Karma & Responsibility Cliff Landis http://clifflandis.net

http://flickr.com/photos/althouse/461498973/

Karma: Definition From the Sanskrit कर्म ( karman ) meaning Action / Deed / Work Later, included the results of those actions. Evolved to include the universal response to those actions (“Karma” from International Encyclopedia of Ethics)

From the Sanskrit कर्म ( karman ) meaning Action / Deed / Work

Later, included the results of those actions.

Evolved to include the universal response to those actions

(“Karma” from International Encyclopedia of Ethics)

Factors Time Origin Amount Type Reactive vs. Proactive Intent Intercession Transferability

Time

Origin

Amount

Type

Reactive vs. Proactive

Intent

Intercession

Transferability

Time Actions in this life affect this life only Actions in this life determine next life http://flickr.com/photos/piratescott/481831149/ http://flickr.com/photos/travelinlibrarian/2410172422/

Origin http://flickr.com/photos/coolkarni/2459484792/ http://flickr.com/photos/toptechwriter/522395769/ Divine vs. Natural Law

Return Amount Why 3? http://flickr.com/photos/raphb/795945796/

Return Type http://flickr.com/photos/raphb/795945796/ http://flickr.com/photos/villes/1036963896/ http://flickr.com/photos/splityarn/2089021595/ ?

Reactive vs. Proactive http://flickr.com/photos/dan4th/483909925/ http://flickr.com/photos/minifig/244491886/

Intent http://flickr.com/photos/skampy/2317141091/

Intercession? http://flickr.com/photos/needtothinkharder/1502251321/

http://flickr.com/photos/fortphoto/434414965/ Transferability?

Different Religions’ Views

Hinduism http://flickr.com/photos/dey/95307240/ This life affects the next life Forgiveness from Varuna  Universal Law Automatic -- you determine your own fate Your duty to fulfill your role, no matter how distasteful. Goal of escape from the cycle of rebirth Escape possible through enlightenment, work, love & devotion, meditation, etc. (“Karma” from International Encyclopedia of Ethics)

This life affects the next life

Forgiveness from Varuna  Universal Law

Automatic -- you determine your own fate

Your duty to fulfill your role, no matter how distasteful.

Goal of escape from the cycle of rebirth

Escape possible through enlightenment, work, love & devotion, meditation, etc.

Buddhism http://flickr.com/photos/bezoire/63205317/ No permanent soul, but “a flame passing from one candle to the next” Karma may or may not follow you from one life to the next Karma is affected by: Intention Actions (and speech) Effects of the actions Karma can be changed by good deeds or intercession by someone else (such as by a Buddha or a monk). (“Karma” from International Encyclopedia of Ethics)

No permanent soul, but “a flame passing from one candle to the next”

Karma may or may not follow you from one life to the next

Karma is affected by:

Intention

Actions (and speech)

Effects of the actions

Karma can be changed by good deeds or intercession by someone else (such as by a Buddha or a monk).

Jainism Unintentional harm still brings karma (hence strict behavioral and dietary limits). Release from rebirth possible by “working off” old karma without acquiring new karma. (“Karma” from International Encyclopedia of Ethics)

Unintentional harm still brings karma (hence strict behavioral and dietary limits).

Release from rebirth possible by “working off” old karma without acquiring new karma.

Roman/Greek Paganism http://flickr.com/photos/44124324682@N01/2294464138/ Fortuna (Fate) Nemesis (Retribution / Revenge) Invidia (Greek counterpart to Nemesis) Nemesis-Fortuna

Fortuna (Fate)

Nemesis (Retribution / Revenge)

Invidia (Greek counterpart to Nemesis)

Nemesis-Fortuna

Norse Paganism http://flickr.com/photos/teresa-stanton/2446792155/ Three Norns guard Yggdrasil Many other norns arrive at a person’s birth, bringing both good and ill fate to them.

Three Norns guard Yggdrasil

Many other norns arrive at a person’s birth, bringing both good and ill fate to them.

Wicca / Pagan Witchcraft http://flickr.com/photos/sharman/131534499/ Rule/Law of Three Gardener’s High Magic’s Aid (1949) Buckland’s I Live With a Witch (1968) Thompson’s Rede of the Wiccae (1975) Many other variants of reciprocation ethics. Various interpretations of “harm none”

Rule/Law of Three

Gardener’s High Magic’s Aid (1949)

Buckland’s I Live With a Witch (1968)

Thompson’s Rede of the Wiccae (1975)

Many other variants of reciprocation ethics.

Various interpretations of “harm none”

Justice? http://flickr.com/photos/hj_barraza/155885475/

What Works, What Doesn’t?

Responsibility If Karma follows you across lives, you are responsible (to blame) for your poverty/illness/bad luck. This belief perpetuates social injustice. http://flickr.com/photos/mmj171188/228853651/

If Karma follows you across lives, you are responsible (to blame) for your poverty/illness/bad luck.

This belief perpetuates social injustice.

The Law of Attraction Again, people are to blame, but now because they don’t think positively. Think happy thoughts and all the badness will go away? http://flickr.com/photos/devnull/78202647/

Again, people are to blame, but now because they don’t think positively.

Think happy thoughts and all the badness will go away?

Optimism However, if you’re naturally optimistic, you might think positively about what randomly happens in your life. Long wait in the Dr.’s office? Now I can read that book! Newton’s 1 st Law. http://flickr.com/photos/bugbunnybambam/2237297708/

However, if you’re naturally optimistic, you might think positively about what randomly happens in your life.

Long wait in the Dr.’s office? Now I can read that book!

Newton’s 1 st Law.

Law? http://flickr.com/photos/48745248@N00/225249268/ It’s only a natural law if it occurs at all places and times. Some bad people get away with no punishment. Therefore, unless Karma follows you through lives, it cannot be a law.

It’s only a natural law if it occurs at all places and times.

Some bad people get away with no punishment.

Therefore, unless Karma follows you through lives, it cannot be a law.

It is beyond our control? http://flickr.com/photos/practicalowl/438759156/ Proactive vs. Reactive Can we be the “hand of Karma?” Intent? Can others intercede for us? Can we transfer our Karma to other people or things?

Proactive vs. Reactive

Can we be the “hand of Karma?”

Intent?

Can others intercede for us?

Can we transfer our Karma to other people or things?

So Now What?!?

Ethics of Reciprocity Rule of Three Karma Golden Rule http://flickr.com/photos/jackace/565857899/

Rule of Three

Karma

Golden Rule

Other Ethics Virtue Ethics Feminist Ethic of Care

Virtue Ethics

Feminist Ethic of Care

Cliff’s Personal Ethics? http://flickr.com/photos/undercover_surrealist/2405424212/ I could have been born into different circumstances Bad things happen both by chance , and because of my actions I can make choices I can think before I act

I could have been born into different circumstances

Bad things happen both by chance , and because of my actions

I can make choices

I can think before I act

http://flickr.com/photos/desiitaly/2193724466/ Please, Think

Please, Act Responsibly http://flickr.com/photos/ninjapoodles/1781605101/

http://flickr.com/photos/oberazzi/318947873/