Jump to content
  • Welcome to the TransPulse Forums!

    We offer a safe, inclusive community for transgender and gender non-conforming folks, as well as their loved ones, to find support and information.  Join today!

Question About Kharma


Guest

Recommended Posts

I've heard different explanations and definitions about Kharma. One says it's all about your past life. Another suggests that if you do good deeds they come back to you and if you do bad things that comes back to you too. IN reality this doesn't seem to work as bad things happen to good people. Just curious on peoples thoughts on this.

:)

Laura

Link to comment

Kia Ora Laura,

Karma is energy created by ones actions-past and present[including ones past life]…From a ‘Buddhist’ perspective ‘life’ and the universe are a continuum of karmic events…and Nirvana is when we finally put an end to our cravings which is the cause of the karmic energy that produces ‘rebirth’…

The Buddha...

"Even an evil-doer sees good as long as evil ripens not; but when it ripens, then he sees the evil results. "

"Even a good-doer sees evil as long as good ripens not; but when it bears fruit, then the good one sees good results. "

'Venerable Manhinda' [a Malaysian Buddhist Monk] on 'Karma and Rebirth'

Understanding how Karma functions…

“The actions which we perform, may not necessarily give rise to immediate effect. Some actions may give rise to results only after some time, some give rise to results within this lifetime; some may only ripen in the next life; and still some others may ripen in successive births.

This phenomena can be compared to the germination of seeds. The seeds of some plants germinate very quickly; some may take a longer time. Alfafa seed, for example, grows almost immediately, within 2 or 3 days, but the seeds of mango or avocado plants may take quite some time to germinate.

So, when a kind and virtuous person suffers, he suffers not because of the good or wholesome deeds which he has done. He suffers because of certain evil or unwhole¬some actions which he has done in the past; either in the immediate past or the more remote past, i.e. in his previous births. Although he might have forgotten about the actions which he had committed, the actions have not forgotten him!

That is how we explain why some good people may encounter various misfortunes and sufferings. And on the other hand, how a wicked and cunning person may be enjoying his life!”

I hope that I’ve sheds some light on what karma’s all about from a Buddhist’s perspective…It's not really good actions V evil actions...It's just the unbias Universal law's way of balancing out the energies-in an attept to creat universal harmony...

One interesting thing about ‘karma’ and the ‘transgender’…Many Thais believe to be born ‘transgender’ is due to ones ‘past life’….In ones past life, one committed ‘adultery’…and the karmic effect produced by this act is we are reborn ‘transgender’…But wait there’s more…They also believe that at one stage of our ‘many rebirth’ all people will commit adultery and ‘ALL’ will have the experience of being ‘transgender’… Hence why Thai people as a whole are more tolerant and accepting of their somewhat large open ‘transgender’ population [and people as a whole in general]…

Metta Jendar :)

Link to comment
  • 2 months later...
Guest Amanda L Richards

HI All,

I have been practising Tibetan Buddhism for five years now and of all the people that I have met or heard from on the subject, Jendar, your explanation of karma or Kharma or kamma, was the most accurate by Buddhist true definitions.

The Tibetan describe karma simply as that of all the energy resulting from volition are impregnated with potential. Then when in a future life time, there are going to be certain conditions present that cause that karma to germinate.

Another clearer example that was given me was that if you abuse your wife in this life in some future life, you will be reborn as a woman and you will be the abused wife, also if you are stingy with everything in this life a future life you will be born with limited means to survive, money, health etc etc.

This is a subject I have been reluctant to reveal to people since I have had so much slack about my path in spirituality. I have learned to sort of keep it quiet untill someone else opens the door. So forgive me if I seem imconplete with my reply.

I hope that helped a bit.

Amanda L

Link to comment

As I understand Kharma it really fits quite well into all religions and spirituality. I have never run across a religion that says do bad things and you will be rewarded. Maybe I haven't studied enough?

Reincarnation is a topic that has always fascinated me and I have always wondered why Christians (the religion that I am most familiar with) feel that reincarnation is a pagen belief when so many refer to themselves as 'born again Christians', baptism is a sybolic rebirth and the transition to the after life is also refered to as a rebirth.

