Karma. . .

Many a lay person has heard of Karma, bit more often than not the concept is viewed of referenced as a type of “revenge” or “punishment” for deeds committed within the realm of this life. That is not what The Buddha taught. He was basically and speaking of “cause and effect” in a time when it was not fully understood.

In Buddhism, the law of karma, says “for every event that occurs, there will follow another event whose existence was caused by the first, and this second event will be pleasant or unpleasant according to its cause being skillful or unskillful. Therefore, the law of Karma teaches that the responsibility for unskillful actions is borne by the person who commits them.

After his enlightenment, the Buddha went to the Deer Park near the holy city of Benares and shared his new understanding with five holy men. They understood immediately and became his disciples. This marked the beginning of the Buddhist community. For the next forty-five years, the Buddha and his disciples went from place to place in India spreading the Dharma, his teachings. Their compassion knew no bounds; they helped everyone along the way, beggars, kings and slaves alike. At night, they would sleep where they were; when hungry they would ask for a little food.

Once, the Buddha and his disciple Ananda visited a monastery where a monk was suffering from a contagious disease. The poor man lay in a mess with no one looking after him. The Buddha himself washed the sick monk and placed him on a new bed. Afterwards, he admonished the other monks: “Monks, you have neither mother nor father to look after you. If you do not look after each other, who will look after you? Whoever serves the sick and suffering, serves all.” After many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to desire and the self, they can attain Nirvana. This is a state of liberation and freedom from suffering.