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Does it get any better?
- Jan 6, 2009
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Hi Marie: regarding suffering from actions caused by other people
The way one of my friends explained how he came to terms with this:
he decided that some of the suffering he went through from abuse from others
was somehow linked to past karma that was repeating from elsewhere.
It could be from this lifetime or beyond this life.
It could be future repercussions that occurred early in time instead of after their causes since karma is not necessarily linear in time. both the cause and the effect can be co-influenced or written in the script of life together.
For him to believe in justice, he had to believe that he is equally implicated
or responsible for his suffering as anyone else in the world has to deal with theirs.
(I asked him if he was okay with equating Jesus with this idea of divine justice that goes beyond our human conditions on justice as we know it, and he said he could see that)
As for karma, I think Sky made a good point that this may be what you are asking.
There is some karma or consequences that are directly our own doing.
Such as imposing on other people, so that they equally impose on you in return.
There is some karma that is not something we can prevent in advance or do something to change directly, though we can change things after the fact.
For example, if a person has such a bad drinking problem, and denial where even their family cannot help them; what if that person gets in the car and kills an innocent person that had nothing to do with their problem?
The problem is "we as society" did not do more to find out this person had a problem and to take preventative steps for safety before someone got killed. So all society suffers, in the form of an innocent person dying. People who see this grieve and feel mixed emotions who had nothing to do with either party. So it motivates change, so in the future more will be done to intervene to prevent the death from happening if at all possible.
Until we learn how to do this perfectly, other people continue to drive drunk and to kill others. So eventually this cycle of abuse and unresolved issues has to be broken to stop the pain and death and suffering of innocent people.
it happens as a consequence or symptom that some problem is not being solved, something is out of balance and not healthy or in harmony. So we all suffer for it.
I hope that helps.
I guess it is similar to the Christian idea of sin being passed down until the cycle is broken in Christ Jesus. We can forgive sins and give these to Christ insetad of carrying retribution in our hearts. When we make this commitment, and answer all injustice with mercy love and correction instead of judgment or punishment, we can break the cycle this way, htorugh Christ Jesus. until then, some sins from the past will continue to manifest until all are given over to this process of restorative justice, correction and healing.
Yes, it helps, thank you. It's interesting to see the differences between you and Sky.
And moreover --Awesome!! You know that Jesus Christ is our Lord! That isn't revealed to us by "man"! It's from Him! Praise Jesus!
I know you are entitled to what you believe. We aren't supposed to judge. Sooo... what I want to say and share with you, please take as an encouragement from me only. An encouragement to look at some verses, and then a link about comparing our God to Buddha, etc. Please know that I'm not looking down my nose at you, or yuck, nor should I! haha. Just want to share. And the Lord knows I have my own things He's dealing with me with, I'm not perfect. Besides, overall its between you and Jesus, and that is what is most important. We know He loves us so much, we are so blessed.
Here is an article from a Christian site that answers alot of questions in the Bible. It talks here a little bit about Buddism, and also contrasts it with Christianity. I'll just quote the last paragraph; there is alot to read.
What is Buddhism and what do Buddhists believe?
Just from that paragraph alone, do you see the differences or how it contrasts? Feel free to take your time, no rush in getting back and thank you again.
Oh and PS - some of the verses that to me anyhow, say stay away from something like Buddhism, as it would kinda like a "spiritual adultery".
Leviticus 20:6
I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.
.
If you get all your information about Buddhism from a Christian site you are likely to be getting misinformation or information out of context.
You're also getting Christian bias.
That's ok. I'm just saying that if you want to know more about Buddhism for it's own sake consult a Buddhist site or talk to a Buddhist.
Emily is a Christian.
Could you tell us what was inaccurate about the paragraph that she posted regarding Budhhism?