Karma – cause and effect
To meditate on karma is to relflect on our actions. The sanskrit word karma translates literally as action and implies the results of those actions. It is the process of cause and effect and the way that we create our quality of experience. Essentially we become what we do.
Thus virtuous karma results in happiness, while non-virtuous karma results in suffering. Our karma creates our future in broad terms, though the intricacies of this process of creation are very difficult to fathom. Karma is not cut and dried in that many factors, which can involve a mix of virtue and non-virtue, will determine the outcomes. We therefore have a great opportunity to limit the effect of negative karma and bring more and more good into our lives just by knowing about karma. This will speed us along the path to enlightenment.
Creating a great future
Ten positive karmas to cultivate
Preserve life – heal others, rescue life
Generosity – find ways to give, contribute
Ethical relationship – avoid excessive desire
Truthfulness – aim to be beneficial
Praise – extol the good in others
Harmonious speech – bring people together
Contructive speech – build good relationships
Non-attachment – be content and rejoice in what you have
Love – view all through the eyes of love
Right views – know karma and the two truths
Ten negative karmas to avoid
Killing – taking any form of life
Stealing – taking that which is not freely given
Sexual misconduct – sexual relationship with another’s partner
Lying – deliberately deceiving others
Harsh speech – any form of abuse
Divisive speech – disharmony, splitting people up
Gossip – malicious and pointless speech
Coveting – grasping for others’ possessions or qualities
Malice – harmful or hurtful intent
Wrong views – believing what is false to be true and vice versa