Kamma

The law of kamma is different from the idea of fatalism or predetermination.

In fact, Buddhism teaches about causal relationships, NOT things being predetermined. There are three views concerning Kamma which the Buddha clearly REJECTED.

The first is past-action determinism, which asserts that all our experiences in the present life are solely determined by past actions.

The second is theistic determinism, which means that all our experiences and all events are due to God's creation and will.

And the third view rejected by the Buddha is called accidentalism, which holds that all experiences are merely manifestations of fortuitous elements, uncaused and unconditioned. This fallacious view rejects the principle of causality and the law of kamma.

The first two views allow no room for free will, and are fatalistic in nature. The third is obviously untenable for the simple reason that it goes directly against common sense and the well-established truth of causal relationship.

Buddhism teaches that with kamma, our experiences are conditioned by our actions rather than being predetermined or willed by God. It realistically allows for a plurality of causes or conditioning factors, including the factors of will and natural phenomena. In this way the Buddha's teaching of kamma is sensible and has a strong appeal for modern critical minds.

The complex workings of Kamma - Vipaka is unfathomable, something beyond our mortal understanding. Even when the Ven MahaKassapa was trying to understanding the workings of kamma, the Buddha explained to him that this is beyond even the Mind of an Arahant.

Why do we assume that

"bad things should not happen to Good people"?


The reality is WHY NOT!? One being Vegetarian will not stop a Bull from charging at you!

Think about it. This is important.

When we ask "Why do bad things happen to good people," the question itself is pregnant with a few assumptions. It assumes the existence of someone or something who is supposed to make sure that 'this does not happen'.

What you are saying is : "I think there is some form of a God or gods, and he/she is supposed to be good. And if he is good, then why do bad things happen to good people?"

Alternatively, the question "Why do bad things happened to good people," may really be saying "I'm not sure that God exists, or that if he does exist, is able to do anything and everything, and that is why such things are happening."

So we should be clear what it is we are actually questioning!



Let us first understand what are the "ground rules" for existence. Using this we see clearly that things happen because of causes and conditions, not because someone protected you or Failed toprotect you, or made things happen in a certain way.

Why did the tsunami happen? Is it because God/s made it happen? So many good people died, what happened to theirGod/s at that time? Was he on vacation? Or was it gross negligence on his part to his subjects who invested in him?

The tsunami happened because 2 earth plates MOVED. That's it. That's the cause and because of it, a tsunami results.

Because we are stuck in a narrow finite perspective of time and space, we tend to blame whatever we cannot understand on the divine. What is positive we call a miracle, we is negative we label as punishment from the divine.

In discussing this issue, we're NOT able to give an answer as to why particular things happen in a particular situation to someone. While I can say it is sad that one boarded a bus with a sleepy driver, it is beyond me to speculate as to why one chosethis bus over the next.

To understand kamma-vipaka as interpreted in the things that happened and that DID NOT happen to us is beyond us. We all have such a HUGE load of kammic causes both positive and negative that can ripen and come to fruition under the right conditions, that it is impossible to unentangle them and say "this is because of that action."

We can only do what is wholesome NOW and keep our precepts well, so that we dilute the unwholesome kamma and not have the conditions for its fruition to be present. It is so important that we act wisely and NOT create more conditions for unwholesome events to take place. It's obvious for example that by not mixing with the "wrong" crowd, abstaining from alcohol, pubs, drugs, late nights partying, etc that we reduce the chance of an unhappy event occuring.

Please do not blame anyone divine for what happened, No One is in charge... only we are in charge of ourselves and EVEN that is relative and NOT absolute. There are many many factors beyond our control and we can only do our best within what is in our sphere of influence.

And the first thing is to be sure we keep our precepts well. That is what will protect us, from our own possible unwholesome acts.

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