Our biggest problem is trying to understand an infinite universe with finite minds.

I live by my favorite bible passage, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", we used to call that the 'golden rule' and that is a formula for good Kharma in my book.

Sally

Link to comment
Guest Kelly Ann

it's been awhile...but as I remember it Budda was born with all the wisdom that humanity had to bestow upon him...as he was in 'gestation' for something like 80+ years,I could be wrong here, but when he was delivered he was PERFECT in his wisdom. I have never heard a Buddist deliver a put-down 'persay' but I HAVE heard them end an abusive diatribe instantly...and with a smile...it was sooo perfect I thought I was dreaming (-; I'm not a Buddist just somewhat of a dilettane of what is righteous. If Karma...(and isn't that actually Hinduism having to do with Vishnu?) is 'what goes 'round will come 'round' does that not make it somewhat akin to the Yin and Yang of Tibetian Buddism. HEY I'm an amature...just asking...but I wrap my arms around all spiritual beliefs even if I might not agree with all of it. Peace,happiness and Rock 'n roll, OO Kelly Ann

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...
Guest Gallium 67

I've always believed in Karma and if something bad happens to me I always say, "I must have done something bad in my past life to deserve this.". lol. So I do my best to try to be good, but I have my moments where I don't do such nice things. But that's part of being human, no?

I should really take up this buddhism thing, since it seems more comfortable and relaxed than christianity or catholics etc etc. (I actually don't have a set religion as of right now.)

Thanks for the info guys/girls. ;)

Link to comment
Guest Elizabeth K

KHARMA - I see the explaination by Jendar and the others, and it is really about all that can be said about Kharma, from the true meaning of the word. GREAT EXPLANATION, great students and practiononers of Buddism, obviously!

As a child of the sixties 'kharma' was a catch phrase and it expressed most of the meaning that our sweet Jendar explained to us, but it seemed to extend into a moral lession of universal bad and good, and an explanation of why bad things happened to people (they must be living out punishment for something - bad Kharma - in a previous life). The question of bad things happening to good people was inferred, but the idea of good things happening to bad people was much fuzzier back then, if not actually ignored.

And amazingly, kharma was thought of as kind or a savings account, where if you could save up enough, you could return in the next life as something much better, or at worst pay off your debts from a previous incarnation. Nobody wanted to come back as a cockroach, although we expected some people probably would.

And all this was predicated on the idea of reincarnation. Now it gets a bit controversial - I sincerely regret if I trample on anyone's toes here. If you bear with me you will see I leading toward something that might help us understand ourselves as gender dysphoric.

REINCRNATION - Now there is a topic! Even non-Buddist have been wrestling with this for centuries, Christian, Judian, Muslim, and Pagan - and others. The Christian belief, the one I am most familiar with, is very conflicted with this. The everlasting life, for example, in the back part of the New Testament, is revealed to come only AFTER the return of Jesus Christ. So why do we pray to the Saints, and for the salvation of our beloved deceased - if they aren't in heaven yet - or am I missing something? I know I exaggerate and it is only to belabor a point, the Bible tells us many things, but is sometimes a bit ambivilant to us non-scholars.

So do we come back or what? Do we go to a better place when we die or just wink out? I say - stay tuned for later developments. I have a better question - where were you before you were born?

Reincarnation answers these questions, very neatly. Is it a Christian belief? It doesn't seem so - I donno.

I am Christian and believe in Jesus as a Savior - He came when He was really needed and pulled us out of the fire, so to speak... thats just me. I also believe in the Creator, rather than any named God, Goddess, Allah or any of the unnamable God of the Jewish faith. And that is not even touching on the other major beliefs... thats just me again.

But I also believe in reincarnation and Kharma - I am an old soul - I have so many memeories of my past - and I keep them to myself. I also believe in a form of ancestor worship - I have visits from my beloved deceased, in dreams, and I keep that to myself... me again people. And I cannot be an athiest, because I believe I am here, and it is wonderful to be alive. I cannot be agnostic because I am so 'opiniated' - I don't have the patience to say, 'lets just see.'

