Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.
Karma and My Role Model
ThailandTom
Veteran
There has been a little bit of talk based around karma and I thought I would like to share a few things about that, but also to tie in my role model in life with it.
Firstly my role model died 1 year to the day before I was born, but because of her exteremely compassionate way of living and totally selfless acts, I know all too well about her. I speak of course about Mother Teresa. I am sure most of us here know about her so I will not go into her life story, if people who don't they can always wiki her. But yes, she is my rold model, not some actor, not some sports star or even teh Dalai Lama, even though he would be a good role model IMO.
Now to talk about karma, I have read recently an influx of people coming on and asking certain things about karma, maybe beginners to an extent, I don't know. I have come to understand karma pretty well through simple observation, as well as an unenlightened being can for that matter. Along with some reading of some good books, I have gained knowledge into this teaching that has helped me help others and now I wish to post this for anybody who has queries involving karma.
Cause and effect, that is karma, it sounds so simple, and it is but at the same time it is not so simple once you scratch the surface. In another thread I used an example of speaking harshly to a loved one in the morning before going to walk/school, maybe having an argument. That is an action you undertook before you went about your day. If you then observe the observer, watch your mind throughout the following hours you may see afflictive emotions arise within you such as guilt, anger, pain and so on. This is the effect of your action and it will recinate throughout your day like the ripples commonly explained in a pond. The person you shared these harsh words with, they too have suffered from your action, they will to some extent suffer mentally and maybe physically from it. So you can see how one action can cause a whole set of emotions to arise and afflict the mind throughout the day and maybe even many many more days.
That is one easy to follow example of how karma can effect a person or persons life, imagine all of the actions you do daily and imagine all of those ripples they cause and how many people they reach. Now Mother Teresa, she dedicated her life to helping the needy, the sick and dying, you could assume that pretty much ever action she did was greatly virtuous, unselfless and she did this day in day out, from moment to moment. This is what we should all aspire to do, I do not mean we should all go to India and help the people there, but if a chance arises that you have the opportunity to do some good for someone, whatever it is, jump at the chance. Conduct the action with as much effort and right intention as possible and watch the ripples flow. If we all live from moment to moment in this way, we will be generating compassion, opening our heart and genrating the seeds of good karma. There is no need to think or worry of rebirth because even if you believe in it like I do, there is no way to prove it and plus, if you live a life of virtuous acts, you set yourself up for a good rebirth as it is
As with the chance to do something positive, if we are offered the chance to do something negative, it is wise to not conduct in such an act. You can even turn a negative act into a positive one. Cockroaches, they come into my house often along with venomous centipedes, many people will first think, kill, kill the pest! I however see it as a living being. So what if it is small and there are many of them, does that make it any different? We are tiny tiny tiny beings if you look at the universe as a whole, and there are many of us, so is it correct to stamp one of us out? IMO no, so with these cockroaches I catch them for however long it may take me to do so and I release it outside.
Lastly I would like to add karma of the mind. There is karma you can generate without moving a finger. If you sit and think negative thoughts all day about hurting someone, getting revenge, hating something, this will come to generate negative karma. It has been shown in studies that the mind alone can change ones pysiology, so imagine what the mind can do if it creates these horrid thoughts for a large part of it's time.
Sorry if this is long or a bit of a rant, I felt as if I had to post it and so I did
Firstly my role model died 1 year to the day before I was born, but because of her exteremely compassionate way of living and totally selfless acts, I know all too well about her. I speak of course about Mother Teresa. I am sure most of us here know about her so I will not go into her life story, if people who don't they can always wiki her. But yes, she is my rold model, not some actor, not some sports star or even teh Dalai Lama, even though he would be a good role model IMO.
Now to talk about karma, I have read recently an influx of people coming on and asking certain things about karma, maybe beginners to an extent, I don't know. I have come to understand karma pretty well through simple observation, as well as an unenlightened being can for that matter. Along with some reading of some good books, I have gained knowledge into this teaching that has helped me help others and now I wish to post this for anybody who has queries involving karma.
Cause and effect, that is karma, it sounds so simple, and it is but at the same time it is not so simple once you scratch the surface. In another thread I used an example of speaking harshly to a loved one in the morning before going to walk/school, maybe having an argument. That is an action you undertook before you went about your day. If you then observe the observer, watch your mind throughout the following hours you may see afflictive emotions arise within you such as guilt, anger, pain and so on. This is the effect of your action and it will recinate throughout your day like the ripples commonly explained in a pond. The person you shared these harsh words with, they too have suffered from your action, they will to some extent suffer mentally and maybe physically from it. So you can see how one action can cause a whole set of emotions to arise and afflict the mind throughout the day and maybe even many many more days.
