The Karma of Now

The latest Tricycle has an article called “The Karma of Now” by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. It is good as an antidote to the New-Age-y weirdness I am around so much. I like New Agers, in general, much more than the conservative Christians who think they know how everyone else should live while not living that way themselves. The one thing I liked about conservative Christians was their reality-based concept of linear time. They actually understood that actions have consequences and sex creates babies! My brothers seemed to have missed that memo.

Some quotes from the article:

“The present moment is never simply to be accepted as it is.”

“[W]hen stepping into the present moment, you don’t really step out of time.”

“[T[he present moment doesn’t arrive ready-built. We’re constantly constructing it as it’s happening, with greater or less skill, out of the raw materials provided by past karma.”

The present moment comes from a combination of past actions and present actions. The future comes from present actions and future actions.

Part of the foundation of Buddhism is impermanence. I can relate to that. Nothing good or bad lasts forever.

I like Buddhism because it is so reality-based. It is all about alleviating suffering, our own and that of others. That includes social action to undo damage created by others and learning how not to create chaos for ourselves and everyone else. Karma is all about actions and consequences. Now is not all there is. We are all the creators and heirs of karma. With great power comes great responsibility. Wield it wisely.