Karma or Mission? By: Sayaka Hashiguchi & Ryan Motoyama

What is Karma to you?

Common Ideas of Karma It’s meant to be. Not ours to question. Destiny. What goes around comes around. Fate. Horoscope. Whatever we choose to believe, anxiety is caused by uncertainty about the future.

True definition of Karma The Sanskrit (ancient Indian writings) karma originally meant ‘action’ which in Buddhism was interpreted to mean mental, verbal, and physical action, that is thoughts, words, and deeds. In short, karma is an accumulation of ‘cause & effect.’

Am I able to change my Karma?

Answer: Yes!! Nichiren Daishonin writes: “If you want to understand the causes that existed in the past, look at the results as they are manifested in the present. And if you want to understand what results will be manifested in the future, look at the causes that exist in the present.”

What is the quickest way of changing ones’ Karma? Creating positive causes creates positive effects. Creating negative causes creates negative effects. Not giving in to ones’ negativity. Awakening to ones’ Buddha nature. The concept of karma is based on the understanding that life is eternal. Circumstances of birth (The environment we’re born in.) are therefore determined by causes made in previous lifetimes.

Karma is an Opportunity for Change!! Facing and overcoming our negative karma opens the door to the unlimited potential within us. By chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo we tap into the wisdom of understanding cause and effect. Bringing forth our Buddhahood makes it possible for us to change our karma.

High Life Condition: Allows us to face karma rather then avoid or run away (which only postpone the whole process of changing ones’ karma). Allows us to face karma rather then avoid or run away (which only postpone the whole process of changing ones’ karma). Allows us to move forward with life even if you have created bad karma in the past. Allows us to move forward with life even if you have created bad karma in the past. Allows us to believe that “From this moment on, I will make nothing but positive causes.” Allows us to believe that “From this moment on, I will make nothing but positive causes.”

Karma Turns to Mission through our Buddha Nature  Simultaneity of cause and effect: We can change karma at any given moment.  When we realized our karma exist within our lives and know that we can’t avoid it, we summon up the courage to change our karma. This action becomes ones’ mission.

Discussion Questions Do you feel, or have you ever felt impossibly trapped in the chains of fate? Do you feel, or have you ever felt impossibly trapped in the chains of fate? In your own experience, does viewing your karma as part of your mission change how you live your life? How does it change? In your own experience, does viewing your karma as part of your mission change how you live your life? How does it change?