In theory, I like the whole idea of karma, which basically translates as cause and effect. If you do something wrong now, it will catch up with you in a later life. Many Thai Buddhists believe this, as well as people from other religions around the world. It is good as it keeps the population in check. They won’t do any bad deeds because they know that they will be punished later. But, it also has it drawbacks. People in Thailand are very subservient which means that they often accept whatever is given to them without complaining. If they are poor in this life it is because of consequence of a bad deed in a previous life.
Quite often at Thai temples, I have seen notices that teach you the consequences of your actions. You may remember a temple I wrote about where they had models depicting a Buddhist Hell. It quite clearly showed what would happen to you if you did bad in this lifetime. But, have you ever wondered why not everyone is rich or very beautiful? It is all to do with their past deeds. Here are just a few of the things that Thai people believe in:
* If you build or maintain public roads in this lifetime, you will have your own car in the next.
* If you donate robes to a monk in this lifetime, you will have fashionable clothes in the next.
* If you donate food to the poor in this lifetime, you will have plenty of food in the next.
* If you are stingy with your money in this lifetime, you will be poor in the next.
* If you donate money to the temple in this lifetime, you will have a large house in the next
* If you put flowers on the shrine in this lifetime, you will be beautiful or handsome in the next.
* If you pray often in this lifetime, you will be clever in the next.
* If you release birds or fish* you will enjoy a long life in the next.
* If you kill people in this lifetime, you will die young in the next.
* If you abuse your husband in this lifetime, you will be a spinster in the next.
* If you have affairs with married women in this lifetime, you will never find a wife in the next
* If you donate oil for lamps at the temple in this lifetime, you will have bright eyes in the next
* If you are rude to your parents in this lifetime, you will be deaf and dumb in the next
* If you didn’t pay your debts in this lifetime, you will be born as a cow in the next.
* If you donate medicine for sick people in this lifetime, you will be healthy in the next
* If you are cruel and cold-hearted in this lifetime, you will be all alone in the next.
* If you like to look at nude pictures in this lifetime, you will be blind in the next.
* If you gossip about people in this lifetime, you will have a harelip in the next.
* If you like cheating people in this lifetime, you will be born as an animal in the next.
* If you don’t help people in danger in this lifetime, you will be in prison in the next.
* If you sneer at beggars in this lifetime, you will starve to death in the next.
* If you look down on servants in this lifetime, you will be ugly in the next.
* If you don’t believe in the Buddhist teaching in this lifetime, then you will be deaf in the next.
* If you hurt animals in this lifetime, you will have leprosy in the next.
* If you are envious of other people in this lifetime, you will have body odour in the next
* If you make a false charge against a monk in this lifetime, you will be struck by lightning in the next.
There is a lot more of course but that will do for now. Hopefully, you will now understand more fully why you are in your present predicament. Although there is nothing you can do about it for this lifetime, you can take steps to give yourself a better time in the next life or the one after that. It all depends on how bad you have been!
The old christian eye for an eye thing isn’t that far out when it comes to karma and its effects….. But it isn’t as simple as that, because there is interest to be paid too…..several thousand percent in some cases.
If you kill someone you are also causing mental suffering to that persons relatives and friends, and maybe hardship to the spouse or children too….so your act isn’t simple.
These effects which people like to say will be in the next life as a consequence of your actions now, they may take effect the next time you are reborn in a human form…..but before then you may have to spend time in hell or as an animal, maybe for many births before getting the chance to be human again
Very interesting! I can actually see how some these connections might be made. And, of course, there is the Law of Kamma – accepting your conditions in this life, presumably without complaining too much.
I think there is a HUGE difference when comparing what a culture thinks is karma vs. what Lord Buddha states karma is. People are going to get drawn away from the original concepts and make it fit where they can.
If you like to look at nude pictures but you also donate oil for lamps at the temple in this lifetime…
What would your next life be?
My next life is looking pretty good, even though I won’t be able to see.
LOL, Anonymous, Scooby!
Are these causes and effects really taught and believed even in modern times?
My favorite though is, when you’re envious of others in this lifetime, you will have body odor in your next lifetime. Hahaha!
And because of this many Thai people think that a corrupt police chief or thieving politician must have very good Karma to be so rich. That’s one of the reasons why former Prime Minister (and some say Thailands Biggest Crook) Thaksin Shinawatra is so popular. – He must have been a fantastic guy in his previous life!
the way people deal with Buddhism today is very far from Buddha’s teaching, much in the same way religious people in the West are not poor as Christ’s teaching requires so obviously.
So, this is understandable.
Religion is often a simple way to explain true basics to simple people: it works, but it’s too simple to be bug free.
I once asked a monk this question. What is the most important teaching in Buddhism?
He said it is following the 5 precepts. That is the best Buddhist practice for a lay person. If one can keep the 5 precepts, one’s life would change for the better. Alas, not many people can keep them.
Well, these teaching are not written in the scripture. It’s a temple mural or verse to scare lay persons. They are not even part of the five percepts.
Punishment are more aggressive today. They were not these aggressive in the past. People just want the bad guys receive fast punishements, says bad karma’s result, they bend the teaching to suit their community and the current situation.
When religious dominated, science has no meaning. I am sure you know that. Look at what the west people argue about evolution and creation.
what you writing very good for me and i want to visit thailand soon
first, i really like this article. i think it explains the cause and effect very well.
but then if everyone excepts what they are given, then they will never thrive to their potential of gaining. that’s just a curiousity that came in my head.
ive taken asian philosophies, and i agree with karma pretty much. but, yah.
THANKS.
Buddha said:
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. What we think, we become.”
This is karma. It takes a while for us to fully realize the outcome of our thoughts and actions, but the effect on ourselves is instantaneous.
If we are stingy, we are poor.
If we are generous, we have abundance.
If we lie, we cannot trust.
If we are honest, we have trust.
What about people lying to their parent in this life. what’s that going to do to them next life?
Actually almost forgot I read the part what happen and what I did in this life. I check well not sure but my next life is pretty below average because in the past years I was rude to my parents and now I want to make merit but the only thing I could do is Pray everyday. To be honest I want to do more than just praying. Like make donation help poor people. I’m only 18 years old by the time I realize what I did I think it alittle too late.
I hope the girl that broke my heart, comes back as a pig,if these people beleive in Kharma, why did they treat me so cruel, even a monk was involved, he was/is a crook. I was prepared to give everything to this girl, she betrayed me, so did the monk. I thought Budhism was a good faith, but maybe I met a bad girl and a bad monk.
A good article, but I disagree with one point…that karma is consequences in the next life. Yes, it may be, or it may affect one in their current life. A good summary was in http://www.buddhanet.net/fundbud9.htm by the Nuddha Dharma Education Association:
“The effects of karma may be evident either in the short term or in the long term. Traditionally we divide karma into three varieties related to the amount of time that is required for the effects of these actions to manifest themselves. Karma can either manifest its effects in this very life or in the next life or only after several lives. When karma manifests its effects in this life, we can see the fruit of karma within a relatively short length of time. This variety of karma is easily verifiable by any of us. For instance, when someone refuses to study, when someone indulges in harmful distractions like alcohol and drugs, when someone begins to steal to support his harmful habits; the effects will be evident within a short time. They will be evident in loss of livelihood and friendship, health and so forth.” It’s a very article.