means the translator is unable to translate to the new language, without affecting the meaning. -
Hello, quite interesting to know that Taoism actually teaches Cause & Effect like Buddhism too.
Do you know what is the difference between Buddhism Karma and Taoism Karma? Which of the 3 Pure Ones (which wisely_xu has explained to me in my forum) taught about cause and effect? -
Merry Meet wisely_xu,
Quite an interesting topic, The Secret Meaning of Karma. Karma & Reincarnation seemingly to be inter-related, maybe you could give a clearer picture of it in the perspective of Taoism, Buddhism & Hinduism between Similarities & Differences in each individual belief. It would definitely brought about great awareness for the benefits of the masses. The Universal Law of Karma & Reincarnation is truly a mystery waiting to be unravel if not probably in the perspectives of the three Major Religions will be able to provide a much clearer & concise meanings of it... Thanks in advance...
Blessed Be,
Oceanos -
Personally. i do not think there is any diff in 'karma'. yinguo. or cause and effect.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Hello, quite interesting to know that Taoism actually teaches Cause & Effect like Buddhism too.
Do you know what is the difference between Buddhism Karma and Taoism Karma? Which of the 3 Pure Ones (which wisely_xu has explained to me in my forum) taught about cause and effect?
it is a reap what you sow kind of thing. on the surface, it is simple logic. but it can be complicated as its involved alot of things within us, between us.
our thoughts, actions, words, all contribute to it.
Taoist view of 'karma', even include what we call 'inheritence' of goodness, or retribution. although we agree that we face the consequences for our own actions. and no one else can take it for us.
but our families' even our govt, if they do good, we benefit too, if they are bad, we suffer too.
like our forefathers for e.g, if they did alot of bad things, create trouble in the past, although they will need to face it themselve, but unfortunately, we as decendent, will get a taste, more of less of their old debts.
thats will chinese has this saying, a charitable family will leave behind blessings for the decendent.
but taoism does not enocourage us to rely on these inheritence. infact, this inherit is not to rely on, but as a warning. to be aware and careful, so that we dun sabotage ourselve, and affect our family, even decendent.
in fact, we should do good, cultivate goodness. not only for ourselves, but for our family, our decendent. -
my explaination above is more on Taoism's cause and effect.
to add on, the divines, play a part too.
of course, cause and effect is a natural thing. but the good and bad deeds, will also be recorded. and the divines will reward and punish accordingly.
they are countless divines, kitchen deity, north dippers, constellation divines etc..
even in our body, we have 'spirits'. that know our thoughts and actions. on certain time of the month, they will report our deeds to heaven.
thus, under the big umbrella of karma, we have inheritence, we have divine's recording of deeds and and natural process of cause and effect as well.
this is deeply rooted in taoism and in any rituals, rites, teachings, repentences is alway stressed and taoists are taught to cultivate goodness all the time.
without repentence, no ritual is useful, no prayer is answered. -
Bao Yin...
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Merry Meet Wisely_xu,Originally posted by wisely_xu:Personally. i do not think there is any diff in 'karma'. yinguo. or cause and effect.
it is a reap what you sow kind of thing. on the surface, it is simple logic. but it can be complicated as its involved alot of things within us, between us.
our thoughts, actions, words, all contribute to it.
Taoist view of 'karma', even include what we call 'inheritence' of goodness, or retribution. although we agree that we face the consequences for our own actions. and no one else can take it for us.
but our families' even our govt, if they do good, we benefit too, if they are bad, we suffer too.
like our forefathers for e.g, if they did alot of bad things, create trouble in the past, although they will need to face it themselve, but unfortunately, we as decendent, will get a taste, more of less of their old debts.
thats will chinese has this saying, a charitable family will leave behind blessings for the decendent.
but taoism does not enocourage us to rely on these inheritence. infact, this inherit is not to rely on, but as a warning. to be aware and careful, so that we dun sabotage ourselve, and affect our family, even decendent.
in fact, we should do good, cultivate goodness. not only for ourselves, but for our family, our decendent.
