Karma in Hinduism and Buddhism

Karma in Hinduism and Buddhism: Some Similarities and Differences

From the Panchatantra… The Banana Peel

. . . a proud Brahmin - one noble in name - came upon a banana peel in his path. He communed with himself, saying, "every man reaps in the future the fruits of all his acts. If, therefore, I take this peel from the pathway, I shall have done a deed of merit, and be rewarded by karma in my next life. " So mused the Brahmin, and he carefully removed the peel. For this crafty thought of self, the proud Brahmin was born in a lower caste in his next life.

In western societies karma is a term applied to events with out really understanding why it is being used. "Ooh, bad karma!” Or “Its your karma that this happened to you.” John Lennon made “Instant Karma” a household phrase. However, what really is karma? What does it mean to Hindu’s and Buddhists?

According to the Random House College Dictionary, karma is an action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, in this life or in a reincarnation.

Karma is a Sanskrit word that translates into "action". It literally means "deed or act”, but more broadly describes the principle of cause and effect. Simply stated, karma is the law of act

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Buddhists refined the idea of pleasant or unpleasant with skillful or unskillful. The Law of Karma is one of cause and effect. Nobody can get away from its clutches. (5)

If there are no persons at all, then there is no self and no other. They like the early Aryans, believed that death was permanent. They explain the differences between those that are born rich and poor. (This decision is an act of hostility.

Let us use Buddhist thought in an example of a sequence of events. Until sanchita (past karma yet to be resolved) is fulfilled. (1)

Ancient Hindu yogis, in psychically studying the time line of cause and effect, assigned three categories to karma. (2)

In Hindu belief, the body itself dies, but the soul lives for eternity. They are the only ones worthy to reach Nirvana. This is called, prarabdha active or mature karma. A skillful event is one that is not accompanied by selfishness. The Buddha rejected the idea that an individual or soul is reborn, only karma is transferable from one life to the next.

Approximate Word count = 2520
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)

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