I’m a firm believer in the concept of Karma. According to this article,
Karma is the law of moral causation.
While I don’t believe 100% in Buddhism, as I don’t know how I feel about “past lives” and all that, I quite strongly agree with the ideas that what we do and how we treat people will come back to haunt us in some way, shape, or form.
Be loving, because after all, the Golden Rule of (paraphrased here) “Do to others, what you would have done to you” is a concept embraced by multiple religions which on the majority of other topics vehemently disagree. If so many major religions agree on this one simple concept, don’t you think it just might be important?
I’m inclined to think so…
Buddhism: “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” Udana-Varga 5:18
Christianity: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12, King James Version.
Hinduism: This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.” Mahabharata 5:1517
Islam: “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” Number 13 of Imam “Al-Nawawi’s Forty Hadiths.”
Judaism: “What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary.” Talmud, Shabbat 31a.
One simple concept that would make the world a much better place if we all practiced it…of course the cynic in me shakes my head at the prospects of that happening…many people are either evil or unaware of how their actions can hurt others…
Exactly. My cynical self tells me it won’t happen but it’s a noble ideal at least. We can only do our best and in the end the Fates will judge each of us, and us alone, for what we did in this life.
Interesting thoughts! I’m not sure the Bible quote really refers to karma. In fact, I have a very different viewpoint on karma: http://bit.ly/LSccLB
Ah, welcome! I will certainly read your post!
You misunderstand me though, however! The Bible quote refers to the Golden Rule, not to the concept of Karma. I may have been unclear in separating the two concepts, as I was trying to tie in the idea of the Golden Rule, a concept embraced by quite a few religions, into my personal ideas of Karma.
Thanks for the read, however, as your input is much appreciated! (And I’m not just saying that!)
You know, I saw something earlier today that this reminds me of. (yeah, yeah, my participle’s dangling, get over it.) I was watching one of the Frank Capra series “Why We Fight” (about World War 2), and to support the US “right to fight for right”, the film quoted New Testament, Old Testament, Confucianism, AND …. the Qur’an! In 1941, the US Government subsidised a film encouraging our participation in WW2, quoting the Qur’an!
Imagine if we could pull together that unity of thought today. Congratulations for carrying forward the wisdom of 1940s war-time America to the present day!
Thank you haha? America has changed since those days….some for the better, some not so much.
But you were there before America was founded, right?
Not by much, just a few decades … centuries? …. okay, MILLENIA! :p
You were the first caveman to catch a live T-rex correct?
Oh. My. God. You have this frightening ability to turn any retort on its head. Every considered law or politics?
We could be a wicked good law team together.
Yeah, but the key question is, on which SIDE of the law?
Whichever side we feel is most fitting for our “talents…”