bentnotbroken Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 and the masses are like sheep being led to the slaughter... to accept Karma or one's personal fate to dictate your position in life... is allowing yourself to be controlled. I acknowledge that most people do need some form of that thinking in their lives. And others of us need to have some type of control in our lives. Either self control or control from outside sources. Link to post Share on other sites
TaraMaiden Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 The examples you cited are not cause and effect. According to Buddhism, it's possible they are. But not definite. Likely, but not provable. The simple fact is s*** happens. It's that element of chance. it doesn't matter whether sh** happens or not. It's what we do with it. Either moan about it being stuck on our shoe, or be glad that the roses get fertiliser..... Under your thinking, the BS must have done something to deserve being cheated on. It's a possibility that at some point, they might have done. But maybe not in this life. hey, if we're going to talk about karma, let's be accurate and discuss it in context of what it actually is, as opposed to what people surmise, or guess it is..... And all people who have cancer must have done some horrible things in their life to suffer in such a way. Which we all know is not true. Really? WE all 'know' this? Care to prove it? I can't prove it otherwise, but - according to buddhism - it's possible..... We do not have control over anything but our own actions. BINGO. It is superstitious to believe that "nature" is going to even the score. Agreed. It's cause and effect, not hocus pocus. Eerr...cause and effect is Karma - vittaka..... which brings us back to my point. If we're going to discuss karma, let's do so with reference to teachings, as opposed to hypothetical assumptions.... Link to post Share on other sites
TaraMaiden Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 And others of us need to have some type of control in our lives. Either self control or control from outside sources. The minute you abdicate your control to outside sources, you diaable your own power to decide what's what for yourself. A dangerous slippery slope. Link to post Share on other sites
spiraling downward Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 And others of us need to have some type of control in our lives. Either self control or control from outside sources. I never said that I don't have self-control... Link to post Share on other sites
bentnotbroken Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 The minute you abdicate your control to outside sources, you diaable your own power to decide what's what for yourself. A dangerous slippery slope. Tara, I am not a Buddhist. I am a Christian and my life is in order with God and his will. And nothing he does is going to hurt me or send me down a slippery slope. Best wishes to you. Link to post Share on other sites
bentnotbroken Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I never said that I don't have self-control... Neither did I. Link to post Share on other sites
spiraling downward Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 If you'd bothered to read my linked thread and other posts, you'd know that Karma has nothing to do with justice and repercussions. the only karma anyone should be concerned with, is their own. And that's why Buddhism doesn't ever do that. Now, that's better.....! But this is incorrect. Many narcissistic people live their whole lives in denial, and projecting responsibility for consequences onto others. they experience negative things - but somehow, it always manages to be someone else's fault..... Yup, I would agree here, too.... You DO believe in Karma. You just didn't realise it....! Karma isn't a process to be believed in or not. Karma is a natural process that happens whether you believe it or not. In other words, it's a naturally-occurring phenomenon that still functions, regardless of what you believe. Like radiowaves, or electricity.... if that isn't a summation of what karma is, I'm a little blue-green man from Atlantis. (I'm not, by the way. Honest.) so you are saying that I'm just a small piece of the greater cosmic scheme, but I don't realize it yet? Link to post Share on other sites
GreenEyedLady Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 If we're going to discuss karma, let's do so with reference to teachings, as opposed to hypothetical assumptions.... I am not Buddhist and I'm not going to discuss teachings. I already gave my beliefs as you did yours. Your beliefs are yours and my beliefs are mine. And if you can honestly sit there and say that people who have cancer deserve it, then you have more problems than I do. GEL Link to post Share on other sites
spiraling downward Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I am a Christian and my life is in order with God and his will. Does that mean that you are a polytheist then? Are you sure that god is a "He" and not a "She"? Link to post Share on other sites
bentnotbroken Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Does that mean that you are a polytheist then? Are you sure that god is a "He" and not a "She"? No I am not a polytheist. I believe in the Jesus is the Son of God and that he died on the cross for my sins and yours. Now, how does that change the you chose to cheat? Link to post Share on other sites
spiraling downward Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 No I am not a polytheist. I believe in the Jesus is the Son of God and that he died on the cross for my sins and yours. Now, how does that change the you chose to cheat? So now you are here on the OM/OW board to judge us "cheating" sinners?? You are certainly special. Link to post Share on other sites