Hey- try one of these 'opinions' out.

I believe one of our problems as transgender is we have been the opposite gender of what we are now in so many incarnations, we can hardly function in the body we are in now. Wild? What were we thinking when we were chosing to return? "Hey, looks better on that other side of the fence?" YIKES what were we thinking?

Next time I'm gonna be sure to remember I have and will always have a female soul - no more cross-soul body changing for ME - HA!

Crazy Liz

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...
Guest androgynous

There is popular Buddhism and there is Buddhism that is closer to the original Buddha. The popular believe, -like also the Buddhist monks believe- is a reprisal. But that is as true as popular understanding of Christianity: It's mere cultural determined. So most monks are Buddhist because their parents were one, it's like being born into a religion and do the cultural thing you learned in your society, that doesn't mean it's closer to the truth of it. :rolleyes:

Here is a very good explanation by Alan Watts, the Guy who was responsible for bringing most of the knowledge to the U.S. in the late sixties being seventies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xygc71GoW4

Enjoy!

Link to comment
  • 9 months later...
Guest madelane

Hi all

Karma is mentioned in the Christian Bible as well, in fact in all the various scriptures.

In the Bible there are two....Old Testament.....'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth' and 'as you sow so shall ye reap'.

Even science refers to it as 'for every action there is a opposite and equal reaction'.

This is simplistic of course for there is no way that Kharma can be analysed much less understood at our level of conciousness.

Masters all will tell you to not think about it too much as you will find no answers.

Sadly people do not actually realise the effects that Kharma has for every action thought and deed must be paid for at some point in time be it good or bad (in our perspective) and unless you are fortunate enough to find a Master to guide you out of this domain the circle of 84 continues unabated.

This is not negative for the time will come when your yearning to go home will become so strong that you will be drawn to one who can guide you on the path.

Love

Madelane

Link to comment
Guest Joanna Phipps
Hi all

'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth'

Madelane

That expression, from what I have heard and read is not one of vengence in kind, but one of moderation. Dont take more than an eye for an eye.. ie not swatting bugs with baseball bats.

Link to comment
Guest April63
That expression, from what I have heard and read is not one of vengence in kind, but one of moderation. Dont take more than an eye for an eye.. ie not swatting bugs with baseball bats.

yes, that's true. it's also about justice. that justice needs to be served.

Link to comment

Kia Ora all,

:rolleyes: Gandhi once said [well not in these exact words] “An eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth-pretty soon the whole world will be blind and having to s uck food through a straw!” well you get the gist of what Gandhi meant…

The Christian concept on Karma differs greatly from the Buddhist one…The Sanskrit word Karma [or in Pali Kamma] in it’s literal sense just means ‘action’ and as logic will confirm for every action there ‘must’ be a re-action=the universal law of ‘cause and effect’…Thoughts begets words and or deeds/actions-so the personal karma that Buddhists are concerned with stems from intentional thought…

So in a nutshell…[being a vegetarian I am what I eat and I eat lots of nuts which makes me somewhat nuts-hence all the nutshells I tend to put things into-recycle recycle recycle]

:rolleyes:“Now one should really be aware of ones thoughts and try to take heed-

for an unwholesome thought could produce an unwholesome word or deed-

So you must face the consequences of all what you think and do-

before long like a boomerang this unwholesomeness will come right back at you !” :o

Don't say I didn't warn you ;)

Metta Jendar

Link to comment
Guest Joanna Phipps
Kia Ora all,

:rolleyes::rolleyes:"Now one should really be aware of ones thoughts and try to take heed-

for an unwholesome thought could produce an unwholesome word or deed-

So you must face the consequences of all what you think and do-

before long like a boomerang this unwholesomeness will come right back at you !" :o

the closest I can come to this in western thought is the Wiccan 3 fold rule, what you do to others will come back to you 3 fold. That is good or evil.

Link to comment

OK... Let me summerise what I have just read.

