Karma

=Karma = Karma literally means actions. Karma also refers to the intention behind the action. For the actions that you complete, a similar result will happen to you in the future. Every birth is the condition of good or bad past karma. Higher castes are the result of good karma in a past life. In the eyes of the western world, Karma funtions like fate. However, Karma does not mean that everything is predetermined. Rather, you have control over your present actions, which determine your future. Karma can take many forms depending on the group of Buddhists. Some see it as a complex system, while others say Karma operates in a straight and simple line. The four basic rules of Karma: 1. Results are similar to their causes. 2. No result occurs without a specific cause. 3. Once an action is completed, its result is never lost. 4. Karma expands. Actions tend to be habit-forming.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/karma.html http://buddhism.kalachakranet.org/karma.html

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