Master of Buddhism: lesson 5 (assignment)

1.      Is the idea of karma uplifting or unsettling? Why? The idea of karma can be uplifting or unsettling, depending on the person. For some, karma is a disincentive to do evil and an incentive to undertake positive acts. For others, the idea (very widespread in protestant Christianity) that all our "sin" (negative karma) cannot be washed away all at once by the grace of Christ (or some other savior figure) may be unsettling. One down side of the teaching of karma is caused by improper understanding of how it works.  Karma is always proportionate and instructive (the idea being not to punish but to correct). However for some people, especially those with obsessive compulsive disorder or similar problems, the fear of excessive karmic retribution can be overwhelming (for example, that some relatively minor misdeed could bring about disproportionately grave karmic consequences – such a catastrophic illness, death of a loved one, financial ruin etc.). It must be noted that such fears can be found also in people not exposed to a karmic world view – in a traditional Judeo-Christian context such people my fear divine retribution disproportionate to their misdeed. 2.      Do you know anyone who exists in any or each of the symbolic worlds? I'm sure I do – but it's difficult to place people in the different worlds without being able to see inside their soul. For that matter it's hard to place one's own self in any of the worlds precisely. 3.      How do the symbolic six worlds differ philosophically from our Western concepts of Heaven and Hell? Well, the most obvious and most important difference is the idea of permanence. The Western Hell is eternal and inescapable – therefore its purpose is punishment only, not correction and reform. The Catholic idea of Purgatory is closer to the Buddhist Hell – however, in Purgatory the soul is ultimately guaranteed attainment of Heaven, and regressing to Hell is no longer possible. With the Buddhist worlds movement in both directions (from Hell towards to world of gods and from the world of gods towards Hell) is possible. J.P. Amis