Karma & Responsibility

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)

Factors
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.

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).

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.

Roman/Greek Paganism http://flickr.com/photos/44124324682@N01/2294464138/
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.

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”

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/

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/

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/

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 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?

So Now What?!?

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

Other Ethics
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

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

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

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

Karma & Responsibility

by Cliff Landis on May 16, 2008

Accessibility

Categories

Tags

Upload Details

Usage Rights

2 Embeds 4

Statistics

Karma & Responsibility — Presentation Transcript

http://iloilolodge.weebly.com	2
http://www.slideshare.net	2