So there is the existence of Inner & Outer Karmic Cause & Effect? If so what is the difference? Can kindly explain in more details? Thanks...
Blessed Be,
Oceanos -
Originally posted by OCEANOS:
inner and outer karmic cause and effect?
[b]Merry Meet Wisely_xu,
So there is the existence of Inner & Outer Karmic Cause & Effect? If so what is the difference? Can kindly explain in more details? Thanks...
Blessed Be,
Oceanos[/b]
i didnt mentioned there is 'inner and outer' kind of cause and effect.
i just mention that, in whatever we do, we will ultimately need to face it ourselve, be it good or bad. and in addition, whatever man does, heaven is watching and it reward the good and punish the evil.
furthermore, we need to be aware, that ,things we do, will have an effect on our decendent, our family too. -
Merry Meet Wisely_xu,Originally posted by wisely_xu:inner and outer karmic cause and effect?
i didnt mentioned there is 'inner and outer' kind of cause and effect.
i just mention that, in whatever we do, we will ultimately need to face it ourselve, be it good or bad. and in addition, whatever man does, heaven is watching and it reward the good and punish the evil.
furthermore, we need to be aware, that ,things we do, will have an effect on our decendent, our family too.
What I meant is i am asking you is there Inner & Outer Karmic Cause & Effect? I am wondering if you can give a more indepth explanation of Karma since thats what your topic title suggest rather then generic terms.
Since Everything happening on this Earthly Plane is partly due to Karmic Ties, In the perspective of inner and outer, higher and lower, spiritual and physical. Maybe you are to give a more concise meanings of "Karma" & represent it in a more layman term for the benefits of the masses... Thanks for your reply!
Blessed Be,
Oceanos -
Originally posted by OCEANOS:
hi Oceanos
[b]Merry Meet Wisely_xu,
What I meant is i am asking you is there Inner & Outer Karmic Cause & Effect? I am wondering if you can give a more indepth explanation of Karma since thats what your topic title suggest rather then generic terms.
Since Everything happening on this Earthly Plane is partly due to Karmic Ties, In the perspective of inner and outer, higher and lower, spiritual and physical. Maybe you are to give a more concise meanings of "Karma" & represent it in a more layman term for the benefits of the masses... Thanks for your reply!
Blessed Be,
Oceanos
[/b]
may be these info are reliable
THE FIVE COSMIC ORDERS OF KARMA
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1.KAMMA W.R.T. FUNTION
a. Reproductive karma
b. Supportive karma
c. Obstructive or counteractive karma
d. Destructive karma
2.KARMA W.R.T. ORDER TO TAKE EFFECT
a. Weight kamma
b. Proximiate karma
c. Habitual karma
d. Reserve karma
3.KARMA W.R.T. TIME OF TAKING EFFECT
a. Immeditately effective karma
b. Subsequently effective karma
c. Indefinitely effective karma
d. Defunct karma
4.KAMMA W.R.T PLACE OF TAKING EFECT
a. Immoral kamma pertaining to the sence-sphere
b. Moral karma
c. Moral karma pertaining to the form-sphere
d. Moral karma pertaining to the formless sphere
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1.KAMMA W.R.T. FUNTION
a. Reproductive karma
Reproductive kaema is that which produces mental aggregates and mental aggregates at the moment of conception.The initial consciousness which is termed the rebirth-consciousness is conditioned by the reproductive karma. Simultaneous wwith the arising of the rebirth consciousness there arisse the 'body-decad','sex-decad', and 'base decad'.
