I’m going to take it that it’s safe to say you don’t believe in a supernatural element to this, but do you believe that a certain “do good to others and good things will happen to you” type of philosophy, or is it still a series of chances and coincidences?
Posted: August 17th 2009
Eric_PK
I think it’s more about reciprocity.
First off, if I don’t treat others well – which I equate to “do good things” – how can I expect others to treat me well?
More specifically, I like to be around people who treat others well, and my experience is that there are other people who share that perspective. As a group, good things are more likely to happen to us.
I think there’s something attitudinal about it as well. Treating other people well makes it easier to deal with the random events where things aren’t going quite as well for you.
Posted: August 27th 2009
Steve Zara www
The original purpose of the idea of karma in Buddhism was not supernatural at all. It was the idea that actions have consequences. In a world where we interact with many other people, of course they will! That is all karma really is. It is nothing more than a word for the principle that if you kick the world, then it will tend to kick back.
Posted: August 22nd 2009
Dave Hitt www
I think Karma happens, but there’s nothing supernatural about it. It’s almost a physical law: People remember how you treated them, and that affects how they treat you. Likewise, you remember how people treated you, and respond in kind.
It doesn’t always work – good things happen to rotten people and vice versa. But overall, what people do comes back to them, for better or worse.
Posted: August 18th 2009
SmartLX www
The kind of unexpected reciprocity people think of as karma can be real without being supernatural or sheer coincidence.
When you do good to others, others are more likely to help you in return. That’s the obvious bit, but there’s a psychological boost to the effect: when you’re proud of your own altruism, you subconsciously feel more deserving of good fortune and you’re more likely to take advantage of subtle opportunities to make your own luck.
The reverse is true of course. When you’ve been selfish or vindictive, people are less likely to be nice to you and your own conscience may drive you to unknowingly make bad decisions and create your own bad luck.
There’s actually a parallel to evolutionary theory here. Many people see a false dilemma: either we came about by chance, or we were deliberately designed. The third option, that a straightforward natural process is responsible, is the most satisfying once it’s actually considered. Likewise, human nature accounts for perceived karma more than you might think, and deserves to be considered alongside pure chance and the supernatural.
Posted: August 17th 2009