MistyK Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Spiraling Downward, Do you believe in a higher power of any sort, some kind of spirituality? What do you look to for guidance? (Both rhetorical questions.) Beyond all of this talk of karma and God's wrath - do we really need to have assurance that something bad will happen to know something is wrong and not do it? Don't we all agree that affairs are wrong even if we think we can get away with it scott free? We know speeding is wrong and illegal even if we don't get caught. Or is it that you think those rules don't apply to you? I do find it a little odd that your W's transgressions were not forgiveable yet you have easily justified your own as ok. Link to post Share on other sites
bentnotbroken Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 So now you are here on the OM/OW board to judge us "cheating" sinners?? You are certainly special. As you can see I have been here for awhile. And I think I agreed with you awhile back that we were different. You were the one who kept baiting and asking questions. I only answered. You accused me of twisting GEL's post to fit me. When I actually showed you I said the same thing. Your response... nothing. You implied I called you immature, I didn't and I said so, your response... nothing. As long as you keep asking me questions, I will answer truthfully. If those answers offend you, don't ask. And as far a judgement, I don't have that right or that ability(I have stated this before on many occasions). I can say what I think is wrong, just like you. They are called opinions on a public board. All I have seen from you today is someone jumping to conclusions and acting as if they are defending something that no one is attacking. Could it be you're projecting your own negative feelings on to me? Is it possible that because you ridicule my faith and it doesn't bother me, it bothers you? Or could it be some personal self reflection will help you deal with those negative emotions you have? And yes, as a child of God, I am special. So are you if you chose to behave that way. Link to post Share on other sites
spiraling downward Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 As you can see I have been here for awhile. And I think I agreed with you awhile back that we were different. You were the one who kept baiting and asking questions. I only answered. You accused me of twisting GEL's post to fit me. When I actually showed you I said the same thing. Your response... nothing. You implied I called you immature, I didn't and I said so, your response... nothing. As long as you keep asking me questions, I will answer truthfully. If those answers offend you, don't ask. And yes, as a child of God, I am special. So are you if you chose to behave that way. How sanctimonious of you. In post #18 you were the one who started in on me by saying "and now I know why you cheated." Now you are claiming that I am the one who is baiting you?? I appologize for defending myself. Link to post Share on other sites
bentnotbroken Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 How sanctimonious of you. In post #18 you were the one who started in on me by saying "and now I know why you cheated." Now you are claiming that I am the one who is baiting you?? I appologize for defending myself. When I said I know why you cheated, I meant your belief system became evident. But if calling me names makes you feel pretty good today....have at it. Glad I can help you get some of that anger out, it isn't healthy you know. Link to post Share on other sites
bentnotbroken Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 and you or I may get hit by a bus tomorrow... eventually something bad will happen in all of our lives. The prophets of doom are eventually all right... if they wait long enough.... but they themselves might not live long enough to see it happen!!! God isn't all doom. Actually I believe he is truth, forgiveness and most of all love. Bad things happen to all of us. Some of us have buried children, parents, best friends. Dealt with natural disasters and watched the world be crippled by terrorism. I don't no any Christians who believe we are exempt from pain or the harsh realities of life. We just know that isn't the end. Link to post Share on other sites
fooled once Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Spiraling - why are you making this post all about you? You are baiting and purposefully stiring the pot with other posters. How about keeping the discussion at hand with what the original questions were? How about not trying to poke at other members? If you want to bait posters, why not just PM them instead of causing a long thread that people have to wade through to see responses to the actual original post? Tara, I read your comments/thoughts on the link you provided. Of course, everything you've gone through is your karma too. Karma is volitional action, with intention. What you are posting now, if it contains malice and resentment, gloating and one-upmanship - is accruing Negative karma for you. Any negative emotional feeling towards another person will eventually return to bite you on the @$$. As a long-practising Buddhist, with a degree of understanding of Karma (something most people do not understand the workings of) - you have been warned. Kamma-Vitthaka - cause and effect. It all begins in the mind with the thought. This accrues kamma. if you permit that thought to manifest as words/deeds - the kamma is correspondingly accrued. Positive thoughts/words/deeds? = Positive Kamma. Negative thoughts/words/deeds? = Negative Kamma. It's that simple. of course, if you just like to talk about karma in a way you'd like to believe it functions, just go ahead and ignore me. But understand this: simply because you may choose to see things in your own way, doesn't make you right. Whatever the misguided understanding of Kamma - it still happens the way I have explained. Thank you for your views on Karma. I think we all have different thoughts, but it doesn't make one right or one wrong, no matter how some posters try to turn things around. Link to post Share on other sites