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due to my time limit of rushing out to my sis birthday party and plus alot of stuff to write..perhaps next time
Blessed be to all dark,bright,grey,heavy,light and rainbow karma existence -
erm........tam bo intresting...ren zhi xiong.. care to elaborate...Originally posted by water_rat:hi Oceanos
may be these info are reliable
THE FIVE COSMIC ORDERS OF KARMA
------------------------------------------------
1.KAMMA W.R.T. FUNTION
a. Reproductive karma
b. Supportive karma
c. Obstructive or counteractive karma
d. Destructive karma
2.KARMA W.R.T. ORDER TO TAKE EFFECT
a. Weight kamma
b. Proximiate karma
c. Habitual karma
d. Reserve karma
3.KARMA W.R.T. TIME OF TAKING EFFECT
a. Immeditately effective karma
b. Subsequently effective karma
c. Indefinitely effective karma
d. Defunct karma
4.KAMMA W.R.T PLACE OF TAKING EFECT
a. Immoral kamma pertaining to the sence-sphere
b. Moral karma
c. Moral karma pertaining to the form-sphere
d. Moral karma pertaining to the formless sphere
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1.KAMMA W.R.T. FUNTION
a. Reproductive karma
Reproductive kaema is that which produces mental aggregates and mental aggregates at the moment of conception.The initial consciousness which is termed the rebirth-consciousness is conditioned by the reproductive karma. Simultaneous wwith the arising of the rebirth consciousness there arisse the 'body-decad','sex-decad', and 'base decad'.
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due to my time limit of rushing out to my sis birthday party and plus alot of stuff to write..perhaps next time
Blessed be to all dark,bright,grey,heavy,light and rainbow karma existence -
Merry Meet water_rat,Originally posted by water_rat:hi Oceanos
may be these info are reliable
THE FIVE COSMIC ORDERS OF KARMA
------------------------------------------------
1.KAMMA W.R.T. FUNTION
a. Reproductive karma
b. Supportive karma
c. Obstructive or counteractive karma
d. Destructive karma
2.KARMA W.R.T. ORDER TO TAKE EFFECT
a. Weight kamma
b. Proximiate karma
c. Habitual karma
d. Reserve karma
3.KARMA W.R.T. TIME OF TAKING EFFECT
a. Immeditately effective karma
b. Subsequently effective karma
c. Indefinitely effective karma
d. Defunct karma
4.KAMMA W.R.T PLACE OF TAKING EFECT
a. Immoral kamma pertaining to the sence-sphere
b. Moral karma
c. Moral karma pertaining to the form-sphere
d. Moral karma pertaining to the formless sphere
--------------------------
------------------------------------------
1.KAMMA W.R.T. FUNTION
a. Reproductive karma
Reproductive kaema is that which produces mental aggregates and mental aggregates at the moment of conception.The initial consciousness which is termed the rebirth-consciousness is conditioned by the reproductive karma. Simultaneous wwith the arising of the rebirth consciousness there arisse the 'body-decad','sex-decad', and 'base decad'.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
due to my time limit of rushing out to my sis birthday party and plus alot of stuff to write..perhaps next time
Blessed be to all dark,bright,grey,heavy,light and rainbow karma existence
Interesting nick, would look forward to your up-coming posts hopefully it will be in layman term for the benefits of the masses. Water_rat borned in 1984 with strong Mercury influence perhaps...
"Song of Wonder ~ how majestic is your name in all the earth!"
Blessed Be,
Oceanos -
Maybe water_rat might seem to be older than wat u think...
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Merry Meet Again Blue-mind,Originally posted by Blue-mind:Maybe water_rat might seem to be older than wat u think...
Is that so? Well maybe so we will never know unless you chose to show us, anyway how would you know about others in the first place? Age don't make much difference but maybe action or word does... Don't you reckon that? Thanks for your concern & reply...
Blessed Be,
Oceanos -
Originally posted by Blue-mind:Maybe water_rat might seem to be older than wat u think...
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continuing of karma
hi all..
KARMA FUNCTION
Supportive karma
b. Supporting karma is that which comes near the peproductive karma and support it.It is either good or bad and it assists or maintains the action of the reproductive kamma,in the course of one's lifetime.Immediately after the conception till the death moment,this assists in giving health,waeth,happiness,etc.,to the person concerned.An immoral supportive karma,on the other hand,assists in giving pain,sorrow,etc,to the person born with an immoral reproductive karma as,ffor instance ,to a beast of burden.
c. Obstructive or counteractive karma
Obstructive or counteractive karma which,unlike the former,tends to weaken,interrupt and retard the fruition of the reproductive karma.For instance,a person born with a good reproductive karma,may lead a comfortable life by getting good,lodging,etc as a result of his good counteractive karma preventing the fruition of the evil reproductive karma.
