Do you believe in karma? - Page 3

Scriveyn · 11-05-2008, 03:30 AM

Gimme Korma any day

Nirvana · 11-05-2008, 09:08 AM

There are three degrees of giving. One is called one-handed giving. With this degree of giving, you give things away because people ask you, or because you are pressured into it, or because people are looking. But you are also holding on with one hand. You may not really want to give, but, reluctantly, you do. Let's say that a beggar keeps on badgering you. To get rid of him, you give him something. If you've ever traveled in India, you've probably encountered situations where beggars follow you around like a shadow and won't let you go until you finally give them something. That is a form of giving, of sharing with others. But it has a limited value, because, of course, the whole spirit of giving is really letting go. This is letting go to some degree, but not fully.

The second degree of giving is friendly giving. That means you give because you like to give. It feels good. You don't have to pressured into it. Whenever you see somebody in a situation of need, if you have enough for yourself, if you have two of something, you give it out of friendliness. If you have two bananas and somebody is hungry, you usually give them one. That's a higher form giving because you're not being pressured into it-it's coming from your own friendliness, and you're not tightly holding on.

The third degree is called kingly giving. In kingly giving, you give anything at any time. You give the shirt off your back. You give the last food you have to someone who is hungrier. Because there's no thought-you give the best that you have. There's no holding on nor even thought of an "I" involved in the giving.

Everyone is basically in control of their own karma and I don't believe in past life karmic black clouds. I think that is a wrongly interpreted sutra. The Buddha was not the one that wrote down his teachings, and there was probably some embellishments by monks that had meaning for the people at the time they were written. But all things change and that is the only constant. Some people do not want change and resent it so much they cause their own "bad luck" by refusing the reality of the situation. Some do not look at death as "bad luck".

TheMercenary · 11-05-2008, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana

There are three degrees of giving. One is called one-handed giving. With this degree of giving, you give things away because people ask you, or because you are pressured into it, or because people are looking. But you are also holding on with one hand. You may not really want to give, but, reluctantly, you do. Let's say that a beggar keeps on badgering you. To get rid of him, you give him something. If you've ever traveled in India, you've probably encountered situations where beggars follow you around like a shadow and won't let you go until you finally give them something. That is a form of giving, of sharing with others. But it has a limited value, because, of course, the whole spirit of giving is really letting go. This is letting go to some degree, but not fully.

The second degree of giving is friendly giving. That means you give because you like to give. It feels good. You don't have to pressured into it. Whenever you see somebody in a situation of need, if you have enough for yourself, if you have two of something, you give it out of friendliness. If you have two bananas and somebody is hungry, you usually give them one. That's a higher form giving because you're not being pressured into it-it's coming from your own friendliness, and you're not tightly holding on.

The third degree is called kingly giving. In kingly giving, you give anything at any time. You give the shirt off your back. You give the last food you have to someone who is hungrier. Because there's no thought-you give the best that you have. There's no holding on nor even thought of an "I" involved in the giving.

Everyone is basically in control of their own karma and I don't believe in past life karmic black clouds. I think that is a wrongly interpreted sutra. The Buddha was not the one that wrote down his teachings, and there was probably some embellishments by monks that had meaning for the people at the time they were written. But all things change and that is the only constant. Some people do not want change and resent it so much they cause their own "bad luck" by refusing the reality of the situation. Some do not look at death as "bad luck".

From which practice are you getting your definitions?

Nirvana · 11-05-2008, 10:01 AM

My comments here are about the second noble truth, right view. One of the main practices in the Dhamma is called Dana. Dana means the practice of giving or sharing with others. It is an antidote to attachment, to holding on tightly, to really holding on to our things. This is one of the main causes of human suffering.

TheMercenary · 11-07-2008, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana

My comments here are about the second noble truth, right view. One of the main practices in the Dhamma is called Dana. Dana means the practice of giving or sharing with others. It is an antidote to attachment, to holding on tightly, to really holding on to our things. This is one of the main causes of human suffering.

Which form of practice:

1)Theravada

2)Mahayana -
a) Pure Land
b)Zen
c)Nichiren
d) Vajrayana

DanaC · 11-05-2008, 06:46 PM

I dont believe in karma...but I do believe we should pay it forward :P

HungLikeJesus · 11-05-2008, 06:53 PM

Clone thread:
Do you believe in, comma?

Sundae · 11-06-2008, 08:55 AM

Damn - I once read a proverb, of African origin I think, that had to do with the degrees of giving. Or in this case the degrees of receiving. Apologies if I mangle it completely, I haven't been able to find it via Google.

