A Response to TribeSteemUp Bi-Weekly Question - How Much Control Do You Feel You Have Over Your Life...
Thinking upon this question from #TribeSteemUp
How Much Control Do You Feel You Have Over Your Life?
I found there was much that was out of my control but when thinking of what is within my control, the idea of cause and effect arose and more better suited, the more circular concept of Karma (or Kamma in Pali) is where I felt we had control.
When you look at where the word Karma comes from, it is from the Sanskrit word kri,
which means "to do" or "to act"
The Buddha explained it as:
this arises, that becomes
From Wikipedia
In the Buddhist tradition, karma refers to action driven by intention (cetanā) which leads to future consequences.
With the Buddhist philosophy translating as:
The interdependent origination of all the forms and phases of life
With that idea of interconnectedness, it is not so much that we can control the world around us but we can control what is within us. It brings the idea of continuity of a pattern.
We can work towards developing a beneficial pattern or shall we keep in the theme of Karma and say good Karma (Let me inject in here that Karma transcends many cycles of life, it is not an instant cause and effect, but may come about from a previous lifetime.) The effect of developing this good Karma will bring about a good pattern with good resultants.
That is where I see we have an element of control. We can have our live go along a way of a good pattern and we can make a conscious decision to change destructive patterns.
We can choose to spread more loving kindness and have good intentions, which will make for a better life or we can choose to go the opposite way.
If more people developed that good pattern, it could make for a better world - how wonderful would that be!
Another area I feel we have control over is with changing our circumstances. Not that we can control what circumstances we are faced with, but we can choose to get out of certain circumstances or go into certain circumstances.
If your mind is clear and you're not carrying around a lot of baggage, if you are being aware and mindful, when these circumstances arise and there are decisions to be made, It's with these decisions and our actions that we effect our circumstances. We can make the effort to change our circumstances, move away from them or accept them as they are.
Just take a moment right now to look at your circumstances. Are you happy with them? Is there anything you want to change about them?
If we are really honest with ourselves, not blocking the way to make those changes, things seem to become clear or at least for me. With that clarity it is time to take action, put forth effort, have those changes come about.
You choose - what path will you take?
May we all live happy, peaceful lives, full of love!
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Not absolute since the unconscious part of the brain is what controls most of my bodily functions and impulses. But I don't like to dwell on the things that I can't control, but on the things that I can control I can only hope I was doing all that I can.
Good attitude to work on the things you can control and with that do your best - all that you can do!
I agree with you, and know this, and yet without enough money I feel I'm missing out on so many things I could be doing that I want to do
H-m-m! Money seems to be a big issue for a lot of people and it started to be a driving force for me for awhile until I kinda stopped and realized that I actually had a comfortable life and we were fine financially then I could kinda drop that and I'm much happier for it - realizing the wealth I already have that isn't monetary.
100% agree, Karma is the only way we can have littlest of control in our lives. As they say, whatever you do will always come back to you, hence keep your karma clean :):)
Good answer Porter, I will also try answering. :)
great answer @porters, I love how you look at the things we do have control over, as this is what allows us to bring about change xx
It is hard for me to come to a conclusion about the universe. This question, speaks to me of the nature of the cosmos itself, just as your carefully chosen headline image suggests. :)
If the universe is predetermined, then destiny is a real thing. If it is random happenings of sub-atomic particles and atoms, then free will doesn't exist.
I've read a few interesting papers arguing for both (free will existing vs not) - and there is no clear conclusion. If free will didn't exist... why would we be able to ponder it? Gets into highly metaphysical realms of thought the more you ponder over the toipic.
My view is that I can change the future, by what I do right now.
Good point, there is a probability that there is no free will, according to the Sanskrit texts of India called the Vedas. Everything is going on by the "modes of nature" by nature. We can at most desire, but we are not the doers.
Exactly! We make our own futures.
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Such a simply stated question, but such a complex concept to answer! What you said really resonates with me and what I believe, and kind of goes hand in hand with something I was just talking to my youngest about - you can't control other people, you can only control your reactions to them. Might not make much sense out of context, but I do think that we are our own biggest obstacles to our personal happiness.
Great topic and thought-provoking post, @porters!
That makes perfect sense and rings true to me. Yes sometimes we just have to get out of our own way!
Great to read your thoughts on karma. The Sanskrit text Bhagavad Gita talks a lot about karma. I have heard it described that we only have miniscule free will. All we can do is desire, and the rest is done, not by us but by the laws of nature.
Apparently even good karma is still karma and obliges you to return in the next life to receive the rewards. However, the goal is to eradicate all karma so that you don't have to return at all and can go back to godhead, so to speak. We can do this by stopping all mundane work or action (Karma means work/action in Sanskrit). Instead we engage in non-karma producing activity, which means pure bhakti yoga or action in divine consciousness in service to the divine, not to our mundane senses. Service to the divine, in the form of meditation, chanting the names, worship or some sort, is all karma-free, and transcendental. All other action is karmic and obliges a rebirth.
There is some karma that you might realize in this birth but as I said in the post
It may come about from a previous lifetime and also your karma may not come to fruition until the next life.
That is true - the ultimate goal is to
Break that cycle of rebirth!
Wholesome action leads peace and unwholesome action stir up hatred. What Buddha said 25centuries ago is equally relevant and significant today. Karma 🙏🏼🧘🏼♂️🧘🏼♀️
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That's the beauty of the Buddha's teachings and how fortunate we are that they are accessible to us at this time! Oh the interweaving of Karma!
Could not agree more. Would love to have your hubby’s energy in the meditation hall 😃
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