Continued from http://wp.me/p54LT-3rE
Why It’s Sensible to Have Faith in Karma While surfing the net for a quick rational proof of sorts that would convince him that there is the law of karma (or moral cause and effect) at work in life, Zeph stumbled across two pithy articles in www.TheDailyEnlightenment.com : The Paradox of Fairness
If you believe in the universal law of karma, life is always fair to all. Everyone experiences their just deserts. If you believe in the universal lack of karma, life is just as fair to all. Everyone experiences their unjust deserts. – Stonepeace
Comments : 1. Paradioxically, universal unfairness would be universal fairness – because it is impartial. 2. Whether life is fair or not, it cannot be denied that it is most kind and wise for one and all to put in the right efforts to do what is best for one and all. 3. If everyone were to choose to believe life is totally unfair, and give up in despair, or start being unfair to each other, what would the world become? Such a world, that we would not like, we should not play a part in creating. 4. If life is unfair, even the more should we uphold fairness, which will affect one and all, including you… eventually. Incidentally, that itself is karma, the moral law of cause and effect at work!
The Four Assurances from Not Being Evil
The Buddha taught:
‘When, Kalamas, this noble disciple has thus
made his mind free of enmity, free of ill will, uncorrupted and pure,
he has won Four Assurances in this very life.
“The First Assurance he has won is this:
‘If there is another world, and if good and bad deeds bear fruit and yield results,
it is possible that with the breakup of the body, after death,
I shall arise in a good destination, in a heavenly world.'”
“The Second Assurance he has won is this:
‘If there is no other world, and if good and bad deeds do not bear fruit and yield results,
still right here, in this very life,
I live happily, free of enmity and ill will.'”
“The Third Assurance he has won is this:
‘Suppose evil befalls the evil-doer.
Then, as I do not intend evil for anyone,
how can suffering afflict me, one who does no evil deed?'”
“The Fourth Assurance he has won is this:
‘Suppose evil does not befall the evil-doer.
Then right here, I see myself purified in both respects.'”
[because I do no evil, and because no evil (ie. suffering) will befall me]’ – Kalama Sutta
– In the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon
(Edited by Bhikkhu Bodhi)
Suddenly, Zeph realised he had absolutely no reason not to believe in the law of the karma. He sighed a great sigh of relief. Now that he believed there is order to the rights and wrongs of the universe, he could and he would strive on to better himself, and the world… karmically. ‘Phew!’ and ‘Yay!’
Related Articles:
Is Karma an Incredible Hoax?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thedailyenlightenment-realisation/message/333
How Some Might (Mis)Understand Karma
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thedailyenlightenment-realisation/message/327
What is Karma?
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/karma.htm
Continues at https://moonpointer.com/new/?p=9