I was thirsty and you offered me water. It tasted like wine.
I was thirsty and I asked you for water. It tasted like milk.
I was thirsty and I begged you for water. It tasted of blood.

lumberjim · 11-06-2008, 09:08 AM

i was thirsty, and you buttfucked my mouth. it tasted of ass.

maybe i should have used a sockpuppet for that particular post. oh well....its just skin

DanaC · 11-06-2008, 11:18 AM

"It's just skin, shtephen"

Cicero · 11-07-2008, 05:44 PM

It's the nembutsu.

Bruce 9012 · 11-07-2008, 08:40 PM

Its to be one within your own skin if not leave

Bruce 9012 · 11-07-2008, 08:43 PM

that did not come out right love the skin your in

HungLikeJesus · 11-07-2008, 09:41 PM

Bruce, what is your native language?

Nirvana · 11-11-2008, 12:47 PM

My leanings are toward Mahyana but I am not a purist and I believe in any of the teachings [of any religion] that have a positive message for mankind without being sexist.

11-05-2008, 09:08 AM	#2
Nirvana Back in 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3,684	There are three degrees of giving. One is called one-handed giving. With this degree of giving, you give things away because people ask you, or because you are pressured into it, or because people are looking. But you are also holding on with one hand. You may not really want to give, but, reluctantly, you do. Let's say that a beggar keeps on badgering you. To get rid of him, you give him something. If you've ever traveled in India, you've probably encountered situations where beggars follow you around like a shadow and won't let you go until you finally give them something. That is a form of giving, of sharing with others. But it has a limited value, because, of course, the whole spirit of giving is really letting go. This is letting go to some degree, but not fully. The second degree of giving is friendly giving. That means you give because you like to give. It feels good. You don't have to pressured into it. Whenever you see somebody in a situation of need, if you have enough for yourself, if you have two of something, you give it out of friendliness. If you have two bananas and somebody is hungry, you usually give them one. That's a higher form giving because you're not being pressured into it-it's coming from your own friendliness, and you're not tightly holding on. The third degree is called kingly giving. In kingly giving, you give anything at any time. You give the shirt off your back. You give the last food you have to someone who is hungrier. Because there's no thought-you give the best that you have. There's no holding on nor even thought of an "I" involved in the giving. Everyone is basically in control of their own karma and I don't believe in past life karmic black clouds. I think that is a wrongly interpreted sutra. The Buddha was not the one that wrote down his teachings, and there was probably some embellishments by monks that had meaning for the people at the time they were written. But all things change and that is the only constant. Some people do not want change and resent it so much they cause their own "bad luck" by refusing the reality of the situation. Some do not look at death as "bad luck". __________________ Speaking simply... do not confuse this with having a simple mind.

11-05-2008, 10:01 AM	#4
Nirvana Back in 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3,684	My comments here are about the second noble truth, right view. One of the main practices in the Dhamma is called Dana. Dana means the practice of giving or sharing with others. It is an antidote to attachment, to holding on tightly, to really holding on to our things. This is one of the main causes of human suffering. __________________ Speaking simply... do not confuse this with having a simple mind.

11-05-2008, 06:53 PM	#7
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Clone thread: Do you believe in, comma? __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

11-06-2008, 09:08 AM	#9
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	i was thirsty, and you buttfucked my mouth. it tasted of ass. maybe i should have used a sockpuppet for that particular post. oh well....its just skin __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

11-07-2008, 05:44 PM	#11
Cicero Looking forward to open mic night. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 5,148	It's the nembutsu. __________________ Show me a sane man, and I will cure him for you.- Carl Jung

11-05-2008, 03:30 AM	#1
Scriveyn amnesic-confabulatory opsimath Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Between my ears Posts: 739	Gimme Korma any day

11-05-2008, 06:46 PM	#6
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	I dont believe in karma...but I do believe we should pay it forward :P

11-06-2008, 08:55 AM	#8
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Damn - I once read a proverb, of African origin I think, that had to do with the degrees of giving. Or in this case the degrees of receiving. Apologies if I mangle it completely, I haven't been able to find it via Google. I was thirsty and you offered me water. It tasted like wine. I was thirsty and I asked you for water. It tasted like milk. I was thirsty and I begged you for water. It tasted of blood.

11-06-2008, 11:18 AM	#10
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	"It's just skin, shtephen"

11-07-2008, 08:40 PM	#12
Bruce 9012 Living in the blast crater Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Dayton, Oh Posts: 123	Its to be one within your own skin if not leave

11-07-2008, 08:43 PM	#13
Bruce 9012 Living in the blast crater Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Dayton, Oh Posts: 123	that did not come out right love the skin your in

11-07-2008, 09:41 PM	#14
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Bruce, what is your native language? __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

11-11-2008, 12:47 PM	#15
Nirvana Back in 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3,684	My leanings are toward Mahyana but I am not a purist and I believe in any of the teachings [of any religion] that have a positive message for mankind without being sexist. __________________ Speaking simply... do not confuse this with having a simple mind.

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