religion studies journal
danh.s
3.ppt
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KARMA (law of retribution)
Karma as understood in all the Indian religions is
- a cosmic law as universal and as unchangeable as, for instance, the law of gravity.
- Under the force of Karmic law, good never fails to be rewarded and evil never escapes being punished.
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- Literally and etymologically,
Karma means action (moral or physical action).
- In Buddhism, Karma is the principle that beings are reborn according to the nature and quality of their past actions.
- To be poor, ill or ugly is considered as a result of a past life.
- Good and bad rebirths are not seen as "rewards" or "punishment",
- but as simply the natural results of certain kinds of action.
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Negative Karma brings about
- Poverty
- Ugliness
- Poor health.
One can even be born as
- an animal
- A ghost
- Or go to Hell
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According to the karmic law that governs this process of rebirths, all beings are "heir" to their actions so that :
- -1) acts of hatred and violence tend to lead to rebirth in a hell,
- -2) acts bound up with delusion and confusion tend to lead to rebirth as an animal,
- -3) acts of greed tend to lead to rebirth as a ghost
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- -4) injuring beings leads to frequent illnesses
- -5) anger leads to being ugly
- -6) stinginess leads to being poor,
- -7) acts of moral restraint, kindness and generosity lead to rebirth as a human or a God.
- This cycle of rebirths ends with enlightenment (Nirvana).
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- KARMA AND PUNYA
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PUNYA:
- Merit, or the good karma
- that enters into the content of an individual’s life
- earned in Buddhist doctrine by moral practices, learning, and meditation.
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- A MERIT ACCOUNT SHEET
(SOME SELECTIONS)
- Formulated by
Liao-Fan Yuan (1550-1624),
a Zen master of Jiang-Su Province.
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- Merits Demerits
(Good Karma) (Bad Karma)
100 merits 100 demerits
50 50
30 30
10 10
5 5
3 3
1 merit 1 demerit
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- 100 Merits:
- save one life;
- save a woman’s chastity;
- prevent a child from drowning;
- continue a family lineage.
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- 50 Merits:
- prevent an abortion;
- provide for a homeless person;
- prevent someone from committing a serious crime;
- give a speech that benefits many
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- 30 Merits:
- convert another to Buddhism;
- facilitate a marriage;
- take in an orphan;
- help another do something virtuous.
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- 10 Merits:
- recommend a virtuous person;
- cure a major illness;
- speak virtuously;
- save the life of a good animal;
- publish the Buddha’s teachings;
- treat servants properly.
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- 5 Merits:
- Prevent a law suit;
- cure a minor illness;
- stop someone from slandering;
- make an offering to a saintly person;
- save any animal;
- pray for others.
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- 3 Merits:
- Endure ill treatment without complaint;
- bury an animal;
- urge those making a living by killing to stop.
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- 1 Merit:
- Give an article to help others;
- chant a Buddhist scripture;
- provide for one monk;
- return a lost article;
- help repair a public road or bridge.
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- 100 Demerits:
- Cause a death;
- rape;
- end a family lineage.
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- 50 Demerits:
- Induce an abortion;
- break up a marriage;
- teach someone to do great evil;
- make a speech that harms many.
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- 30 Demerits:
- Create slander that dishonors another;
- disobey an elder;
- cause a family to separate;
- during famine, fail to share food grains.
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- 10 Demerits:
- Mistreat an orphan or widow;
- prepare a poison;
- kill an animal that serves humans;
- speak harshly to parent or teacher.
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- 5 Demerits:
- Slander spiritual teachings;
- turn away a sick person;
- speak harshly;
- kill any animal;
- write or speak lewdly;
- not clear an injustice when possible.
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- 3 Demerits:
- Get angry over words spoken;
- cheat an ignorant person;
- destroy another’s success;
- be greedy.
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- 1 Demerit:
- Urge another to fight;
- help another do evil;
- waste food;
- kill insects;
- turn away a begging monk;
- take a bribe;
- keep a lost article.
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