Karma and Reincarnation

Karma and Reincarnation The Cycle of Life Hindus believe that after we die, we are reborn. Even though we do not remember our past lives we have had many past lives. This theory of being reborn is called theory of reincarnation.

Karma and Reincarnation The character we all possess has been formed in previous lives and that keeps coming with us when we are reborn. That is why we have to take great care to form a good character as that is the only thing that comes with us when we die.

Karma and Reincarnation We continue to be reborn as human beings until we find God, merge into God. This is called moksha. Moksha literally means ‘release’ or ‘liberation’ - this is the fourth goal of Hinduism. Four aims in life: Dharma – living in an appropriate way, doing your duty. Artha – the pursuit of wealth through lawful means. Kama –the delight of the senses Moksha

Karma and Reincarnation This process of reincarnation is called samsara, (literally ‘wandering’) a continuous cycle in which the soul is reborn over and over again according to the law of action and reaction. At death many Hindus believe the soul is carried into a new physical body which can be a human or non- human form (an animal or divine being). The goal of liberation (moksha) is to make us free from this cycle of action and reaction, and from rebirth.

Samsara “ Just as a man discards old clothes and buys new ones the atman discards worn out bodies and enters new ones.” Bhagavad-Gita (2:22)

The Law of Karma Karma means action and law of Karma is law of action and its consequences.  Hindus say that we have to take responsibility for everything we do. Everything we do will produce results we have to bear. For example if we are careless with a knife and cut ourselves, we feel the pain immediately. We are responsible for what happens to us. Sometimes the results of our actions are felt immediately sometimes we see them much later. For example if we have not been studying hard in school, we get bad grades at the end of the year.

The Law of Karma Hindus say that in some cases the results of what we have done or not done becomes visible only in future lives. The Law of Karma tells us to be very careful with every small thing we do, as the results are bound to catch up with us sooner or later. In Hinduism karma operates not only in this lifetime but across lifetimes: the results of an action might only be experienced after the present life in a new life.

The Law of Karma Good or virtuous actions, actions in harmony with dharma, will have good reactions or responses and bad actions, actions against dharma, will have the opposite effect. This concept makes us be very responsible and puts us in charge of our destiny.

The Law of Karma As a consequence of Karma, Hindus tend to be fatalistic. They believe that one’s present status and condition is the result of a previous existence and is therefore deserved, whether good or bad. People can try to establish a better record so that the next existence might be more bearable. Thus, he more readily accepts his lot in life than does a westerner.

The Law of Karma Hindus see it all as the outworking of the law of cause and effect in relation to their prior existence. It is the principle of reaping what you have sown in a former existence. All of this is based on the premise that man has an immortal soul ‘atman’ that transmigrates onto another life.

The karma is working from another lifetime. You and I have been physically given two hands and two legs and a half-decent brain. Some people have not been born like that for a reason. The karma is working from another lifetime. Jan 1999

Reaping what they sowed? The Disabled... Reaping what they sowed?

Glen Hoddle was sacked as England manager shortly after the interview.

I accept I made a serious error of judgement in an interview which caused misunderstanding and pain to a number of people. This was never my intention and for this I apologise.

Did Hoddle deserve the sack? “Glenn Hoddle deserved to be sacked for his comments on the disabled” Do you agree? Give reasons for and against this statement. Issues to consider: His view on Karma and reincarnation are his personal religious beliefs. Hindus have similar beliefs. Is he wrong to say what he said – does this mean Hindus and are wrong too? If you were disabled – how would you feel about what he said? Should the manager of a football team be talking about these things anyway? What have they got to do with football?

Some ideas to get you going... Glenn Hoddle deserved the sack because what he said was completely out of order. On the other hand, Hoddle was only describing his personal religious views – everyone is entitled to believe what they want to. If I was disabled I would be very angry because… Hoddle used a poor example (the disabled) of explaining karma. We should be more tolerant of other people’s beliefs no matter how strange they seem to us.

Case Study Consider your opinions on the following questions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EWwzFwUOxA Consider your opinions on the following questions: Do you think this is a real case of reincarnation? How reliable or valid is the evidence for this case? What could an alternative explanation be