Karma is a Bank Account where good deeds are a deposit

Bad deeds are a Withdrawl..... AND the bigger the Balance is more 'CREDITS' that your Next Persona will inherit ... Right ?

Link to comment

Kia Ora Tassie,

:rolleyes: In the rhyme I was just referring to 'unwholesome' thoughts words and deeds...but as far as Karma goes[the universal law of cause and effect] wholesome thoughts produce wholesome words and or deeds[which are deposited into the Karma bank-the more wholesomeness one deposits the bigger the bank balance] and some time in the future near or far[from a Buddhist perspective we experience rebirth on a number of occassions-depending on our personal karma]we will reap the benefits-well in 'reality' all that really happens is the un-bias universe just balances out the karmic energies that we have produced[and continue to produce]... B)

Most importantly karma according to Buddhists has nothing to do with some supernatural being dealing out rewards and punishments-it's just the natural law of cause and effect...of which we all have some control over...

I hope this sheds some light on Karma according to Buddhism...

Kia Ora Joanna,

:rolleyes: The Wiccan concept of karma also differs greatly from the Buddhist concept...According to Buddhism one only gets back what they put in...hence the universal law of cause and effect..."For every action there's a re-action [to equal]!"

Metta Jendar :)

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Who's Online   4 Members, 0 Anonymous, 127 Guests (See full list)

    • MaeBe
    • Thea
    • VickySGV
    • Carolyn Marie
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      80.6k
    • Total Posts
      767.9k
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      12,014
    • Most Online
      8,356

