Karmic seeds germinate as future results A post I wrote about karma last year stimulated quite a few reader responses, including this question. Because I feel it is such an important point, deserving a full answer, I thought that it would make for a post of its own.
Thank you David. I like to ask myself what my motives are in generally everything I do and I’ve come to realize that if my motives come from Love and Compassion then karma doesn’t feel like an issue. All I can do is my best ,always mindful to be authentic and ask myself ,”is this decision,( small or large, ) for the greater good or am I trying to prove something ego related etc ? Often I find myself stopping myself and saying,” slow down and get clear…what does your heart say? “ I don’t really ever know if what I’m doing is “ good” karmically or if I’m setting a future lifetime of good karmic results from a past or this current lifetime . All I know is if my motives feel loving then I feel I’m ok….then the question usually arises, “ could I have done more? ” And then I smile and say to myself, perhaps, “ next time”….I quite amuse myself with these silent dialogues of mine! 🧐Thank you for your endurance…
Many thanks Adrienne. Given the importance of motivation in determining the weight of karmic causes, your priorities sound right. As you suggest, the results can take care of themselves...
I am interested in ways to purify negative karma. Have worked with victims of abuse from parents and domestic violence. More currently work in animal rescue. See a lot of animal abuse. The concept of bodhichitta is very helpful in these areas. Love and compassion can be the place we come from in meeting abuse and abusers, while simultaneously entailing resistance, boundary-setting and protecting oneself and keeping others safe. they are not mutually exclusive. Can you talk about wise compassion when it for example involves keeping an open heart while opposing abuse. You can love from a distance. You can be in a place of love while caring for yours and other’s wellbeing. thank you.
You have raised some important and subtle issues, L mc. I will certainly reflect on a post focusing on these. Thank you so much for your considered response.
I definitely need purification. I was not always the best daughter, seeking my own life goals rather than paying more attention and giving more care to my parents - now they are gone.
Winnie, I understand. In order to follow my own path, I went against the path my parents had for me. One thing that has helped me is to go into meditation, address them and ask forgiveness. Even though they have passed, by doing this I am lifted. I recognize the hurt I caused and I am genuinely grateful for all they did for me. I hope you find your peace and forgive yourself too. None of us are humanly perfect. Sending love to you.❤️
Thank you for this post! It helps me to remind myself, and to do, to slow down and be aware of my thoughts as they come - to continue to stand back from them and watch. Instead of being in them. Karma awareness is a kind of practice , too! And such a sweet picture of this little porcupine!
Does your spiritual practice provide insight into dementia and its karmic implications? My mother is in the late stages of her 15+years of fading from us incrementally, away from language and all recognition. I'm in search of a way to be with her without feeling overwhelmed by grief. Meditating on impermanence and letting go of my preference for a different reality is as close as I'm able to get to acceptance. I wonder if there's any buddhist explanation for our common plight?
You touch on a very important subject, Lorian, one that affects the lives of many of us. Both Tricycle and Lion's Roar online magazines have articles about these and I will attempt a future essay on the subject. It sounds like you already have a very good grasp of what can be done. Focusing on your Mum's wellbeing, with gratitude for all she once did for you, and regarding this as an opportunity to cultivate limitless patience, may help shift your thoughts and feelings.
Yes please write about purifying karma. Your writings on death and the Bardo are most helpful. I’ve always been scared of the Bardo. Many thanks for all your wisdom.
Thank you Rosemary for understanding and passing on your thoughts and sympathy. I must remember that no one is perfect when dealing with myself as well as others. Looking forward to David's post.
Thank you David for this special teaching. I can only think that I have done so many bad things in my life or my predecessor really was bad. 2023 has been one of karmic payback for me. What a terrible year in one way but it has taught me a lot.
I don’t go out of my way to earn karmic “brownie points”, but just feel in my normal nature I enjoy doing good deeds and doing good things as well as being gentle with everyone I meet and greet.
But as in your one mail to me 2023 could be a Karmic Storm that has taken hold of me and shaken me to the core.
All I can do is carry on with what’s left of my life behaving as I do and pray that the accumulated bad karma has been used up on me and my deeds now will make my reincarnation’s life easier.
Thank you, David, for this. Your books and your posts are life saving at the moment. I'm trying very hard to not wish harm on my brother's murderers but it is very hard, nigh on impossible, especially when there is no justice for them. Do you have any advice how to deal with such thoughts? Thank you again. Jenny.
