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this is what you shall do:: Friday Fives (Or For This Week, Six.)

Friday, January 06, 2006

Friday Fives (Or For This Week, Six.)

Last week's Friday 5's got me to thinking about karma, and good versus bad bahavior. Thus, I'm posing some follow-up questions about what does or doesn't constitute the building of good karma. I've been kicking these around in my mind this week, so please review and discuss: (submitted by Rev_Ed.) 1. If you perform a good act, but with bad intentions (i.e., you're angry or hateful about doing it), does it still count as good karma? I say no. Karma is all about intentions. 2. If there's an accidental good outcome to something you did, can you count it in your karma column? Is there truly such a thing as an accident? That is not a Karmic act, that is a result of Karma - Karma came in for you in the clutch. 3. What about white lies? Is it bad karma to say something you don't mean--knowing that it's nicer than what you were thinking? Intentions once again. If your intent, through the white lie was to do good, I think it would "count" in the good karma category. 4. Is a bad intention at all on the same level as a bad act? (For example, is thinking "I'd like to see him killed," on the the same degree as 'pulling an MJ?') Christianity, and some criminal statutes seem to think so, but I don't happen to agree. Yes. See above (Don't you folks watch Earl on NBC? Weekly Karmic life lessons, y'all.) 5. Is it good/bad to stick up for yourself, knowing that doing so will inflict harm on others? I think sticking up for self is a selfless act of preservation and part of the karmic balance. Yes, you can defend yourself. The strength of the karmic "bump" would in how you choose to defend yourself. Using words over a shotgun would perhaps give a more nuanced flow to the ying and yang of the karmic web. 6. What obligation, if any, do we all have to look out for each other? That, my friends, was the Buddha's greatest lesson. For that matter, Jesus and Mohammed as well all taught that the secret of life and soiety is to step back from personal gain and instead take time to look out for each other. Getting back to that message and away from the inevitable greed is part of the great Karmic puzzle.

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