Expert: John Willemsens aka Advayavadananda - 6/11/2003

Question
Good Morning,

My name is Ian, and although not a Buddhist, my philosophy is, I feel, somewhat close to Buddhism.

Essentially, I believe that we are  responsible for our actions, and that those actions determine our future circumstances and that in those circumstances we are given freedom of choice to act appropriately or otherwise. And so it continues.

To me it represents freedom and  release, as well as explaining the apparent injustices of the world -  for example, why some children are born into abject poverty and others into affluence.

However, my wife asked a pertinent question: What if someone say, murders another. That person will suffer the consequences of his/her actions, but what of the victim? Was it that person's karma to be murdered, and if so, then if the would-be murderer made a decision not to murder, then someone else would, to fulfill (the victim's) karma?

Any guidance on this would be very much appreciated.

Respectfully,

Ian Windsor

Phone: 02 9299 3377
E-mail:  ian@salesdrive.com.au  

Answer
Dear Ian,
Please note that I speak for Advayavada Buddhism only.
If you want to know more about this form of Buddhism, please visit www.advayavada.nl.
You will see that we do not share your understanding of rebirth and karma.
We say that karma is pratitya-samutpada or dependent origination (where 'all causes are effects and all effects are causes') at the sentient level.
The injustices you speak of are not apparent at all and we are all co-responsible.
We also have the obligation to help protect people from being murdered or otherwise harmed.
Kind regards,
John Willemsens (Advayavadananda).