Expert: Justin Choo - 5/10/2006

Question
What is karma anyway? I've heard that it's like if you do something bad to other people or even animals, then something bad will come back at you. There's no logic behind this, to me. What if I do something bad unintentionally, will I get a bad karma too?

And what does Buddha say about heaven and hell? Do they exist? Is it the same thing as Christian belief that you are good, you will be in heaven with God, or else you will end up in hell? In other words, What did he say about life after death?

I know my questions seem shallow to experts' eyes. But I need to understand these basic concepts before I really started studying Buddhism.

Looking forward to your reply.

Pam

Answer
Hi Pam,

Thank you for asking me.

Kamma is translated as action.  In Buddhism, kamma is VOLITIONAL action.  This is to say that when we act with intent or knowledge; or is conscious or deliberate in our action, then this is effective kamma which will create corresponding result sooner or later. It is just like if you push a swing forward, it will surely swing back.  An action causing a reaction.  The Buddha explained that the law of kamma rules supreme.  It is our volitional actions that create reactions.  Good actions create good reactions and vise versa.  All the sufferings, injustices, happiness and good fortunes are the results of past actions.  Reactions may come to fruition in this very life, or in future lives.

Heaven and hell can be found here and the hereafter.  When we are very happy, we are in "heaven".  When we are very fearful and miserable, we are in "hell".  As the "hereafter", the Buddha explained that there are many planes of existence, which with our limited sense organs are unable to see.  In layman's term, they are in different dimensions.  There are hell planes as well as heavenly planes, totalling 31 in all.  They are not reserved for Christians or Muslims alone.  They are "free" for all.  After all what is life?  It is the embodiment of this physical form and consciousness.  Universal truths have no boundaries nor any restrictions.  It is our actions that determine where we go.


You can find a lot of answers in www.buddhanet.net, the "mother" of all Buddhist web sites.

Smile from justinchoo :-)

(By the way, the Christians never said that anyone can go to heaven, even tho he/she may be good.  Actually, we Buddhists are not very interested to go to heaven, which is actually not eternal.)