Destructive Karma
d. According to the law of karma,the potential enegry of the reproductive karma could be nulified by a more powerful opposing karma of the past,which,seeking an opportunity,may quite unexpectedly operate.Just as a counteractive powerful force can obstruct the path of a flying arrow and bring it down to the ground.Such an action is called destructive karma which is more effective than the previous two,in that if not only obstructs but also destroy the whole force.The destructive karma may be either good or bad.
2. karma order to take effect
a. Weighty karma which either weighty or serious,may be either good or bad.It produces its result in this life or in the next for certain.If good,it is purely mental as in the case of the jhanas.Otherwise it is either vertal or bodily.The five kinds of weighty karma according to their gravity are:
(1) The creation of a schism in the holy sect.
(2) The wounding of the enlightened one.
(3) The murder of an Enlightened one.
(4) Matricide (Killing of mother)
(5) Parricide (killing of father)
b. Proximate Karma - Asanna or Death, is that which one does or remembers immediately before the dying moment. Owing to its significance in determining the future birth, the custom of reminding the dying person of his good deeds and making him do good acts on his death-bed still prevails in religions countries.
(i) Sometimes a bad person may die happily and receive a good birth, if fortunately he remembers or does a good act at the last moment. A story runs that a certain executioner, who casually happened to give some alms to the Venerable Sariputta, remembered this good act at the dying moment and was born in a state of bliss. This does not mean that although he enjoys a good birth, he will be exempted from the effects of the evil deeds, accumulated during his lifetime. They will have their due effects as the occasion arises.
(ii) At times a good person may die unhappily by suddenly remembering an evil act or by harbouring some unpleasant thoughts, Queen Mallika, the consort of King Kosala, led a righteous life, but at her death moment, she remembered a lie which she had uttered she had to suffer for about seven days in a state of misery.
The examples are only exceptional cases. Such reverse changes of birth account for the birth of virtuous children to vicious parents and of vicious children to virtuous parents. As a rule, the last thought-process is conditioned by the general conduct of a person.
HABITUAL KARMA
Habitual Karma is that which one habitually performs and recollects, and for which one has a great liking. Habits whether good or bad become second nature. They tend to form the character of a person. At leisure moments we often engage ourselves in our habitual thoughts and deeds. In the same way at the death-moment, unless influenced by other circumstances, as a rule, we recall such thoughts and deeds.
RESERVE OR CUMULATIVE KARMA
Reserve or cumulative karma refers to all actions that are done once and soon forgotten belong to this category. This is as it were the reserve fund of a particular being.
KARMA AND REBIRTH
Procedure with regard to Decease
The advent of death is fourfold, namely:
1. through the expiration of the age-limit
2. through the expiration of the (Reproductive) kammic force
3. through the (simultaneous) expiration of both age limit and kammic force
4. through (the intervention of) Destructive Karma
Illustration:
An oil lamp, for instance, may be extinguished owing to any of the following four causes, namely:
(1) the exhaustion of the wick;
(2) the exhaustion of oil;
(3) simultaneous exhaustion of both wick and oil; and
(4) some extraneous cause like the gust of a wind.
Death of a person may similarly be caused by any of the aforesaid four ways.
To those who are about to die, at the moment of death, by the power of Karma, one of the followings will present itself through any of the six-sense doors:-
(1) A Karma that produces rebirth in the subsequent birth enters (the mind door) according to circumstances.
(2) An object such as a pre-perceived form and the like, or anything that was instrumental in the performance of the Karma.
(3) A symbolic sign indicating where one would be going and experiencing in the subsequent birth place.
Death is not the complete annihilation of a being.
Death in one place means the birth in another place, just as, in conventional terms,
the rising of the sun in one place means the setting of the sun in an other place.
Death is the temporary end of a temporary phenomenon.
Thus Death means the extinction of
- psychic and physical life
- heat; and
- consciousness of one individual in a particular existence.
anyone would like to share karma theories here..as is incomplete info
hi Oceanos
me not so young la...