spiraling downward Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Spiraling Downward, Do you believe in a higher power of any sort, some kind of spirituality? What do you look to for guidance? (Both rhetorical questions.) Beyond all of this talk of karma and God's wrath - do we really need to have assurance that something bad will happen to know something is wrong and not do it? Don't we all agree that affairs are wrong even if we think we can get away with it scott free? We know speeding is wrong and illegal even if we don't get caught. Or is it that you think those rules don't apply to you? I do find it a little odd that your W's transgressions were not forgiveable yet you have easily justified your own as ok. I am quite agnostic. I was raised in the Christian tradition, so many of my behavioral patterns are governed by the way I was raised. Except as evidenced on this message board (and some others...) I do generally live my life in a "do unto others, as you would have them do unto you" approach. I had many feelings of guilt and sensing I was doing the wrong thing when I first got into this affair... but over time, there have been many instances that have occured to my MW and I that have bore out the notion that we should be together. I believe that we have both experienced confirmation from many third parties (those that we know and some we didn't know) that this is right for us.... I know that many on this board will call it affair fog. So be it. I have to go with the flow on this one. Link to post Share on other sites
spiraling downward Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Spiraling - why are you making this post all about you? You are baiting and purposefully stiring the pot with other posters. If you re-read the thread... I was just commenting on the Karma aspect... other poster's made it about me. I will respond in kind. EDIT: OK, I did try to share with Devil Inside... but there was nothing baiting or caustic in that post. Link to post Share on other sites
spiraling downward Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 But if calling me names makes you feel pretty good today....have at it. Glad I can help you get some of that anger out, it isn't healthy you know. You just can't let it go, can you? ... or admit that you are wrong, for that matter. Link to post Share on other sites
bentnotbroken Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 You just can't let it go, can you? ... or admit that you are wrong, for that matter. What am I wrong about? I told you as long as you ask me questions, I will answer you truthfully. Did you not see this post? As you can see I have been here for awhile. And I think I agreed with you awhile back that we were different. You were the one who kept baiting and asking questions. I only answered. You accused me of twisting GEL's post to fit me. When I actually showed you I said the same thing. Your response... nothing. You implied I called you immature' date=' I didn't and I said so, your response... nothing. As long as you keep asking me questions, I will answer truthfully. If those answers offend you, don't ask. [/quote'] Link to post Share on other sites
Devil Inside Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 LOL..this debate is still going on? Link to post Share on other sites
spiraling downward Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 What am I wrong about? I told you as long as you ask me questions, I will answer you truthfully. Did you not see this post? You are the one who began the "baiting" and now you are making it out as if I'm the one attacking you. If you meant something entirely different by your comment "and now I know why you cheated...", that is your responsibility to express yourself better, rather than making some off the cuff remark. Link to post Share on other sites
spiraling downward Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 LOL..this debate is still going on? Which debate? We could be here all night... or many days, for that matter! Link to post Share on other sites
bentnotbroken Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 You are the one who began the "baiting" and now you are making it out as if I'm the one attacking you. If you meant something entirely different by your comment "and now I know why you cheated...", that is your responsibility to express yourself better, rather than making some off the cuff remark. Okkaayyy, how is that telling me what I am wrong about? So who's responsibility is it to use their infinite intelligence to understand a fairly clear statement that was understood by everyone but you. Did you apologize for saying that I twisted GEL's words? No. Why not, because you feel no need to. That's fine. I don't feel the need to water down my thoughts on an open board where most people seem fairly intelligent. Never said I was better than you. Never said bad things don't happen to all of us. Never denied my belief system. It is well documented on here. Never said that your life was going to be crappy. As a matter of fact in light of the terms you have used to describe me, I have yet to treat you any other way than civilized. What it appears you need, is to let go of the anger you have toward yourself. If you are truly happy in your life and your choices, you have no need to explain, quantify it or defend it, GEL taught me that. But that is something you have to find for yourself. Link to post Share on other sites
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