karma

Question 1

Karma defintion

Answer 1

Refers to the intention behind an act. Karmic consequences are the outcomes of karma. Both the act and intention matter.

Question 2

Akusala

Answer 2

Unskilful or unwholesome act, it comes from greed, hatred, and delusion.

Question 3

Kusala

Answer 3

Skilful or wholesome act, it uplifts the mental state of the doer and others.

Question 4

Narada Thera quote

Answer 4

‘Good gets good. Evil gets evil. Like attracts like. This is the law of karma.’

Question 5

Peter Harvey

Answer 5

1. Harvey argues that the belief in karma is important because it influences the way in which people look at their actions.
2. However, this is unpersuasive because intentions also matter and if people are only doing good actions to benefit their future selves it may not reflect well on them.

Question 6

Empowering

Answer 6

The teaching of karma is empowering as it will make Buddhists feel more independent because it teaches that you and only you are responsible for your actions.

Question 7

Free will

Answer 7

1. Karma supports the existence of free will as it teaches there is a choice to make in every act.
2. However, there are some aspects of karma that suggest your future is somewhat already determined by the fruits of karma.

Question 8

Future rebirths

Answer 8

Karma is important as it affects human rebirths. This is significant as you want to be reborn into the human realm as it is the easiest realm to gain enlightenment from.

Question 9

Nirvana

Answer 9

1. Once you become enlightened you stop accumulating bad karma and spend the rest of your life working off bad karma.
2. However, it can also be argued that karma is because of attachment and if therefore the stopping of a Buddhist goal as it keeps Buddhists in the cycle of samsara.

Question 10

Unfair

Answer 10

1. Karma is unfair because all people are subject to the same ethical system which is not in absolute agreement worldwide.
2. However, the values are very unspecific and therefore align with everyone’s ideology such as being wise, selfless, and understanding.
3. Furthermore, this makes karma fairer as it affects all people indiscriminately.