Some Flashes on Karma and the Ten Non-Virtuous Actions

Over the last few days, I have been listening to the two sessions dedicated to the teachings on Karma, in Ken McLeod's Then and Now podcast series. Even if you think you know what Karma is, I would highly, highly recommend you spend two hours listening to these two podcasts: TAN14 Then And Now (Class) and TAN15 Then And Now (Class).

I'm just going to sound off on some of the most mind-blowing points for me.

First, is the perspective that "cause and effect" is not an effective translation or model for how karma works. It's more of an evolutionary process, like how a seed grows into a sapling and then into a tree. The seed does not cause the tree, but by laws of nature, the seed becomes the tree. There is no morality or even ethics, really, associated with the karmic effects of our actions, words, thoughts, etc. It's simply a fact that certain actions will create more suffering for ourselves and others, and other choices in a given situation will create less suffering for ourselves and others. The point of practice is to learn to see which create the suffering and which do not, and eventually find that we 'put an end to suffering', in other words, no longer act or think in ways that will inevitably grow into something which causes more struggle.

One other key that came through to me was that most of our "non-virtuous" actions are usually reflective of an unwillingness to feel, or an avoidance, of a certain experience. I have lied so that I didn't have to feel the shame of the truth. I responded with harsh, divisive speech because I could not admit I felt overwhelmed and was having trouble coping. One exercise Ken did with his class, is to pick any of the 10 Virtuous Acts with which you have some challenges. Contemplate what experience or feeling you might have been avoiding with that action. He further pointed out that when we avoid a feeling this way, part of the effect of this is to further ingrain the avoidance pattern in our psyche, making it harder the next time to make a choice that will avoid suffering the next time.

One thing that Ken said toward the end of the second lecture struck me like lightning:

"When we take responsibility for our actions, we take responsibility for our reality."

Whoooooaaa. That is a week of meditation in itself! In reflection, I find it to be true. When I find myself in a 'victim mode' of perception, where something has been done 'to' me, I can almost always look back and what previous actions, choices, words have given rise to the situation. Quite often, it's a karmic result of my own 'non-virtuous acts.'

Suddenly I see that list of 10 non-virtuous acts and 10 virtuous acts, which have grown as a standard aspect of the Dharma teachings, are not prescriptive at all, like the Ten Commandments. These are not "Thou Shalt Nots"... they are merely, "These are the things that will cause suffering for you or for others."

I have, for a long time, had sort of a knee-jerk reaction to prescriptive morality, finding a whole chunk of my life has been to act out in opposition to that, to be free from that yoke. However, in doing that, I have caused more suffering in other areas. It's even the reason I haven't fully let go of certain addictions (doesn't even matter which one(s), does it... just insert your favorite addiction here), because they give me a kind of anti-establishment, anti-"morality" experience which I have enjoyed, in a manner of speaking, for many years. It's a way I have asserted my separation from all this mess. Gave me a sense of control that I lacked in so many other areas.

But now, as my practice deepens and widens, I am seeing where the pain is in all of it. I see how life is generally just more difficult with that addiction playing about in my reality. All kinds of forces are set in motion, forces that I did not want to see. These subtle forces all combine to create pain for myself, and for those around me. Not huge pain usually; just actions that could be just ascribed to 'being in a bad mood' or 'going through a rough period'. I let it drag on because it doesn't seem that different than how many people are in the world.

But now, I see that these behaviors not only alter my mood (which is how I was viewing it), but these moods then have ripple effects for days, and some things even grow larger with weeks, and months. They affect my relationship with my son, and my ability to function clearly in the world. Clearly, there is great cause to become as aware of one's actions and how they affect the entire system of life.

I'll end with a relevant paraphrase, again from Ken:

"Once you have thrown the pebble in the lake, there is not much you can do to stop its effects. That is the nature of the thing. However, you CAN stop throwing pebbles!"

Thank you, Ken, for making these podcasts available to the public. I hope many people take advantage of the wisdom there and relieve a little more suffering!

Afterthought: Remember, these words are just my own interpretation, and despite my best efforts, may not reflect Ken's true teaching on these things. Please listen to the podcasts if this sounds intriguing to get a complete presentation. Thanks :)