What is Karma? How does it work? Does it even exist?

[BigSkyDiamond]

what's that great saying in Buddhism.  we use a boat to get us across the river but when we get across we don't keep the boat and  carry it on our back because then it is a burden.    Something can be very very dear to me, identities i have carried, achievements that indicated growth and courage, groups that filled me with joy to be part of.  And to let those go has been at times heartwrenching.  Even the masters and teachers and paths that have provided such tremendous assistance. If i don't set them all down at some point, they become a burden and impediment.  sort of like "if i'm not that, then what am i"  "if i let go of that then what do i have left".  That can be unnerving.

[stirling]

1 hour ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

what's that great saying in Buddhism.  we use a boat to get us across the river but when we get across we don't keep the boat and  carry it on our back because then it is a burden.

 

 

Quote

The Blessed One said: "Suppose a man were traveling along a path. He would see a great expanse of water, with the near shore dubious & risky, the further shore secure & free from risk, but with neither a ferryboat nor a bridge going from this shore to the other. The thought would occur to him, 'Here is this great expanse of water, with the near shore dubious & risky, the further shore secure & free from risk, but with neither a ferryboat nor a bridge going from this shore to the other. What if I were to gather grass, twigs, branches, & leaves and, having bound them together to make a raft, were to cross over to safety on the other shore in dependence on the raft, making an effort with my hands & feet?' Then the man, having gathered grass, twigs, branches, & leaves, having bound them together to make a raft, would cross over to safety on the other shore in dependence on the raft, making an effort with his hands & feet. 

 

Having crossed over to the further shore, he might think, 'How useful this raft has been to me! For it was in dependence on this raft that, making an effort with my hands & feet, I have crossed over to safety on the further shore. Why don't I, having hoisted it on my head or carrying it on my back, go wherever I like?' What do you think, monks: Would the man, in doing that, be doing what should be done with the raft?"

 

"No, lord."

 

"And what should the man do in order to be doing what should be done with the raft? There is the case where the man, having crossed over, would think, 'How useful this raft has been to me! For it was in dependence on this raft that, making an effort with my hands & feet, I have crossed over to safety on the further shore. Why don't I, having dragged it on dry land or sinking it in the water, go wherever I like?' In doing this, he would be doing what should be done with the raft. In the same way, monks, I have taught the Dhamma compared to a raft, for the purpose of crossing over, not for the purpose of holding onto. Understanding the Dhamma as taught compared to a raft, you should let go even of Dhammas, to say nothing of non-Dhammas." - Alagaddupama Sutta, Buddha

 

 

1 hour ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

Something can be very very dear to me, identities i have carried, achievements that indicated growth and courage, groups that filled me with joy to be part of.  And to let those go has been at times heartwrenching.  Even the masters and teachers and paths that have provided such tremendous assistance. If i don't set them all down at some point, they become a burden and impediment.  sort of like "if i'm not that, then what am i"  "if i let go of that then what do i have left".  That can be unnerving.

 

 

None of that will go anywhere, only the identification with those things. It is a great relief, actually. 

[Krenx]

We don't have to look too far into previous lives to see kamma and its effects. Even in this life, without your lives and minds, we can observe its phenomena.  

 

In terms of kamma turning to fruit, it is interesting to know that even fully enlightened Arahants, like the Buddha and his disciples, still experience the effects of kamma from their past lives. So they also go through certain events, circumstances, fall to physical illness and harm physical harm sometimes due to past unwholesome kamma. And also good kamma from the past, it arises in their life in many ways.  

 

The difference is for an arahant, despite physical afflictions and circumstances that arises, their mind is free from suffering, it sees these events as they are, and do not create anymore kamma that leads to future rebirths. They are just awaiting for the breaking up of their body in that final life, never to be reborn again.

 

Good to know. Because sometimes people assume for fully enlightened beings, they somehow are free from their past actions. As long as one exist in the 5 realms, kamma acts in you. BUT weather you "suffer" on the account of it, distinguishes you from a noble one, and the average person. 

 

This is why suffering at level of the 4 noble truths is not where many people assume it is, not where people try to spend all their efforts managing and assume control over. Its roots lies in craving. And the work around craving has to do with abandonment in its quality/flavour.

 

A flavour of work and effort not many are used to. And instead of abandonment, get more and more involved, manage, control, manipulate the external world in hope to fix internal qualities.