(For believers ) qns abt karma

[Śūnyatā]

We cannot speak of “Right” or “wrong” without considering morals and ethics.

to someone without morals or ethics, there is no concept of “right” or “wrong”.

if someone did something “wrong” to us, we measure the severity of the deed by our morals and ethics.

is karma possible for someone who doesnt uphold any beliefs in morals and ethics?

Yes, as long as one is muddled (ignorant, non-enlightened), his thoughts and actions generate karma. Karma's "flavours" exist only because of perceivers putting labels on outcomes, events, etc, whether consciously or instinctively. It is just a term of reference used to denote the collective potential for volition of thoughts, actions, etc (movement, for lack of a better term).

 

[Śūnyatā]

But what are the by default 'good things'?

Like give cat eat food will good karma?

Recycle for trees also good karma?

If not good deeds are subjective, no?

Kindly advise.

What is "good" to you may not be "good" for another person. E.g. if you pick up a $50 note today, it's "good"? The person who lost it would not agree with your definition of "good" in that situation.

If we extrapolate from this understanding, we can see that all "good" and "bad" (or any other labels) are the product of our subjective minds.

 

[AUTUMN&WINTER]

But what are the by default 'good things'?

Like give cat eat food will good karma?

Recycle for trees also good karma?

If not good deeds are subjective, no?

Kindly advise.

Karma is intention. To know what kind of actions (intentions) will lead to good karma, one must learn from the Buddha the definition of wholesome deeds (good deeds). Reason being Buddha is the enlightened one who is able to discern many things which lay people are unable to discern. Laymen's senses abilities are limited. For instance, we can't see when it's too far, too near, too dark, too bright, too small, block by a piece of thin paper etc. What are the wholesome deeds are written in many Sutras.

We always hear layman says who and who is very good but died young. They are using the layman's definition of good. If use Buddha's definition of wholesome deeds, I guess may not find any good in that person.

 

[Grieffin]

I had seen a few elderly colleagues bullied by young bosses. They kept quiet whenever being bullied, didn't retaliate except sometimes trying to explain to their bosses. These elderly are very lucky, always strike 4D 忍气求财.

Some tolerate n go crazy or unwell

 

[Grieffin]

Why ah? My shifu didn't teach me this. I know we shouldn't fight back or scold back, but how does keeping quiet help to 消业障？

Yes. When pappy screw u never fight or scold back. This teaching surely endorsed by miw

 

[Milodrink]

What is "good" to you may not be "good" for another person. E.g. if you pick up a $50 note today, it's "good"? The person who lost it would not agree with your definition of "good" in that situation.

If we extrapolate from this understanding, we can see that all "good" and "bad" (or any other labels) are the product of our subjective minds.

Yes. That's my point.

Hence, according to "theory" of good deeds = good karma, how people grow their good karma?

 

[Śūnyatā]

But that choose best expiry date need not be bad, hence very much subjective.

Choosing better could be mum have young kids to ensure the better condition of bread. It is the duty of a nurturer.

Also, by higher consumer expectations this Drive better healthy competition and improvement among the vendors.

Overall, it can be a good deed and involvement of the nature of work.

And again, all can be very subjective.

ps: just genuinely confuse too don't mean to go opposite of your points.

Discussion is always an opportunity for me to learn and grow, so I appreciate your replies!

I should have used the term "self-centred" instead of "selfish", and I don't mean it in a negative way. Self-centred simply means that the central consideration of a thought or an action was "self". When "self" is given priority, it is inevitable that "others" are relegated to the back of the queue.

 

[_zeph_]

Sometimes, you might not even get justice in this life but rest assured, all injustices will be fixed in the next life. Perfect justice awaits us all.

 

[Milodrink]

Karma is intention. To know what kind of actions (intentions) will lead to good karma, one must learn from the Buddha the definition of wholesome deeds (good deeds). Reason being Buddha is the enlightened one who is able to discern many things which lay people are unable to discern. Laymen's senses abilities are limited. For instance, we can't see when it's too far, too near, too dark, too bright, too small, block by a piece of thin paper etc. What are the wholesome deeds are written in many Sutras.

We always hear layman says who and who is very good but died young. They are using the layman's definition of good. If use Buddha's definition of wholesome deeds, I guess may not find any good in that person.

I see...

 

[䏣炆玧示老太]

If it is like that, then their life is very difficult.
Unless the other party is their parent.

Sometimes BF GF can be like that too
Eg a guy keeps hitting abusing his GF but the girl just blindly accepts

 

[AUTUMN&WINTER]

Some tolerate n go crazy or unwell

Ha ha.... Buddhism teaches wisdom. Learn wisdom from Buddha, one will know when and how to tolerate so that one will not go crazy. One must know the true teaching of emptiness in order to tolerate. If not, one is unable to tolerate.

 

[Medicated Oil]

Sometimes BF GF can be like that too
Eg a guy keeps hitting abusing his GF but the girl just blindly accepts

I know what you mean.
But, it will become lame when the bf and gf go to a fortune teller and he tell them some BS crap about them being linked in some previous past lives.

 

[Śūnyatā]

Yes. That's my point.

Hence, according to "theory" of good deeds = good karma, how people grow their good karma?

As I mentioned in an earlier post, as a Buddhist, I would focus on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eight-fold Path. By studying, understanding and incorporating these into my daily living, wisdom and clarity of mind arise, producing wholesome mind-states which in turn produce wholesome thoughts, actions and outcomes. The karmic consequences of such wholesomeness would be naturally wholesome as well.

 

[䏣炆玧示老太]

Then those great bullies are what?
Previous life saved whole entire nation?

Hence this life entitled to do much scolding siblings/ hitting wife/ bully classmates/ and the list goes on etc without punishment?

That’s why I say no one could tell easily who owe whom what mah

have you ever come across someone you hate at the first sight wanted to do harm to?

 

[Milodrink]

Yes. It's 消业障, clear the karmic obstacles, not 账。人欺天不欺。

How to know if someone have 业障?

Experts kindly highlight.

Lol.

 

[䏣炆玧示老太]

I know what you mean.
But, it will become lame when the bf and gf go to a fortune teller and he tell them some BS crap about them being linked in some previous past lives.

And hor
When karma debt paid off then the guy would let the girl go and the girl would finally leave the guy. How funny!
If that’s not karma debt what is it? Nothing logical not scientific can explain such behaviour

 

[AlmightyOnes]

How to know if someone have 业障?

Experts kindly highlight.

Lol.

Ya while wait for experts, 2 cents here, actually 业障 means obstruct u to cultivate to gain Buddhahood/enlightenment.
So it can be any form.. as long obstruct u from cultivate.

 

[Śūnyatā]

How to know if someone have 业障?

Everyone has 业障. 业 => deeds/events/outcomes, 障 => obstacle

It refers to the collective potential for future thoughts, actions, outcomes that we have built-up from our past thoughts, actions, experiences. Why "obstacle"? Because we are blinded/hindered/hampered by this unwholesome potential.

 

[Sumimasen]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, as a Buddhist, I would focus on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eight-fold Path. By studying, understanding and incorporating these into my daily living, wisdom and clarity of mind arise, producing wholesome mind-states which in turn produce wholesome thoughts, actions and outcomes. The karmic consequences of such wholesomeness would be naturally wholesome as well.

Is there any shortcut for lazy freethinker?

 

[Śūnyatā]

Is there any shortcut for lazy freethinker?

It depends on what you are trying to achieve?