Dose it seem to you that the term karma is often used in a vindictive manner?

Question

I have heard people refer to karma and it's just as bad as the deed done against them. What are your thoughts on this?

Answer 1

In my experience, the term karma is used in an incredibly uninformed manner. Some people think it has to do with spiritual merit or demerit (if a persons does something "good," they can expect a reward; if they do something "bad," they can expect punishment.) This ideology spirals out of control when a person thinks that his or another's circumstance is related to some good or bad thing they did in the past (or a past life).  This is an incredibly simplistic way of thinking about "karma." Karma means "activity." It originally referred to doing spiritually or ritualistically relevant acts (ie, keeping up with religious observances). "Doing one's own karma" meant doing what you were culturally and sociologically were supposed to be doing (according to your caste and gender and all that--ie, playing your role and conforming).  Philosophically--or metaphysically--it simply refers to the process of cause and effect and the momentum of cause and effect.It is not necessarily driven by intentionality or morality or fairness. Causes and effects arise from complex interdependent circumstances. This is the view in higher-level philosophy in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Answer 2

I don't believe in Karma.  I believe every thing is random.  When something horrible happens to an innocent child, is that Karma?  Give me a break.  

Answer 3

Yes. I think it's a dangerous concept, since it tends to imply that anyone who has anything bad happen to them deserved it for some past misdeed, even maybe in a past life.

Like Charles Manson saying about the holocaust that "Hitler was a tuned-in guy who leveled the karma of the Jews".

I am sure that in authentic Hinduism it isn't intended to be thought of in this way, but unfortunately, it seems inevitable that it's going to be used by nasty people as an excuse to tell others that they "got what they had coming".

Answer 4

Yes there are some folks who use the word Karma in a vindictive manor or even use it to justify taking revenge upon someone that they feel has wronged them in some fashion.Contrary to what the first answers states karma is real and just because we do not see the entire picture doesn't mean that this hypothetical child did not bring the disastrous events upon him/her self. It also follows the law of reincarnation so it may be for actions that happened in a past life that may cause the sanskaric attachment that in-turn releases the karmic back lash. Peace&Love be with you...~M~