BUDDHIST PRACTICE: Karma 2

Once I had learned that some, if not all, of what I felt was other people's injustice might actually be my own fault, I was able to start to work out whether or not this actually was the case. For a while, as I read the theory and spoke to a friend who was convinced karma was for real, I was somewhat reluctant to accept it - even if it was my fault that these bad things happened, it was not me doing them, the other party was still seen to be at fault, doing something wrong, even if it was because of something I had done. On contemplation, there did seem to be a relative reason behind the bad things that happened to me - whomever's fault they were.

The next stage was for me to witness karma in action. Before I could step into viewing the bad as karma resultant, I saw the positive side of karma. I spent twenty weeks without income during 2007. These months were tough and for my son's sake I had to result in seeking assistance with food and bills from charity. Meanwhile, I fed the pigeons. Somehow, I managed to see this in the context of 'as I fed the birds in the yard, charity fed me'.

I might have reacted with shame in taking charity assistance, but I used Buddhism to help me here. If Thai Dhutanga monks wandered through villages seeking alms for their dietary input, would it be so wrong of me to seek hand-outs with a son and flock of tame birds expectant upon me - if I put extra effort into learning and studying Buddhism? It was much the same thing - free food in exchange for studying the Dharma…

As I studied, I read about karma. It seemed that because I was providing what I could to a few feathered creatures in the yard, I was being rewarded with provisions for my son and self, whilst unable to provide them. My action was creating the grounds for goodness to be returned in like manner. Realizing this, I began to accept karma and then investigate the negative side. I can see it work from both sides now and have developed a trust and belief in it. It truly appears to me that I do create good or bad in my future by what I currently do. I can see this happening as I live and have begun to think as and before I act, what the karma from the action might be.