- 28 May 2016 02:55
#14683506
The following is a rough draft of some metaphysical thoughts I've been having, primarily it's an analysis of Christianity from an eastern perspective.
To begin with, karma is sometimes defined as action that results in a "conditioning of the self to the material world." The avoidance of generating karma, or shedding it, means to prevent or undo such a burden. I think this is similar to the Christian idea re: "keep yourself unstained by the world".
There is a Taoist concept called "to act without acting" which is similar to some Hindu, Yogic and Buddhist concepts about taking action without generating karma. I think that "turning the other cheek" may be the same idea here, that is, it's an "act without acting" that takes control of a situation without generating karma. To provide a brief overview of the cultural mores and laws of the time, someone could backhand slap someone of inferior stature and it was an insult, but another kind of slap was considered a challenge to a duel. Presumably, someone who slaps you in one way will probably back down when you present the other cheek, or else they will give you an opportunity to fight them in a duel. Assuming you aren't a coward or unable to defend yourself, either way you win at that point. In instances where you can't fight for some reason, moving away is considered acceptable in the bible. Ritual suicide (such as Japanese seppuku) is probably also acceptable from an eastern perspective although suicide is frowned upon in Christianity. The point where these things are similar to each other may be under this karmic analysis.
Another Christian concept is that of anonymous charity. People are encouraged to do charitable things but not in order to receive any reward or to be seen by others, giving anonymously can accomplish that. This expenditure of wealth (wealth being a very likely way to generate "karma") anonymously and not for any self benefit, while causing good fortune for others anonymously would also be an act that doesn't generate and perhaps even ameliorates karma.
Anyone have any further ideas or comments?
To begin with, karma is sometimes defined as action that results in a "conditioning of the self to the material world." The avoidance of generating karma, or shedding it, means to prevent or undo such a burden. I think this is similar to the Christian idea re: "keep yourself unstained by the world".
There is a Taoist concept called "to act without acting" which is similar to some Hindu, Yogic and Buddhist concepts about taking action without generating karma. I think that "turning the other cheek" may be the same idea here, that is, it's an "act without acting" that takes control of a situation without generating karma. To provide a brief overview of the cultural mores and laws of the time, someone could backhand slap someone of inferior stature and it was an insult, but another kind of slap was considered a challenge to a duel. Presumably, someone who slaps you in one way will probably back down when you present the other cheek, or else they will give you an opportunity to fight them in a duel. Assuming you aren't a coward or unable to defend yourself, either way you win at that point. In instances where you can't fight for some reason, moving away is considered acceptable in the bible. Ritual suicide (such as Japanese seppuku) is probably also acceptable from an eastern perspective although suicide is frowned upon in Christianity. The point where these things are similar to each other may be under this karmic analysis.
Another Christian concept is that of anonymous charity. People are encouraged to do charitable things but not in order to receive any reward or to be seen by others, giving anonymously can accomplish that. This expenditure of wealth (wealth being a very likely way to generate "karma") anonymously and not for any self benefit, while causing good fortune for others anonymously would also be an act that doesn't generate and perhaps even ameliorates karma.
Anyone have any further ideas or comments?
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