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Click-a-Sermon 9: "Law of Karma"

Law of Karma - The Responsibility of Karma -

n Buddhism the word karma means "volitional action" or "deeds". And every action we perform in life creates results often far beyond our imagination. Karma is the law of cause and effect. And it is divided into three varieties: good, bad and neutral. Good and bad karma or "deliberate actions" bring forth corresponding good or bad results in our lives and the lives of others. But there are many volitional actions that we perform every day that can be called neutral for instance, deliberate actions such as washing our faces or scratching our head are usually neutral and create neither good nor bad future results. However, our inevitable consumption of water, electricity, detergents, toothpaste, etc. does create endless karma upon our world. In this regard, we have to be aware of the consequences of karma we creates every moment of our existence.

Often the most influential karma is invisible. For what lasting results do words such as "I love you" or "marry me" have upon others? How many times have just such words influenced the lives of countless future generations? Just imagine where you would be today if your great great grandfather had not said something like that to your great great grandmother?

Also, how many times have words such as "those people are untrustworthy", "they are our enemies" or "let's declare war" have changed the course of history for countless generations?

The law of cause and effect, or karma and its results, presents each and everyone of us with awesome responsibility. For one thing, it means that we should reflect before we willingly speak or act.

For instance, if we wake up feeling grouchy in the morning we may unthinkingly speak harsh words of criticism to a husband, wife, child, friend or neighbor. Such words act like a stone cast into a still pond sending waves of ripples to the shore. The person unfairly criticized becomes angry and in turn will lash out at another or make a critical decision inspired by anger. Your unthinking harsh words may lead to someone becoming so absorbed in anger that they forget to shut off a stove, or they may drive a car erratically or even step out on the street in front of a bus. Further ripples extending form their anger vent upon others may lead a plant worker to make a dangerous mistake of even a doctor to give a wrong diagnosis. And most likely, in the end, some of those ripples on the pond will eventually return to you and either directly or indirectly affect your life.... even if your spouse, child or friend has not returned your unfair anger by the evening.

We all know the old saying "for want of a nail the (horse) shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost: for want of a horse that rider was lost .... and so on ... leading to the eventual defeat of the army and loss of the war. That is how karma works.

Perhaps in that parable the person responsible for the missing horseshoe nail had been scolded by his wife or commanding officer that morning. Or was it the rider who scolded his groom and was killed by the enemy when his horse stumbled? In any event, the person responsible suffered the consequences of his or her karma without ever knowing why.

Thus Buddhism teaches us to be responsible for our karma ... even our most minor actions. Ant it also teaches us the need for constant self-reflection. We have to remember that every one of us is closely nit by innumerable strings of invisible Karma in this universe. The Buddhist law of Karma is the universal principle which embraces all sentient beings.