Thoughts on Buddhism

[The Grand Nudger]

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kar·ma   /ˈkɑrmə/ Show Spelled[kahr-muh] Show IPA
noun
1. Hinduism, Buddhism . action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation

I think some of you, namely Chuck, Rhythm, and Epimethean, have a distorted perspective of basic Buddhist philosophy. Viewing it from a distance, as an "outsider" and having just a general academic idea of the Dharma, it can appear superstitious and outdated in the face of modern science and a healthy skepticism. Alot of Buddhist concepts deal with deep psychological functions in the mind that need to be realized within one's self to be more fully comprehended as a reality of consciousness and life. I am not saying anything disparaging or negative about your attitude towards Buddha except that you all may be too quick to judge it and pigeonhole it into the category of religious nonsense and wishful thinking. Your desciptions of karma are exaggerated, blown out of proportion and not really the essence of what it means to one's practice and meditation. O.K. I can see your point about reincarnation and all that, that is a bit hard to swallow I agree, but karma seriously is just a simple mechanism of life. I think you guys are over complicating it and making it into some form of predestination that can not be changed or escaped. Karma is in it's most direct teaching, just cause and effect, which can happen in a matter of hours, such as my six pack reference and getting lit up or over a matter of years. If this binge drinking was done nearly everyday for a year, one would most likely become and be revealed as an alcoholic which has it's own PREDICTABLE results of health and emotional and social problems. The concept of Karma is very easy, it is the personal realization in how it operates in one's own personal life that is sometimes difficult to accept. It relates to responsibility and decision making. It also relates to foresight and seeing clearly the consequences of one's own actions. You guys see it too abstractly, you see all of Buddhism too abstractly, therein is the universal misconception. You are not alone in this misapprehension of it's power and verity. It is your own ego, ignorance and delusion that hinders you from seeing beyond your own arrogant blindness, which can come back to haunt you when the truth of what goes around comes back around to bite you in the ass! That's all that karma is...a habit of mind. Better off making good habits that cultivate love rather than anything negative. But don't take this ego thing I said too personally fellas, because like I said you are not alone in your ignorance. We are all ignorant and become arrogant at times, it is beautiful human nature. I of course am very guilty of it too! Don't mean to offend, only edify and clarify Buddha's pure message. Peace to you all, and please don't have a cow man! Buddha has got some really good shit to teach, but only if we are really willing look at ourselves with peace and fairness. So tear it up all you want, but it will still remain.

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It seems outdated and superstitious because it is. This shouldn't really be a stumbling block to your belief, but you should be able to acknowledge that very fundamental aspect of the object of your beliefs. Psychology deals with "deep psychological functions"..Buddhism is a religion. I love the added mystifying of consciousness. We understand little enough already, no need to attach it to magic. I haven't "judged" buddhism, I've made a dry statement of fact. Karma (along with many other portions of buddhism) is a force of magic, Nirvana is a magical realm.

Reincarnation is not hard to swallow, it is a magical force that exists in fairy tales, not reality. Karma is not a simple mechanism of life, it is magic, and there is no evidence that magic is a mechanism of life at all, simple or otherwise. In fact, magic does not exist. The effects of alcohol on an alcoholic's body have nothing to do with Karma and everything to do with biology and toxicology. Seriously, lol. Responsibility and decision-making relate to responsibility and decision making, karma could be redefined to address these things (and clearly you've done so), but why? Foresight and consequence are in a similar situation, and similarly could be and have been included in your redefinition of karma. Anything to avoid the magic right? You're a semi-competent salesman, kudos. So what insight does Karma bring us in and of itself? Can you make a prediction, can you propose a decision-making opportunity, list a set of consequences, or describe ones personal responsibility by reference to Karma alone and no other (more mundane) bodies of knowledge? I think the word Karma is effectively meaningless, robbed of it's characteristics by further investigation into the respective subjects. I think it's used as a one word platitude.

I'm not alone? No, clearly not, unless the majority of the world converted to Buddhism while I slept. You make comments about power and verity which you cannot demonstrate. This is not intimidating or convincing, but comical. My ego and ignorance are two subjects you're probably unqualified to comment upon. Ah, there it is, didn't like the taste in your mouth so you backpedaled out to the "we're all ignorant". Platitudes, platitudes, platitudes. You couldn't even stick to your own explanations could you, since you decided to close this with the notion of my karma coming back to bite me in the ass? What kind of sensory package is karma equipped with, that it can track and follow me through space and time...delivering just rewards at some later date? Superstitious gibberish.