Rules of Karma

[Dannyboy1]

I've heard tons of theories about karma, but what I've never heard anyone pontificate on is - What if someone who was a pretty negative person in their past suddenly turned it all around and became enlightened. Suddenly, they're committed to service and the greater good. Does karma still have to slap them around for a few years to even things out? This is purely hypothetical, of course.

[Parthon]

Depends what "karma" you believe in really.

The one I most like and follow simple states that any action receives it's appropriate and just reaction in time, or: you reap what you sow.

Someone who has been doing bad, and gets a revelation to suddenly start doing good will still have all the bad fruit to deal with before he can start enjoying the new. He may have an uphill battle and his mettle may be more greatly tested, but if he succeeds he will be far more stalwart because of those trials.

There's no such thing as bad karma or good karma, just appropriate responses to people's actions.

[Athena]

According to the Buddhist view, no, once a person raises their level of consciousness, or becomes enlightened, they are no longer subject to their old karma.

There's also a Buddhist parable about a killer that was repented, after he saw better his actions, and became a monk, etc, and he was excused from suffering as he had once caused others to.

According to this view, the only function of karma is to get people to raise their level of consciousness, and purify their actions, in order to escape suffering.

[Anagogy]

Originally Posted by Dannyboy1

I've heard tons of theories about karma, but what I've never heard anyone pontificate on is - What if someone who was a pretty negative person in their past suddenly turned it all around and became enlightened. Suddenly, they're committed to service and the greater good. Does karma still have to slap them around for a few years to even things out? This is purely hypothetical, of course.

Becoming enlightened would require that the karma be ameliorated. Basically, the struggle that individual went through to achieve higher consciousness would be the process of working off the disharmony or imbalance wrought in them by the negative actions.

We have many "structures" that consciousness flows through at different levels. Some people call them bodies (mental, astral, causal, etc.). Karma augments how these structures filter consciousness, which then results in specific experiences of a negative or positive nature.

Its like your consciousness is a hose with knots tied in it. In order for water to flow through that hose properly, you have to undo the kinks. Imbalanced actions are like tying knots in your hose. Water (consciousness/energy) gets stuck at that level, till you remove the block, by learning about the imbalance, and why it happened.

Forgiveness/love/acceptance is the result of balancing karma, or perhaps vice versa.

[raphnix]

From my point of view, since it might have been influenced by me being a Christian, is that "karma" is like a balancing of all sorts in this reality. When you did something good now, it might be rewarded equally or better on the future or it might only be a good payment for your past bad actions. It's like an "indulgence" as used by most Christians from the past or even now to "balance" their wrong doings or sins for God.

[fellowtraveler]

Originally Posted by raphnix

From my point of view, since it might have been influenced by me being a Christian, is that "karma" is like a balancing of all sorts in this reality. When you did something good now, it might be rewarded equally or better on the future or it might only be a good payment for your past bad actions. It's like an "indulgence" as used by most Christians from the past or even now to "balance" their wrong doings or sins for God.

Wow, I had almost forgotten about indugences. Say a phrase a hundred times, get a day off your time in Purgatory. Pretty good deal!

I got smacked in the head by a nun one time for forgetting to bob my head when I said "Jesus". Great way to teach little kids about His almighty Love, eh?

[eputkonen]

Originally Posted by Dannyboy1

I've heard tons of theories about karma, but what I've never heard anyone pontificate on is - What if someone who was a pretty negative person in their past suddenly turned it all around and became enlightened. Suddenly, they're committed to service and the greater good. Does karma still have to slap them around for a few years to even things out? This is purely hypothetical, of course.

Much of karma is dissolved/transcended through wisdom and realizing what was done was not the right thing to do (basically, would not do it again). The enlightened transcend most or all their karma.

[striving4peace]

The hindu viewpoint (where the concept karma finds its origin) is that it's a bank balance. You have to pay off your debts in this life or the next. I'm not too sure if your karmic debt is absolved if you're enlgihtened, it does make sense. But untill then, I think it's about seva (service), sadhana (spiritual practices) and satsang (association with wise and holy - usually worship) that gets you karma points. If you're lucky your next life won't be as bad. IF you're really lucky you get enlightened... or hit the karmic jackpot and get mukti - liberation from the cycle of birth and death.