Karma

I asked my friend, Mr. T, a Buddhist why the earthquake in China and the cyclone in Mymmar had to kill and maim innocent children and babies. Sharon Stone had spoken her truth -" I am not happy about the way the Chinese are treating the Tibetans because i don't think anyone should be unkind to anyone else. And the earthquake and all this stuff happened and then i thought - is that karma? When you are not nice that bad things happen to you?". And she got whacked for it left and right. All her films are now banned in China.

Mr. T's reply was as follows:-

"To Buddhists earthquakes, cyclones, typhoons, vulcanic eruptions are all natural phenomena which arise due to changes and interactions in the four elements ~ solidity, fluidity, temperatures and motions. No human being can control these natural phenomena except learn to understand them and take precautionary actions to avoid them. Just look at USA. The West are knowledgeable in science, medicine, etc., and invented the most modern and destructive war machines and equipments that can wipe out the whole world. They have even gone to the moon and returned, staying in space for long period of time. Though they might have prior knowledge like weather forecast, yet they just couldn't do anything when typhoon Katrina and other natural disasters struck.

Not only that we have no control over these natural disasters it is sad that we human beings are contributing towards them. Human beings are damaging the environments, causing much sufferings to the helpless animals, too. And our children to come are going to suffer.

To the Buddhists the innocent babies and children including adults as well are experiencing the fruits of their bad deeds done in the past. The arisings of these natural phenomena are merely present conditions for the victims' past bad kamma to ripen. Kamma whether good or bad without supportive conditions for them to ripen can never bear fruits. Buddhists do not believe these calamities are punishments from a non-human being who is almighty and to whom human beings are at his mercy and must submit and obey".

If what Mr T says is correct, then the babies and children died or were maimed because of their bad karma i.e. they were not innocent. More importantly, for purposes of this blog - our ability to realize our dreams, our chances of success would also be subject to karma from our past or our previous lives -depending on THE SUPPORTING CONDITIONS for them to ripen. When it comes to the question of karma, the English philosopher David Hume's immortal question comes to mind- HOW DO YOU KNOW?

When it comes to realizing dreams - taking Mr T's view in positive light, we should, when we sow the right supporting conditions or combinations in the present - 'the rainbow connection', be able to reap our fruits - and realize our dreams in the future. Genius is knowing the right supporting conditions and combinations to sow. This would apply to Government policies as well as individual effort.

However when it comes to gambling, it would be easier for a camel to enter an eye of a needle than for a poor man to win big at the magnum 4D, the sports toto, the da ma cai or the social welfare lottery - well that is my perception. It is impossible to know the right supporting conditions and combinations to sow to strike the jackpot prize! That is why the Buddha, the prophet Muhammad and Lord Krishna tell us to stay away from gambling.

On the issue of karma , as i come from a Christian background, two conflicting scripture passages come to mind for now:- As you sow so shall you reap - galatians 6:7 and "One plants and another reaps" - john 4:37. This may be true for our one life on this earth. But as for previous and future lives in another bodily entity with a different name and form - my quest is still on..