Giving away my karma

[Keith]

Hello darlings.

Im currently reading Old Path White Clouds. Its a large collection of stories about the Buddha, all from the sutras that are retold in a lovely story by Thich Naht Hanh. In one story, a disciple of the Buddah gives away his karma to his deceased mother... and im very compelled by this.

Is that a thing? And if it is, how do I do it?

Gassho
Keith
Sat

[Shokai]

By talking to your spirit guide??

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Koushi]

I’ve not heard of transferring karma… that seems to go against many things.

There’s the concept of pattidana/Ekō, however, where one can transfer merit, which is different than karma, usually to the departed ancestors/relatives but can be extended to all sentient beings.

I’ll defer to those more knowledgeable to me. Very interesting question.

Gassho,
Koushi
STLaH

[Keith]

By talking to your spirit guide??

gassho, Shokai
stlah

Im sorry, but I don't understand what your trying to tell me. Would you elaborate?

Gassho
Keith
Sat

[Keith]

I’ve not heard of transferring karma… that seems to go against many things.

There’s the concept of pattidana/Ekō, however, where one can transfer merit, which is different than karma, usually to the departed ancestors/relatives but can be extended to all sentient beings.

I’ll defer to those more knowledgeable to me. Very interesting question.

Gassho,
Koushi
STLaH

Yes! This sounds like the concept. Thanks to much for chiming in. This will be my next little research project.

Gassho
Keith
Sat

[Jundo]

Hello darlings.

Im currently reading Old Path White Clouds. Its a large collection of stories about the Buddha, all from the sutras that are retold in a lovely story by Thich Naht Hanh. In one story, a disciple of the Buddah gives away his karma to his deceased mother... and im very compelled by this.

Is that a thing? And if it is, how do I do it?

Gassho
Keith
Sat

In fact, we Mahayana Buddhist should "give away" and dedicate --ALL-- the merit of our good Karmic acts to others, and thus, for example, every Zen ceremony has an "Eko" (Dedication) recitation dedicating the merit of that ceremony or practice to others. You do not need to "do" anything really in order to achieve that, except to wish so in one's heart. The words of the "Eko" simply express that wish.

A "win win win" reverse triple "pay-off" of doing so, by the way, is that the "donor" traditionally thus gets a "double-triple reward" ... both the effects of the "good Karma" acts which are donated, but yet are somehow also kept too PLUS EXTRA "good karmic points" for the good act of donating!! That's on top of the donee benefitting too! All these "karmic points" are traditionally said to eventually manifest in good effects, either in this life or in a future life (in this case, both for donor and donee).

For someone like me who is less a "literalist" on all this Karmic accounting, I still believe that our good acts in life generally tend to have good effects, both for ourselves and others who are touched by our acts (sadly, our bad acts all tend to hurt others and us too.) "Dedicating" to others is still a good thing, even if not literally so, because it keeps us thinking of others, trying to help others, and less selfish for ourself.

Here, let me dedicated this:

"May the merit of having written the above benefit all sentient beings everywhere."

Gassho, J

stlah

PS - By talking to your spirit guide?? - I bet old Shokai just meant that he is not such a literalist on these things either.

[Keith]

In fact, we Mahayana Buddhist should "give away" and dedicate --ALL-- the merit of our good Karmic acts to others, and thus, for example, every Zen ceremony has an "Eko" (Dedication) recitation dedicating the merit of that ceremony or practice to others. You do not need to "do" anything really in order to achieve that, except to wish so in one's heart. The words of the "Eko" simply express that wish.

A "win win win" reverse triple "pay-off" of doing so, by the way, is that the "donor" traditionally thus gets a "double-triple reward" ... both the effects of the "good Karma" acts which are donated, but yet are somehow also kept too PLUS EXTRA "good karmic points" for the good act of donating!! That's on top of the donee benefitting too! All these "karmic points" are traditionally said to eventually manifest in good effects, either in this life or in a future life (in this case, both for donor and donee).

