Karma

Paper Summary:

The concept of Karma is arguably one of the Eastern concepts that is most familiar to the Western audience. Most Westerners equate Karma with the laws of fate. In fact, most Westerners view karma as a negative, with "bad karma" coming as a result of one's negative actions.
The concept of karma, however, has other significant nuances, depending on the religious tradition with which it is associated. This paper examines the similarities and differences of the concept of karma according to the doctrines of Hinduism and Buddhism. In the last section, the paper also examines how these various definitions of karma could be applied to aspects of American culture.

From the Paper:

"Followers of Hinduism follow a strict caste system which determines the standing of each person. The highest, most privileged castes are the Brahmin class. At the other end of the ladder are the Untouchables, who live as social outcasts. The caste one is born into is the result of the karma from their previous life. Therefore, a person who accumulates good karma through good deeds and upright living are reborn into a higher caste (Rahula 32). Conversely, a person who commits evil deeds can be punished by rebirth into a lower caste. In fact, a person could also be reborn into a lower life form, such as an animal. This belief in karma and its effects on one's present life contributes to the treatment and social outcast status of the people who are born as untouchables (Klostermeir 48)."

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• Term Paper # 132847 : "The Law of Karma in Hinduism and Buddhism"
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• Comparison Essay # 102958 : "Karma, Buddhism and Hinduism"

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