Karma, Do You Believe It?

I am of the same belief as ReverandRuby, however, I also don't think that we should do anything in life based solely on cosmic reward or fear of consequence. I believe that we should be the best person we can be, because it's the right thing to do, not because we're trying to gain positive Karma, or entry into some invisible land in the sky, or whatever other reward one might believe in.

Karma, what goes around comes around, good/bad juju, do unto others, the universe taking care of you, whatever you call it, I believe it. But I don't necessarily think that the good or bad you do is going to necessarily come back to you now, or soon, or even in this life. I think that you need to be a good person and do good because it's the right thing to do, not because of what you will be rewarded with. But I do think that eventually, it all comes back around.

sure.
it's a lot more complicated than a simple 'be nice and you will have a nice life', of course (despite what The Secret says) but in large part it is true.
i'd go slow on coming at it from the negative angle, though, ie telling her that poor behavior will come back to bite her. it WILL, of course, in many ways, but you want her to be a lovely person for its own sake, not because she's afraid of the Rule of Three or negative karma, any more than attributing it to satan.
keep it positive, and keep it realistic. that's a great message for any kid to get.
ETA i totally agree with the very valid points that too much reliance on the karma concept leads inevitably to blaming people for terrible circumstances. and kids are too young to get the nuances.
:) khairete
S.

It's not so much "karma" as following the Golden Rule - do unto others as you would have done unto you. However, I will not allow people walk all over and take advantage of me.

I believe in paying it forward. And helping your fellow human - when you can - and not be FORCED or made guilty because you won't support someone.

People's lives turn out differently because some take control of their lives...others expect someone else to do it for them. There are people who truly believe in God and all that He can accomplish as well - they pray and listen for His word - when you give it all to God - things just seem to work out!!

Hope that helps!

Very much so, but Karma doesn't always come back to bite you in the same life time. It can carry over to future lifetimes. This is why people who seem to be so good have a lot of trouble in a life time. They are learning the lessons from a past life. Such as a good person having their family die suddenly, they may be learning the Karmic lesson of murdering a family in a past life.

Make sense??

I do not believe in Karma. I have lived as the best person I know how to be. My husband is a good guy--really gave back to the community. And my son is the sweetest boy I know. But life is really pooping on our family. We definitely did not "put anything out there" to deserve our situation.

I think it is just better to be a good person because it is the right thing to do, not because of any punishment lurking around the corner.

Yes and no.

I agree with Suz T. on this one.

I believe life presents you with lessons to learn, if you don't learn them, be prepared to have life continue to present them to you.
Karma? Yes, but I also believe in reincarnation and that we are, essentially, living all of these lifetimes at once, giving us the opportunity to suffer or reap the benefits of our choices in this life and our other lives. Time and Space are not linear and not constants.

Yes.. I have witnessed it all of my life.

You get what you put out there.

You give you will receive.

You cheat, others will cheat you.

I remember a woman I worked for. Stealing, lying, playing favorites.. Her children were then treated that way and boy, she changed her tune.

Apologized to me years later. Admitted she was just so unhappy.
Got her life together and became a very generous woman. I worked with her towards the end of her life. It was amazing to see the difference and enjoy her new life with her.

I'd like to believe it.
It seems to work sometimes.
But if you're rich enough you can be a total idiot and you can buy your way out of your difficulties.
I don't care if they might pay for it in some after life.
I'd like to see people who cause suffering to get some in return but it doesn't always work out that way.

I don't believe in Karma but I do believe Galations 6:7 which says:

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap.

It called the law of sowing and reaping.
2 other things:

You reap later than you sow - plant bad things now, reap bad things later.

You reap more than you sow - if you plant a kernel of corn, you reap many kernels on the corn cobs. If you sow bad things, you reap more than you sow. Much more.

I agree with something Wild Woman was alluding to. I don't believe in Karma per se. But if you surround yourself with compassionate people who have a strong work ethic, are honest and kind, and you are likewise, and you take responsibility for your own failures, then you tend to find yourself in less drama filled circumstances.
Does it mean nothing bad comes your way? Nope.
Does it mean your life will be a bed of roses? Nope.
I do think that how we deal with difficulties can make things seem less difficult.

When things are difficult, I reflect on 1 Corinthians 10:13 (most folks, I'm afraid, stop reading at the semi-colon and take this to mean that God doesn't give you "more than you can handle". But if you read the entire verse, the meaning is a little different).

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. "

Not per se. I think that I have learned to be a better person due to seeing how being a witch has not worked for me.

I have a co-worker pal who has many friends because she is so nice. I, on the other hand, had fewer friends because I was always on the look put for folk trying to get over on me.

I gave learned to calm down and not be so apt to cut folk off. Now, I'm blessed with more of a social life.

Karma for me is more about learning from my mistakes.

I believe in karma in my own way. By that I mean I believe that any and all energies you put out have the ability to change and affect your life. If you're putting forth positive energies and efforts in life then typically you are going to bring that into your life. The same can be said for negativity as well. However, for me true karma comes forth from your past lives' energies and not solely your own. That is not to say you do not have full and complete control over your own life and outcomes of it.

I agree with Isntthisfun, except about the God bit. I don't believe in any supernatural deity.

Yes, I do know karma exist. So does reap what you sow . These take there time, as much as people want them to work instantly, it doesn't.

Hi, J.:

I think teaching your child to do the right thing is enough. When she starts telling you about the bad things she experiences, then you can help her get through those times.

I hope you are taking her to Sunday School class so she can learn with other children what is the standards are for common decency.
Good luck.
D.

I love this quote and I remind my kids the meaning of it, I remind myself because, yes, we are living difficult times and a bit of niceness and generosity make wonders!; however, we cannot forget common sense and being strong, but that doesn't mean we need to be harsh or selfish.
"Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.” ( Dalai Lama)
A. :)