Anthony, How are they different concepts?
Both have to do with action/reaction (cause and effect), and both exist as a concept in your mind. Labeling some actions/reactions or cause/effect as good or bad (good deeds lead to reward or sin leads to punishment; or accumulation of [bad] karma leads to being re-born as a toad) is just packaging. Likewise attributng the enforcement of actions/reactions or cause/effect to an outside agency such as karma or God is also just packaging. It all looks the same to me - illusory, dualistic packaging. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], Anthony Wu <wuasg@...> wrote: > > Bill, >  > It is a different message you wrap in the same envelope. >  > Anthony > > > ________________________________ > From: Bill! <BillSmart@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Monday, 9 January 2012, 9:15 > Subject: Re: [Zen] When you began learning about buddhism, How did your > friends & family react? > > >  > Anthony, > > You definition of karma is well stated, but why do you not think that > definition could not also be applied to the Christian concept of > sin/obedience and Hell/Heaven? > > For me it's the same message in a different envelope. > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], Anthony Wu <wuasg@> wrote: > > > > That is not karma, but reward and punishment by God. Karma is action and > > reaction by yourself through your own mind (or Buddha nature). > > à> > Anthony > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: Bill! <BillSmart@> > > To: [email protected] > > Sent: Sunday, 8 January 2012, 18:03 > > Subject: Re: [Zen] When you began learning about buddhism, How did your > > friends & family react? > > > > > > à> > Christians beleive in 'karma' also: if you're 'good' you go to Heaven and > > if you're 'bad' you go to Hell...Bill! > > > > --- In [email protected], Anthony Wu <wuasg@> wrote: > > > > > > ItÃâàis not at all surprising that you got a funny reaction from > > > people surrounding you when you said you were interested in Buddhism. Try > > > doing the same thing with Moslems, and you get a funnier response. Even > > > in this forum, which is less hostile to Buddhism, you find different > > > views on it. > > > Ãâà> > > The key point in Buddhism is karma. But Hinduism also agrees to karma. > > > The difference between the two is the former insists that karma is your > > > own business, nobody else can help you change it. However, in Hinduism, > > > there are powerful deities who respond to your requests and assist you. > > > Don't forget we are a zen forum, and there are a view I term chaotic zen, > > > which denies anything on karma, or any laws or rules. They say everything > > > is in chaos. On the other hand, you will also hear all kinds of Buddhist > > > views here. I hope you have fun here. > > > Ãâà> > > Anthony > > > Ãâà> > > Ãâà> > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > From: dan_guzy <dan_guzy@> > > > To: [email protected] > > > Sent: Saturday, 7 January 2012, 16:08 > > > Subject: [Zen] When you began learning about buddhism, How did your > > > friends & family react? > > > > > > > > > Ãâà> > > I seem to be having trouble with this. I'm new to buddhism, just recently > > > starting reading up on it the past several months, although technically > > > I've been exposed to it for many years through a variety of tv shows, > > > movies, etc. My favorite was Kung Fu: The Legend Continues. Don't know > > > why, but the scenes with the shoalin temple and buddhist monks were > > > always my favorite. > > > > > > Although I haven't come right out and said to my family (except for my > > > sister) that I'm learning about Buddhism, they've seen the books and > > > notes I leave to myself pertaining to it. So far, it has not been > > > encouraging. They kind of give a disgusted look or a groan when they see > > > it that suggests that they are not happy about it. They are catholics. > > > I'm an atheist (which they've known for years). When I finally told my > > > sister that I'd like to visit a temple in town, she got disqusted and > > > said "why? You'll never go with me to my church, but you'll go to a > > > buddhist church?" I didn't know what to say, so I told her the truth, > > > that I didn't feel anything for catholicism anymore, and that it didn't > > > feel like the right religion for me. She wasn't pleased. > > > > > > Then today I was having a chat with a co-worker and boss at work. I get > > > along great with both of them, known them for several years. My co-worker > > > mentioned she and her husband were atheists, so I told her I was too. We > > > both got a kick out of it realizing that we never knew that about each > > > other. Then I mentioned to her that I had been reading up on buddhism > > > lately, and she gave the same kind of groan I've been hearing from my > > > family. My boss just sort of gave a look of shock and disbelief, didn't > > > say anything. I couple of weeks or so before that, I was discussing > > > various books with another boss that we like to read, and I mentioned one > > > I'd been reading called the Peaceful Warrior. He asked what it was about > > > so I told him, and when I mentioned it has a buddhist theme to it, he > > > gave a funny look. > > > > > > What's funny about all of this is that I've always figured buddhism to be > > > one of the most revered and highly respected forms of philosophy and > > > religion on earth. Even growing up I felt that way. When I go online to > > > Yahoo Answers R&S forum to ask a question pertaining to it, I haven't had > > > any bad replies over a single question, and if any of you have ever been > > > on there, you know they can be harsh sometimes in that section. So it > > > really threw me for a loop seeing all these crazy reactions from people I > > > know. > > > > > > Did any of you get these same reactions from the people you knew when you > > > were first learning about buddhism? > > > > > > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
