Karma

Anniebach, Faye, Eloethan,

I think many people misunderstand Karma. In the spiritual sense Karma (good and bad - not that there is such a thing) is a good thing as it promotes personal and spiritual growth.

Like they say, it's not what happens to you that causes the suffering, it's how you respond to it.

Pain is inevitable suffering is optional.

Back on topic. Personally, I don't get any satisfaction in other people's misfortune. I just hope they understand that it's not all bad, and that they are not being punished.

I'm on tablets that do that !

Karma isn't revenge, as some people have said, it's more seeing someone get their comeuppance.

For Karma I read justice, sometimes it happens, more often not. I often feel the unfairness of some people's life, sure they did nothing to deserve it. Losing a child, accidents that are life changing, no Karma can make that right.

I do like the concept of Karma but don't think it really exists, as bad things also happen to nice people. However, I do feel a certain satisfaction that I've had and still have a very enjoyable life, whereas my ex was apparently disliked by his step daughters and is now suffering from Altzeimers. I don't have any regrets about the divorce, which was years ago, and I have our 5 very loving children and 8 grandchildren living close by whereas what has he got -having ignored his own children for many years they don't want anything to do with him.

Incidentally I think the actual saying is "Revenge is a dish best SERVED cold".

I think Anniebach points out the illogicality of a belief in karma. If you take the "what goes around comes around" principle to its logical conclusion, doesn't it imply that people who are suffering now have done something in the near or distant past to deserve that suffering?

When I look at many countries in the world where people, en masse, are living in the most appalling circumstances or are experiencing terrible trauma, I can't believe that they have done anything to deserve such a fate.

To my mind, it's a very random and irrational concept - some people experience misfortune because it's just the luck of the draw, whereas others have bad luck because of some sort of mystical pay-back system. It is, I feel, an inconsistent and irrational idea that serves no useful purpose whatsoever.

I like the idea of karma though I can't help but think what about people who are kind, decent people who have done nothing to deserve horrible things happening to them. What's that called then?

I think it's just basic human nature to indulge in quiet satisfaction when the jerks in our lives get what we think they deserve!
Karma has allowed me to witness firsthand the tribulations of one or two people in my life who deliberately wronged me. What I learned was that the gloating was short lived and overrated. What actually happened was that I ended up feeling sorry for them.

So those who have wrongs done to them are/were bad people? This is the problem I find with belief in karma

My dad always used to say be good to people because what goes around comes around. I've largely found this to be true.

Yes definetly a little bit of. 'Yes justice!'

As I said, a bit of grim satisfaction is OK in my book, but that's as far as it goes.

Nothing to do with aspiring to be a saint Ana, Yorkshiregal has been waiting fifteen years for retribution, fifteen years !

I believe in Karma. However, I don't believe we have anything to do with another person's Karma. Karma is very personal. Karma is a debt we create for ourselves. And, one way or another, It gets paid.

I don't know about 'delight', but there can certainly be a grim satisfaction if someone who has seriously hurt us or our loved ones is brought down a peg or two. It's human nature, and we don't all aspire to be saints!

If there is delight in revenge we are no better than the person who hurt us

Unfortunately, bad things happen to most people, good or bad. We can take a mean pleasure in them happening to people who have hurt us and ours. I know I have, and will again ?

Yesssss what goes around comes around

Pamish I have my own words for other persons good fortune
Lucky!!!!!!!!!!!!!. grin and not printable on this site.

Schadenfreude and Karma are not the same thing and yes, I do like it when Karma kicks in, which means that I do occasionally experience Schadenfreude...

Nannajay I don't know what your problems were but can you look back how see how some of your problems could have been prevented with a bit of hindsight.

Yes.I believe in you sow you reap. Big big grin when they get their come uppance.

What a mean spirited thread.
Thank you Pamish and anniebach for going against the grain.

The guy who undertook on the motorway and nearly took the front of my car off trying to get his piece of junk past causing me to have to slam on the brakes...hope is next poo is a hedgehog!!

Karma is certainly something to cling to when confronted by someone who is being nasty to you. However, I have been waiting for 15 years now and the person I am thinking about has married and started a new job. She was hateful and manipulative and made my life, and that of others, a misery. I stood up to her and she didn't like it one bit so carried on in any way she could to make things difficult for me.

I sometimes think Karma needs an alarm clock to wake her up!