Theos-Talk Archives (April 1999 Message tt00024)

Jerry,

> >>Does a good action not generate Karma because the
> person had no thought of reward?
> Of course not.  Each is an action and as such each
> will generate a particular kind of 'Karma'.>>
>
> You are being way too simplisitic here, Peter. Actions are only
> "good" and "bad" according to our respective viewpoints, and
> our viewpoints do not necessarily have anything at all to do with karma,
> which is impersonal as you like to remind me so much.

I agree with you, 'good and bad' are indeed relative terms.  However, you
must have forgotten that it was you who talked in terms of "rights" and
"wrongs", "rewards" and "punishments", I was simply responding to what you
said.  You wrote:

> It is clearly stated that we should not expect rewards for helping
> others. Why is that, Peter? Is it not because "rewards" are karmic
> and that so long as we expect punishment for wrongs and rewards for
> rights we will ever remain under karmic bonds?

It would help if could point out where "it is clearly stated" so that we can
look at the reasons behind it in relation to the context in which it is
said.

you write:

> Actually, I think that your statement above is wrong. If I do a
> "good" deed, then that deed will produce its physical karma,
> the natural result or effect of the deed itself. But our deeds
> also produce mental or psychic karma, and this often depends
> on our expectations of reward or punishment. When these
> expectations are eliminated, the psychic karma is not
> produced.

I think that's a really important point, Jerry, ie that Karma is not limited
to the physical plane.  Our thoughts and feelings are also *deeds* on their
own 'plane' of action.   What I question is whether eliminating our
'expectations' results in not producing "psychic karma", as you call it.

Where you qoute me (at the top of the page), you left out my first sentence
which was an important part of what I was saying, namely:

> Does the murderer escape Karma because he does not expect to be
> found out and punished? Of course not.  Does a good action [etc]..

I find it difficult to understand how a murderer or someone who inflicts
great suffering on others will not generate Karma at all levels simply
because he does not *expect* to be punished.  Also millions of people in the
world do not believe in Karma and therefore don't expect any Karmic "reward"
or "punishment" to follow their actions, yet presumably it does follow in
one life or another.  How would what you are saying about "expectations"
apply in these two examples ie the murderer and people in general who don't
believe in Karma?


regards

Peter



-- THEOSOPHY WORLD -- Theosophical Talk -- theos-talk@theosophy.com

Letters to the Editor, and discussion of theosophical ideas and
teachings. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message consisting of
"subscribe" or "unsubscribe" to theos-talk-request@theosophy.com.