It's Not About Being Good. Week One: Karma and the Fruits of Karma

The concept of Karma is often misunderstood in the West as some kind of inevitable fate, e.g.: 'It's your karma, man!'

But actually karma simply means action - the things we do, the things we say and the things we think. And what we do, say or think has an effect on us and on the world around us. So, if we act in kind, generous and helpful ways it follows that we will reap the benefits in some future time: we are likely to feel more positive about ourselves and other people will start to be kind, generous and helpful to us. 

Similarly, if we act in mean, angry and unhelpful ways we will inevitably reap the consequences in some future time: we are likely to become meaner, more angry and other people will avoid us.
 

So a central part of spiritual practice is about using karma (the actions of body, speech and mind) to improve our mental states and our future lives. This is the path top greater contentment.

And we will be looking at how to set out on that path this evening.