Gosh, Jenny, this is a tough one. I haven't lost a family member in this way, so what follows may seem easy for me to say.
From a Dharma perspective, there may be no justice for the murderers, but if we accept karmic principles, these include the understanding that karma is definite, that it increases over time and that effects reflect causes - just for openers. Some lamas may suggest that one should feel compassion for those who have created the causes to experience an amplified version of the kind of horror they have inflicted on your brother and those who loved him.
On a more personal note, the murderers have already taken your brother and caused immeasurable harm. Hard though it is, try not to let them harm you further by offering them rent free space in your mind and heart. Letting go and moving on is the wiser, if more difficult, response.
You may like to include tong len practices in your meditations also.
If/when something bad happens I will often have the first thought be "I wonder what I did to deserve this"? I will ponder if it's "Karma" or that sometimes things just happen and it has nothing to do with me or what I have done. Your thoughts David? 🙏🏽 xoxo
Thanks Lynn. A lot of us have thoughts like this. The 'bad' thing done may not have been done by us, but by a being whose mind stream is now our own. And we have all done everything since beginningless time. All the more reason to live in a virtuous way that encourages positive karmas to ripen. Another karma post, I think!
David, thank you for a most interesting and reflective post. It matters how we live, what we choose, and who and what we allow into the window of our life. I am wondering if you can have a future post or offer your knowledge on something. How do we avoid applying guilt and negative emotions to ourselves when it's not ours to hold, and how to heal and move on without the "velcro." This may be off topic, if so I apologize. I love the porcupine! Thank you for sharing.
Nothing is off topic and all is interconnected, Ellen. I will certainly look at addressing this subject. Many thanks for your message and kind suggestion.
Please do write about purifying our negative karma. Your posts are wonderfully helpful.
Many thanks indeed, Tiah - will do!
Thank you David. I like to ask myself what my motives are in generally everything I do and I’ve come to realize that if my motives come from Love and Compassion then karma doesn’t feel like an issue. All I can do is my best ,always mindful to be authentic and ask myself ,”is this decision,( small or large, ) for the greater good or am I trying to prove something ego related etc ? Often I find myself stopping myself and saying,” slow down and get clear…what does your heart say? “ I don’t really ever know if what I’m doing is “ good” karmically or if I’m setting a future lifetime of good karmic results from a past or this current lifetime . All I know is if my motives feel loving then I feel I’m ok….then the question usually arises, “ could I have done more? ” And then I smile and say to myself, perhaps, “ next time”….I quite amuse myself with these silent dialogues of mine! 🧐Thank you for your endurance…
Many thanks Adrienne. Given the importance of motivation in determining the weight of karmic causes, your priorities sound right. As you suggest, the results can take care of themselves...
I am interested in ways to purify negative karma. Have worked with victims of abuse from parents and domestic violence. More currently work in animal rescue. See a lot of animal abuse. The concept of bodhichitta is very helpful in these areas. Love and compassion can be the place we come from in meeting abuse and abusers, while simultaneously entailing resistance, boundary-setting and protecting oneself and keeping others safe. they are not mutually exclusive. Can you talk about wise compassion when it for example involves keeping an open heart while opposing abuse. You can love from a distance. You can be in a place of love while caring for yours and other’s wellbeing. thank you.
You have raised some important and subtle issues, L mc. I will certainly reflect on a post focusing on these. Thank you so much for your considered response.
L mc, such important considerations you raise here — thank you for giving voice to them! We know that David will handle with care.
I definitely need purification. I was not always the best daughter, seeking my own life goals rather than paying more attention and giving more care to my parents - now they are gone.
Many thanks, Winnie, I will do a post on this.
Winnie, I understand. In order to follow my own path, I went against the path my parents had for me. One thing that has helped me is to go into meditation, address them and ask forgiveness. Even though they have passed, by doing this I am lifted. I recognize the hurt I caused and I am genuinely grateful for all they did for me. I hope you find your peace and forgive yourself too. None of us are humanly perfect. Sending love to you.❤️
Thanks so much for much for your generous response, Rosemary!
Thank you for this post! It helps me to remind myself, and to do, to slow down and be aware of my thoughts as they come - to continue to stand back from them and watch. Instead of being in them. Karma awareness is a kind of practice , too! And such a sweet picture of this little porcupine!
You are absolutely right, Charlene. Being aware of thoughts, instead of automatically engaging with them, is at the heart of our practice.
