Monday, May 21, 2018

Fallacy Of Karma (因果的谬论)

The theory of karma (因果论) is one of the core teachings of Mahayana Buddhism. It is said that the concept of karma is adopted from Hinduism with a different interpretation by the Buddha.

Personally speaking, I think the law of karma does not exist. A very direct real life example is that your good deeds do not always being repaid with good deeds. Of course, bad actions certainly will not be responded with good actions.

In another example, if you kill a chicken and the chicken will return to take your life in next life. But the fact according to karma is that it was that the chicken owed you a life that you take its life this life. This is equal and null.

Even Buddhist teachings from various schools contradicting with each other. 

In Diamond Sutra it is stated that:


一切有为法, 如梦幻泡影
All actions with intentions are as if illusions.

Since according to the above saying, all actions are empty in essence; the theory of karma does not hold here. So, the Zen Buddhism does not believe in the belief of karma.

In the teaching of Great Perfection (大圆满), everything in this world is the reflection of our mind: the calm, happy and sufferings. There is no saying about 'karma'.

If we continues to hold theory of karma as true, then there are many things we cannot do this life. We would be too afraid of doing anything in fear of bad karma in next life.

According to Great Perfection, if we were to define 'good' and 'bad' then we would be termed as grasping on sides (执边). Grasping on sides is an obstacle to the path of enlightenment.

So the saying of Mahayana Buddhism: "Good deeds yield good karma" is certainly hold not true. In another aspect, we could argue that the Great Perfection and Zen are not true Buddhism?

Hence, as you can see... Even Buddhist schools contradicting with each other on the view of karma. 

The conclusion is that: do what you want and accept the consequences but forget about karma. It is demoralizing.

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