Transcript 3 - Homework Market

KARMA (law of retribution)
Karma as understood in all the Indian religions is
 a cosmic law as universal and as unchangeable as, for
instance, the law of gravity.
 Under the force of Karmic law, good never fails to be
rewarded and evil never escapes being punished.
Literally and etymologically,
Karma means action (moral or physical action).
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In Buddhism, Karma is the principle that beings are reborn
according to the nature and quality of their past actions.
To be poor, ill or ugly is considered as a result of a past life.
Good and bad rebirths are not seen as "rewards" or "punishment",
but as simply the natural results of certain kinds of action.
Negative Karma brings about
 Poverty
 Ugliness
 Poor health.
One can even be born as
 an animal
 A ghost
 Or go to Hell
According to the karmic law that governs this process of
rebirths, all beings are "heir" to their actions so that :
 -1) acts of hatred and violence tend to lead to
rebirth in a hell,
 -2) acts bound up with delusion and confusion tend
to lead to rebirth as an animal,
 -3) acts of greed tend to lead to rebirth as a ghost
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-4) injuring beings leads to frequent illnesses
-5) anger leads to being ugly
-6) stinginess leads to being poor,
-7) acts of moral restraint, kindness and
generosity lead to rebirth as a human or a God.
This cycle of rebirths ends with enlightenment
(Nirvana).
KARMA
AND PUNYA
PUNYA:
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Merit, or the good karma
that enters into the content of an individual’s
life
earned in Buddhist doctrine by moral
practices, learning, and meditation.
A MERIT ACCOUNT SHEET
(SOME SELECTIONS)
 Formulated by
Liao-Fan Yuan (1550-1624),
a Zen master of Jiang-Su Province.
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Merits
(Good Karma)
100 merits
50
30
10
5
3
1 merit
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Demerits
(Bad Karma)
100 demerits
50
30
10
5
3
1 demerit
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100 Merits:
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save one life;
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save a woman’s chastity;
prevent a child from drowning;
continue a family lineage.
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50 Merits:
prevent an abortion;
 provide for a homeless person;
 prevent someone from committing a serious crime;
 give a speech that benefits many
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30 Merits:
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convert another to Buddhism;
facilitate a marriage;
take in an orphan;
help another do something virtuous.
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10 Merits:
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recommend a virtuous person;
cure a major illness;
speak virtuously;
save the life of a good animal;
publish the Buddha’s teachings;
treat servants properly.
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5 Merits:
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Prevent a law suit;
cure a minor illness;
stop someone from slandering;
make an offering to a saintly person;
save any animal;
pray for others.
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3 Merits:
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Endure ill treatment without complaint;
bury an animal;
urge those making a living by killing to stop.
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1 Merit:
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Give an article to help others;
chant a Buddhist scripture;
provide for one monk;
return a lost article;
help repair a public road or bridge.
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100 Demerits:
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Cause a death;
rape;
end a family lineage.
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50 Demerits:
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Induce an abortion;
break up a marriage;
teach someone to do great evil;
make a speech that harms many.
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30 Demerits:
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Create slander that dishonors another;
 disobey an elder;
 cause a family to separate;
 during famine, fail to share food grains.
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10 Demerits:
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Mistreat an orphan or widow;
prepare a poison;
kill an animal that serves humans;
speak harshly to parent or teacher.
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5 Demerits:
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Slander spiritual teachings;
turn away a sick person;
speak harshly;
kill any animal;
write or speak lewdly;
not clear an injustice when possible.
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3 Demerits:
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Get angry over words spoken;
cheat an ignorant person;
destroy another’s success;
be greedy.
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1 Demerit:
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Urge another to fight;
help another do evil;
waste food;
kill insects;
turn away a begging monk;
take a bribe;
keep a lost article.