Expert: Justin Choo - 3/16/2010

Question
I have been reading your explanation of KARMA and it doesn't match what i have been taught. You seem to want to put other factors into the material realm that cause influence, maybe even chance and random events. The physical body, all events experienced in a realm such as planet earth are completely due to karma in all the sources i have ever seen except some Theravada stuff and what you are saying. For example the buddha claims to exhibit the 32 physical signs of a Buddha. If you are interjecting random genes and circumstance you seem to be watering down the correct view of karma as the Buddha taught it. Karma and chance events as you descrine can not exist in the same universe as these two forces negate each other. What is random about rebirth circumstances and then what could possibly be random about life events even death? There is so much that could quote to you to show there are no random or chance events in the Buddha's description of karma. here is one that should be understood by Theravada as well.
A discourse in the Anguttara Nikaya (AN.1.249) indicates this conditionality:

   A certain person has not properly cultivated his body, behavior, thought and intelligence, is inferior and insignificant and his life is short and miserable; of such a person ... even a trifling evil action done leads him to hell. In the case of a person who has proper culture of the body, behavior, thought and intelligence, who is superior and not insignificant, and who is endowed with long life, the consequences of a similar evil action are to be experienced in this very life, and sometimes may not appear at all.[19]

My question is, why do you appear to not be teaching KARMA as the Buddha taught it?

Answer
Hi Dave,

If you were to check the internet for all the answers and teachings on Buddhism, you will find that there are so many interpretations.  Many will quote the relevent suttas.  

"My question is, why do you appear to not be teaching KARMA as the Buddha taught it?"
This is your opinion, not mine.

As I said in my profile, I shall give answers to the best of my knowledge.  If you find them to be "incorrect" then you are free to disagree with me.    

Take care.

Justin Choo