    Quillian
    Newest Member
    Quillian
    Joined
  • Today's Birthdays

    1. l.demiurge
      l.demiurge
  • Posts

    • Abigail Genevieve
      The two o'clock Onshoring meeting was going well.  Taylor was leading, inviting other people up to speak on their specialties. Aerial photogrammetry and surveying, including the exact boundary, were out for contract signature  Gibson had handled that - Manufacturing was supposed to, but somehow hadn't happened.  Legal issues from Legal. Accounting reported on current costs, including all upkeep, guard salaries, etc.  Manufacturing was supposed to give those numbers, but they hadn't.   The downside was the VP of Manufacturing.  He had arrived at the meeting red-faced, his tie askew, clutching a bottle. It smelled strongly of vodka. He had never done anything in his twenty years of being VP of Manufacturing, and he did not like being asked now.   "Mr. ----, do you have the inventory we asked for?" Taylor asked politely.  VP Gibson had asked him to have his people go through the plant and not only inventory but assess the operational status of every piece of equipment.  They needed to know what they had. "I'm not going to take any f---- orders from a g-d- tra---," he snarled. "God knows what kind of perverts it has dragged into our fair city and bangs every night." "That is completely out of line." That was Gibson.  Taylor controlled herself.  That was a shot at Bob, not just at Taylor.  She was glad Bob was not there to do something stupid.  Had Mrs. McCarthy been talking? What had she said?  Was she given to embellishment?  Taylor took a deep breath. "I'm not sorry.  You f--- can take this stupid onshoring --- and shove it up your -" "That is quite enough."  This was the head of HR. "You can take your sissy ways and sashay -" "You are fired." "You can't fire me." "Oh, yes I can," said the office manager.  The VP took another swig from his bottle. "Try it."  He looked uncertain. "I will have you removed.  Are you going to leave on your own?  I am calling the police to help you leave." And he dialed the number. He stomped out cursing. They heard him noisily go down the hall.  This was the front conference room.  He actually went through security and out the door, throwing his badge on the ground on his way.  The guard picked it up. They could see this through the glass wall. "Can you fire a VP?" "The Board told me that if anyone gives me problems they should be shown the door. Even a VP.  I can fire everyone here. I won't, of course. Those were problems." "Are you alright, Taylor?" She nodded.  "I've heard worse.  Shall we continue?" And they did.   The last item was that certain business people in China had been arrested, and the corporation that had been supporting them all these years had been dissolved.  They were on their own, and the Board was dead serious on straightening things out.  After this meeting, Taylor believed it.  She did not attend the meeting to discuss how to distribute the few duties the VP of Manufacturing had done.  That was ultimately up to the Board.    
    • Abigail Genevieve
      Lunch was at Cabaret, still free.  The place was quiet: it was the sort of place you took a business client to impress them, and the few other people were in business suits.  Most of the legal profession was there.   She told him of the morning's frustrations, breaking her own rule about confidentiality.  She asked Karen how the branding was going, and Karen had snapped back that she had not started on it yet - they had all these proposals.  Taylor had explained that it was important, for the two o'clock meeting, and Karen told her to do it herself.  Karen pointed out that Taylor could not touch her - her uncle was on the Board and her brother was VP of Manufacturing.  Nor would the two computer guys go out to the plant - they were playing some kind of MMORPG and simply not available. If she wanted the pictures, she should go.  Mary prayed an Ave Maria, but both she and Brenda were racing to get the proposal out. The client wanted it Friday for review.   She didn't bring up what Mrs. McCarthy had told her.  She wasn't sure how to approach it.  She thought of telling her of a 'something more comfortable' she had bought in case he ever DID show up at her door. It was in the bottom drawer of her dresser, ready to go.  Instead she talked about moving to a place with a garage.  Several of the abandoned houses had one, and they had been maintained well with China cash.   Bob had finally realized that when he was introduced as Bob, Taylor's boyfriend, that was just how things were done here. Other people had introduced each other in terms of family relationships, which were strong.  Long before you found out anything else about someone, you knew how they were related.  Family kept people from leaving Millville.    "What is the real name of this town, anyway?"   She laughed.  "I am trying to find that out.  It's 'Welcome to Millvale' when you come into town from the north, and 'Welcome to Millville' on the south.  I have counted two other variants."   "What a town. Roosevelt is like that, with the families, but there is only one spelling."  
    • Ashley0616
      Nothing wrong with that. I'm glad that you found what makes you happy! Just curious what does your wife think? If it's too personal I understand.
    • Ashley0616
    • Ashley0616
      – According to a recent survey, the most popular name for a dog is Max. Other popular names include Molly, Sam, Zach, and Maggie.
    • Ashley0616
    • Ashley0616
      Either new environment/ not potty trained
    • Abigail Genevieve