I would be delighted if you would share the purification practices you mention in this post.
I will do this soon, thanks Jann!
Great article. If you could discuss purifying negative karma I'd find this really useful. Thank you
Will do, thank you Moira!
Yes, please, share advice and instruction on purification practices. Thank you.
Coming up,thanks Eleanor!
Does your spiritual practice provide insight into dementia and its karmic implications? My mother is in the late stages of her 15+years of fading from us incrementally, away from language and all recognition. I'm in search of a way to be with her without feeling overwhelmed by grief. Meditating on impermanence and letting go of my preference for a different reality is as close as I'm able to get to acceptance. I wonder if there's any buddhist explanation for our common plight?
You touch on a very important subject, Lorian, one that affects the lives of many of us. Both Tricycle and Lion's Roar online magazines have articles about these and I will attempt a future essay on the subject. It sounds like you already have a very good grasp of what can be done. Focusing on your Mum's wellbeing, with gratitude for all she once did for you, and regarding this as an opportunity to cultivate limitless patience, may help shift your thoughts and feelings.
Thanks so much for your kind words.
Yes please write about purifying karma. Your writings on death and the Bardo are most helpful. I’ve always been scared of the Bardo. Many thanks for all your wisdom.
I understand where you're coming from Jean. Look out next week for a purification post!
Thank you Rosemary for understanding and passing on your thoughts and sympathy. I must remember that no one is perfect when dealing with myself as well as others. Looking forward to David's post.
Thank you David for this special teaching. I can only think that I have done so many bad things in my life or my predecessor really was bad. 2023 has been one of karmic payback for me. What a terrible year in one way but it has taught me a lot.
I don’t go out of my way to earn karmic “brownie points”, but just feel in my normal nature I enjoy doing good deeds and doing good things as well as being gentle with everyone I meet and greet.
But as in your one mail to me 2023 could be a Karmic Storm that has taken hold of me and shaken me to the core.
All I can do is carry on with what’s left of my life behaving as I do and pray that the accumulated bad karma has been used up on me and my deeds now will make my reincarnation’s life easier.
Thank you Peter, I completely agree!
Thank you, David, for this. Your books and your posts are life saving at the moment. I'm trying very hard to not wish harm on my brother's murderers but it is very hard, nigh on impossible, especially when there is no justice for them. Do you have any advice how to deal with such thoughts? Thank you again. Jenny.
Gosh, Jenny, this is a tough one. I haven't lost a family member in this way, so what follows may seem easy for me to say.
From a Dharma perspective, there may be no justice for the murderers, but if we accept karmic principles, these include the understanding that karma is definite, that it increases over time and that effects reflect causes - just for openers. Some lamas may suggest that one should feel compassion for those who have created the causes to experience an amplified version of the kind of horror they have inflicted on your brother and those who loved him.
On a more personal note, the murderers have already taken your brother and caused immeasurable harm. Hard though it is, try not to let them harm you further by offering them rent free space in your mind and heart. Letting go and moving on is the wiser, if more difficult, response.
You may like to include tong len practices in your meditations also.
Thank you 🙏🏻 It means a lot!
If/when something bad happens I will often have the first thought be "I wonder what I did to deserve this"? I will ponder if it's "Karma" or that sometimes things just happen and it has nothing to do with me or what I have done. Your thoughts David? 🙏🏽 xoxo
Thanks Lynn. A lot of us have thoughts like this. The 'bad' thing done may not have been done by us, but by a being whose mind stream is now our own. And we have all done everything since beginningless time. All the more reason to live in a virtuous way that encourages positive karmas to ripen. Another karma post, I think!
I have come to that same conclusion at times, only need to practice minding my self. It would make a great karma post !!! "write on" 😉🙏🏼 xoxo
David, thank you for a most interesting and reflective post. It matters how we live, what we choose, and who and what we allow into the window of our life. I am wondering if you can have a future post or offer your knowledge on something. How do we avoid applying guilt and negative emotions to ourselves when it's not ours to hold, and how to heal and move on without the "velcro." This may be off topic, if so I apologize. I love the porcupine! Thank you for sharing.
Nothing is off topic and all is interconnected, Ellen. I will certainly look at addressing this subject. Many thanks for your message and kind suggestion.
Thank you for this post David. I would be interested in hearing more about purification practices relating to Karma.
Will do, thank you Anne.