That is one easy to follow example of how karma can effect a person or persons life, imagine all of the actions you do daily and imagine all of those ripples they cause and how many people they reach. Now Mother Teresa, she dedicated her life to helping the needy, the sick and dying, you could assume that pretty much ever action she did was greatly virtuous, unselfless and she did this day in day out, from moment to moment. This is what we should all aspire to do, I do not mean we should all go to India and help the people there, but if a chance arises that you have the opportunity to do some good for someone, whatever it is, jump at the chance. Conduct the action with as much effort and right intention as possible and watch the ripples flow. If we all live from moment to moment in this way, we will be generating compassion, opening our heart and genrating the seeds of good karma. There is no need to think or worry of rebirth because even if you believe in it like I do, there is no way to prove it and plus, if you live a life of virtuous acts, you set yourself up for a good rebirth as it is
As with the chance to do something positive, if we are offered the chance to do something negative, it is wise to not conduct in such an act. You can even turn a negative act into a positive one. Cockroaches, they come into my house often along with venomous centipedes, many people will first think, kill, kill the pest! I however see it as a living being. So what if it is small and there are many of them, does that make it any different? We are tiny tiny tiny beings if you look at the universe as a whole, and there are many of us, so is it correct to stamp one of us out? IMO no, so with these cockroaches I catch them for however long it may take me to do so and I release it outside.
Lastly I would like to add karma of the mind. There is karma you can generate without moving a finger. If you sit and think negative thoughts all day about hurting someone, getting revenge, hating something, this will come to generate negative karma. It has been shown in studies that the mind alone can change ones pysiology, so imagine what the mind can do if it creates these horrid thoughts for a large part of it's time.
Sorry if this is long or a bit of a rant, I felt as if I had to post it and so I did
0
Comments
I do admire Mother Teresa a lot, I look up to her as she had a heart of gold, religious status does not matter to me in pretty much any circumstance, she was a great woman.
"The work I do, is just a drop in the ocean. But if i did not do this work, the ocean would be one drop the poorer..."
(when she was informed that all told, she had helped over 65,000 people....)
No, i have not helped 65,000 people... i have helped one person only. One person, one at a time, just one... and so it is, just helping one person is beneficial...."
what a gal.....
Nice post Tom, I like this part especially
By the way, cool picture
Go infp!
Also, she went through much of her life having dark soul nights, meaning that she couldn't feel God around her and it made her feel abandoned. She actually really struggled with her faith.
But the darkness drove her to do more...I love her too.
So there, my kittens. And as far as me hijacking you thread...
Whay are you going to do about it?
Dan Rather, CBS anchor, once asked Mother Teresa what she said to god during her prayers. She answered, "I don't say anything, I listen." So Rather turned the question and asked, "Well then, what does god say to you?" To that Mother Teresa replied, "He doesn't say anything, he listens."
Sounds like MT meditated.
it's an affectionate term, meant well...
then Tom pointed out that the household cleaning fluid, used to be called jif had to be renamed because it meant something rude in a particular language.
they renamed it 'cif'.
rather than call it cif in one specific place, and jif everywhere else - nightmare costs with labelling and packaging - they just changed the name everywhere.
but it wasn't ever intended as a jibe or insult to you personally.... just a comment on the vagaries of marketing....
So now that we have established that cif is a household cleaning fluid I would like it explained to me why I am referred to as a household cleaning fluid.
Thanks.
you're not being called a household cleaning fluid.
i'm sorry you're feeling bad today.
try to be mindful and not take it out on us.
we're innocent - and your friends, remember?
Tom called me cif and he should not do that. Maybe he can find a different way to express himself than making nicknames for people?
i have several nicknames given to me by various people.
they're terms of affection and mean different things.
please don't come to conclusions and take umbrage...neither person is here to answer to you, so instead of adding 2 and 2 and 2 and making 5, why not wait to talk to them...?
Take it easy and be well....
This should probably be taped
to your bathroom mirror
where one could read it every day.
You may not realize it,
but it's 100% true.
1. There are at least two people in this world
that you would die for.
2. At least 15 people in this world
love you in some way.
3.. The only reason anyone would ever hate you
is because they want to be just like you.
4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone,
even if they don't like you.
5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you
before they go to sleep.
6. You mean the world to someone.
7. You are special and unique.
8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
9. When you make the biggest mistake ever,
something good comes from it.
10. When you think the world has
turned its back on you, take another look.
11. Always remember the compliments you received.
Forget about the rude remarks.
So......
If you are a loving friend, send this to everyone,
including the one that sent it to you. If you get it back, then they really do love you...
And always remember......
When life hands you lemons, Ask for Tequila and salt and call me over!!
Good friends are like stars.....
You don't always see them, But you know they are always there.
'Whenever God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another,
Even Though Sometimes It's Hell in the Hallway.'
I would rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend
while I'm here than a whole truck load when I'm gone.
Forward to all your friends.
And don't tell me you're too busy for this..
Don't you know the phrase
'stop and smell the flowers'?
See how many 'bouquets' you end up with!
Happiness keeps You Sweet ,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Failures keeps You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only
God keeps You Going
My nickname for you was out of love and affection but because of the confusion, I will only call you by your real name. Please know that I enjoy you and your threads very much.
While I can not speak for Tom, I know he would never say anything to hurt you. He only wanted to call you by the nickname I gave you because he cares about you, too.
We all do and hope you are feeling better.
Love you!