Karma Flashcards
What is karma?
The idea that you reap what you sow, all actions have consequences, good actions will result in good consequences and bad actions will result in bad consequences.
Give two examples of celebrities misusing the concept of karma
- Sharon stone claiming that a Chinese earthquake that killed 68,000 was karma for China mistreating Tibet. 2. Glen hoddle claiming that disabled people are born as they are because of karma.
What does karma actually mean?
Deed/action, it is the force that drives reincarnation and is linked to dharma, samsara and moksha. It is the rope which ties us to this world, we must cut it to escape the cycle of samsara.
What are different types of beings doing?
Lower species are burning up bad karma and gradually rising toward a human rebirth. Residents of the heavenly planets are using up good karma before falling again to human life on earth.
Give an analogy for good and bad karma
- Good karma is like going on holiday, a reward for good work which will not last. 2. Lower birth/bad karma is like going to prison where you work off bad actions and pay the price.
What are the two types of actions?
- Paap- bad deeds such as the abuse of animals. 2. Punya- good actions such as giving to charity.
Explain the idea of an accounting system
The theory of karma states there is a universal accounting system and that each individual must experience the consequences of their actions, these can be carried over to any number of future lives.
What is sanchita karma?
The store of karmic debts accumulated from previous lives, your karmic bank account.
What is prarabdha karma?
Sanchita karma that you use up in this life, it will determine your rebirth.
What is agami karma?
Now karma generated in this life which is deposited into your sanchita account for future lives, this is only generated in human life.
What are the three types of agami karma actions?
Listed by the Bhagavad Gita: 1. Karma- actions which elevate, punya. 2. Vikarma- actions which denigrate, paap. 3. Akarma- those which are neither good nor bad, they are selfless.
Why is karma only generated in human life?
Only human life has the capacity for free choice of actions and therefore responsibility.
What did sankara say about karma?
It is maya. The only way to achieve liberation is the realization that all there is is Brahman and atman.
What did ramanuja say about karma?
Souls act according to dharma as god directs them, leading to good karma. The soul is free to act against god, leading to a bad rebirth.
Give the Bhagavad Gita passage about karma
Two men standing on a stairway are offered both liberation and bondage, one man looks upward and follows his spiritual master, the other man embraces demonic qualities offered by maya, he is pulled down the stairs by lust, greed and anger, gliding toward hell.
