You reap what you sow, or Karma?

[Edbear]

If karma is "real" then not only am I a despicable person, every person who believes in karma thinks the same of me.

If personal responsibility is the obverse of karma, then the same is true.

Life isn't black and white.

Can you elaborate on that a bit? We all suffer the ills and spills of life and also can be victims of circumstances undeserved.

[James Deuce]

Yes we can. My point is you can't attribute everything to a cosmic balance, nor can you blame people for not knowing the rules of a game they didn't know they were playing.

[Maha]

Karma is a word made up to give the desperate something to help ease their grip on reality.

[Nasty]

Karma is a word made up to give the desperate something to help ease their grip on reality.

Interesting concept .. but then lots of things are made up.

I don't believe that Karma is made up. I do believe that it is in fact real.

[Zedder]

Karma is a word made up to give the desperate something to help ease their grip on reality.

But Karma is just another way of describing cause and effect which is real.

[Kickaha]

Karma is a word made up to give the desperate something to help ease their grip on reality.

Just like God

[Edbear]

Yes we can. My point is you can't attribute everything to a cosmic balance, nor can you blame people for not know the rules of a game they didn't know they were playing.

I agree. I think it then becomes a question of our responses once aware of our options.

[Virago]

The concept of Karma has become rather muddled in modern society, due to over-use (or mis-use).

The principle of "cause and effect" in life choices is simply common sense, and can't really be argued with.

The more abstract interpretation of Karma, which involves the accumulation of mystical brownie-points for which you will be rewarded or punished at some future point, is simply mystical nonsense. Most religions are constructed around such twaddle.

[James Deuce]

I agree. I think it then becomes a question of our responses once aware of our options.

And if there are no options, then we don't help that person, or people, we just sit back and judge, based entirely on facts we have made up in our head to suit the situation we've created in our heads to apply to a circumstance we know nothing about.

[Edbear]

The concept of Karma has become rather muddled in modern society, due to over-use (or mis-use).

The principle of "cause and effect" in life choices is simply common sense, and can't really be argued with.

The more abstract interpretation of Karma, which involves the accumulation of mystical brownie-points for which you will be rewarded or punished at some future point, is simply mystical nonsense. Most religions are constructed around such twaddle.

Very common is the fact that due to people not understanding the meaning of words and phrases they misuse them altering the meaning. All these expressions, you reap what you sow, Karma, what goes around comes around, cause and effect, personal responsibility, etc. mean the same thing; that our choices and actions decide our future.

What is interesting is where and how circumstance comes into it and however it had to do with outcomes.

[Zedder]

The concept of Karma has become rather muddled in modern society, due to over-use (or mis-use).

The principle of "cause and effect" in life choices is simply common sense, and can't really be argued with.

The more abstract interpretation of Karma, which involves the accumulation of mystical brownie-points for which you will be rewarded or punished at some future point, is simply mystical nonsense. Most religions are constructed around such twaddle.

Yep, that's pretty much how I see it. However, if people want to embrace their version of Karma, or any belief system that works for them and doesn't cause destruction that's fine.

[Edbear]

And if there are no options, then we don't help that person, or people, we just sit back and judge, based entirely on facts we have made up in our head to suit the situation we've created in our heads to apply to a circumstance we know nothing about.

It often seems that way and KB is typical of this tendency. However it also shows often, the true spirit of humanity where so many are supportive both in word and deed of those suffering adversity.

[GingerMidget]

Our choices and actions directly affect what will happen in the future. Karma isn't something I really believe in personally, mostly because of times when people have said 'Don't worry, karma will get them" and it never does.

Life is 10% what happens, and 90% how you react to it. Just to add another cliche.

[Skiwi]

Life is 10% what happens, and 90% how you react to it. Just to add another cliche.

+1 what The TinyGinga said

[Nasty]

Our choices and actions directly affect what will happen in the future. Karma isn't something I really believe in personally, mostly because of times when people have said 'Don't worry, karma will get them" and it never does.

Life is 10% what happens, and 90% how you react to it. Just to add another cliche.

I believe that just cos we can't see it .. doesn't mean it doesn't happen.