karma

i keep seeing people misuse the idea of karma, and the nit-picker in me always wants to correct everybody. since it is a long explaination, i just thought i would put it here.

there are lots of modern misconceptions about the concept of karma. not suprising since the concept is one that the practitioners of religions that employ it struggle with all the time. karma as i will explain it is karma as set out by early hindus and buddhists. in order to correct for injustices and to account for congregational differences, karma as practiced by modern religions may be a little (or a lot) different than my description. so mea culpa if i offend anyone.

karma, as close as i can figure, is the answer to one of the basic human questions. mainly... "what good does it do me to be nice to everyone." any good religion has to come up with a good answer to this question, and preferrably it also has to address the sister question "why do bad things happen to good people, and vice versa." karma does this very well.
( more on karma, if you can take it. )