      Bob was on his way home from the dojo and he "just happened" to driver by her place. It was 10:30.  Her light was still on.  He knew exactly where she was sitting.  He saw her in his mind.   A fierce wave of desire that took his breath away suddenly showed up. All he had to do was stop, get out of the car, walk to the door and knock.  She would answer, glad to see him.  She would know why he was there and what he wanted. She would invite him in, maybe get him something to drink, disappear for a moment and return in "something more comfortable."  She would lead him back. Oh, joy.   And never, ever speak to him again afterwards.  Or she would not let him in but be angry about it.  In no way, emotionally, physically, mentally or spiritually, was she ready for this, and he knew it, if he was honest with himself, and she knew he knew it.  She would look upon it as another assault and their relationship would be irretrievably broken.  He would have to leave town. It would devastate her. It would devastate him.    He fought himself.  He was frozen to his seat as his reason and his body fought. He was twenty four years old, a full-blooded male with normal desires; he had just worked out and he was ready.  All he had to do now was open the car door. No one would know. He held his hands, one in the other, to keep one from moving, against his reason and will, to open that door.  He did not want to be a slave of his desires.   He looked across the street.  Mrs. McCarthy, sister of his landlord, was peeking though her window.  She knew his car.  Everyone in town would know by noon the next day if he got out of the car.  Taylor did not need that, either, and she would know, if he came to the door now, what a selfish thing it would be: in his own eyes, in the eyes of Taylor, in the eyes of the town, and worst of all, in the eyes of God.   He sat there a moment longer.  He was, as he reflected, entering into her sufferings in a small way that she would be made whole, healthy and happy: what he wanted more than anything.  But this hurt.  Why had all this come on her?  He asked God again, but there was only silence. He drove home in that silence. He chided himself for even going on her street and for driving on it other nights.  He would stop that, he told himself.   ------------------------------------------   The next morning Taylor went out to her car to go to work.  Mrs. McCarthy met her before she got to it. "I thought you were going to get lucky last night, dearie," she said. Taylor was puzzled. "Why, what do you mean?" "That young fellow - you know, Bob - he's been driving around here, going up and down the street some nights, not stopping.  Well, last night he parked and sat in his car for a while.   I think he was staring at your window.  I think he was trying to get up the courage to knock on the door. I was rooting for him.   But then he drove away.  Faint heart never won fair lady, as they say. What a shame. You two are a lovely couple.  Well, have a good day!" "Thank you, Mrs. McCarthy."  Taylor knew Bob extremely well and knew what had been going through his mind.  She was more than grateful he had not gotten out of the car. Better for him, better for her, better for everybody.  Surgery "down there" sooner than later.  This was driving the poor boy crazy. It was driving her crazy, too.  But she had a lot to work through. Surgery "up here" she said, pointing to her head.  She woke up her therapist on the way to work.  They were still talking when she pulled into her designated parking spot.  That was a perk that had happened yesterday.  She took a deep breath and headed into work. It would be another wild day.
    • Ashley0616
      bittersweet: especially : pleasure accompanied by suffering or regret
    • Abigail Genevieve
      I'm thinking about some interactions yesterday I did, while presenting as male but acting as female, that were far better than I did when I was presenting as male and acting as male.  #girlunderhood. I do a crappy job at acting as male and I am giving it up.  I am not talking about feminine gestures or presentation but just relating as a woman.  People don't realize I am doing it but it is a whole lot easier to do.   You don't just put on a dress and BOOM you are a girl.  You are a girl and you put on a dress.  Or not. Whether I am in jeans or a skirt (I wish, wife would have lots to say) I am a girl.  I don't need $250 in makeup and heels and hose and all that.  I don't need surgery. Honey, I have arrived.  Now I have to work out how that best works in my life, causing the minimal damage and creating the maximum good, but I have more working room.   Oh, and I am still pissed off at everyone and everything. #Contradictory.
    • awkward-yet-sweet
      @Willow it is certainly possible that my husband planned it. Placing me in the path of an opportunity....he certainly does things like that. GF has done some work for the company as an outside consultant, so I'm sure the company owner knows what potential resources are around.    It could also have just happened randomly. He has taken me to work with him before, just because he likes to have me around. I remember one time that I fell asleep with my head in his lap, and he held a meeting with his subordinates without waking me and making me move.  The company culture is family oriented and relaxed.
    • Abigail Genevieve
      The photo is great.  Software is phenomenal but it also is sort of a promise of things to come. Years ago this sort of thing took a photographer and Photoshop and all sorts of things and you would say, "I can look like THIS??"   Me, I am a duck.  That's from my driver's license.  Just kidding.
    • MaeBe
      I lucked into that picture. I took like 10 before that, which appropriately make me look like a donkey. ;)   Thank you so much for the compliment!
    • Mmindy
      You're welcome Sally,   Hugs,   Mindy🌈🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋
    • Mmindy
      This is a great analogy. The statement is true as it relates to the tree. The analogy fits because we as a LGBTQIA community are stronger when we stand together. It also work here on Transgender Pulse Forums. The support I feel from so many others has made me comfortable with my stance, because I'm in a beautiful forest of friends. So when I'm out alone and confronted. I can respond and act like the single tree in the field, surviving whatever comes my way. My roots reach back and communicate with others like me.    Standing Strong,   Mindy🌈🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋
  • Upcoming Events

Contact TransPulse

TransPulse can be contacted in the following ways:

Email: Click Here.

To report an error on this page.

Legal

Your use of this site is subject to the following rules and policies, whether you have read them or not.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
DMCA Policy
Community Rules

Hosting

Upstream hosting for TransPulse provided by QnEZ.

Sponsorship

Special consideration for TransPulse is kindly provided by The Breast Form Store.
×
×
  • Create New...