For someone like me who is less a "literalist" on all this Karmic accounting, I still believe that our good acts in life generally tend to have good effects, both for ourselves and others who are touched by our acts (sadly, our bad acts all tend to hurt others and us too.) "Dedicating" to others is still a good thing, even if not literally so, because it keeps us thinking of others, trying to help others, and less selfish for ourself.

Here, let me dedicated this:

"May the merit of having written the above benefit all sentient beings everywhere."

Gassho, J

stlah

PS - By talking to your spirit guide?? - I bet old Shokai just meant that he is not such a literalist on these things either.

Thanks Roshi.
I can now mindfully and shamelessly launder my merit.

Gassho
Keith
Sat

[aprapti]

For someone like me who is less a "literalist" on all this Karmic accounting, I still believe that our good acts in life generally tend to have good effects, both for ourselves and others who are touched by our acts (sadly, our bad acts all tend to hurt others and us too.) "Dedicating" to others is still a good thing, even if not literally so, because it keeps us thinking of others, trying to help others, and less selfish for ourself.

This is the way i see karma too.

thanks Keith for the question ( i am sure "giving" all of us something to think about will have merit ) and thank you, Jundo for the answer (same ).


aprapti


sat

[Bion]

To me, it’s a wonderful idea to say: “whatever deeds I did that are good, should they bear good fruit, let it benefit this person I love.” It’s very much in line with a bodhisattva’s attitude, which is to benefit others even at the expense of personal sacrifice. To me it’s more than a symbolic act. It’s an active commitment to put into practice that dedication to helping and supporting others.

Sat Today

[Nengei]

In some Hindu traditions there is a concept of transferring one's karma to another, for example, by touching their feet. Care must be exercised, though, because we don't get to choose what of our karma is transferred. I've always heard of it in the sense of foisting your negative karma over onto the other person.

Gassho,
Nengei
Sat today. LAH.

[Keith]

To me, it’s a wonderful idea to say: “whatever deeds I did that are good, should they bear good fruit, let it benefit this person I love.” It’s very much in line with a bodhisattva’s attitude, which is to benefit others even at the expense of personal sacrifice. To me it’s more than a symbolic act. It’s an active commitment to put into practice that dedication to helping and supporting others.

Sat Today

I really like that.
Thank you Bion.

Gassho
Keith
Sat

[Keith]

In some Hindu traditions there is a concept of transferring one's karma to another, for example, by touching their feet. Care must be exercised, though, because we don't get to choose what of our karma is transferred. I've always heard of it in the sense of foisting your negative karma over onto the other person.

Gassho,
Nengei
Sat today. LAH.

That is VERY fascinating. Thank you for adding to the topic! Im getting lots of great info.

Gassho
Keith
Sat

[Rich]

Read Old Path White clouds many years ago and really enjoyed it. I think his deceased mother is part of the whole, melted into the universe, with God. So giving his karma to his deceased mother could be a metaphor for turning his karma over to this universe because he has fully digested it and is finished with it and now he lives fully awake and enlightened

Sat/lah


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[Tai Shi]

Two books, to understand better Dogen, Jundo's book the Zen Master's Dance, and Zen Poetry by Lucien Stryk. My current book, as poet, is finished. I list the first 10 Grave Precepts, and show a progression from wife, mother and social worker to end with father and daughter, with Zen influence central. My wife is editing my book now, her experience, former newspaper editor, former Quality Control Officer for the US Veterans' Administration Comp. and Pension. The Title she approves, Children of Loving Kindness. Jundo, this is my single post today, Except one little poem in Poetry. I invite anyone to post a poem in Poetry.

Gassho
sat/lah

Gassho

[paulashby]

Try observing and yes feeling how each time a person enters a room the energy of the room is
changed and literally is different. If a joyful co-worker comes in your office notice the shift. If they
depart and a co-worker in grief walks in you are now in a different room without moving an inch or
any object in the room. So we are always bringing-sharing-sending-throwing karma around. To do it
as a gift-blessing to others is wonderful.

Gassho,peace, Paul sat lah

[Seiko]

I think of karma as ripples on a pond. Throw a good stone. Throw a bad stone. They all make ripples.

Gasshō
Seiko
stlah