To believe in karma, even though it doesn’t always seem to work?

[DreamyPearlPeer]

I’ve always believed that what goes around comes around, but lately I’ve been questioning whether karma really exists. I see people who do terrible things and seem to get away with it, while others are good struggle endlessly. AIBU to still believe in karma, or is it just wishful thinking?

I would say the first wife chose to marry him, that was her mistake. It doesn't make his behaviour ok, but if you tie yourself with an awful human you're going to deal with some awful shit. I would say he is successful because he puts himself in the path of success. It doesn't mean he is deserving of it, it means he knows how to make himself successful.

Do you believe in God?
Do you believe in faiths that have originated in what is now known as India?
If the answer is no, then you don't need to worry about karma.

She's not God she doesn't need to account for it.
If you want the answers to this read up on karma and the religions that believe in it.
You may not like what you read but then that means this belief system isn't for you. You're entitled to your own belief as is the OP you are being so rude too.

It's rubbish- and I don't believe there is such a thing. Being a good person doesn't 'get' you anything- but equally it's who I (think) I am and I wouldn't change that. So I expect or look for some cosmic reward? Absolutely not because I've never gotten one and don't believe I ever will. Will it change how morally act? Also no.

On some level I do. But then I also believe that the vast majority of people who do shitty, awful things are, at heart, unhappy and insecure people. Unless they address that, they will continue to do shitty awful things, which will continue to make them feel shitty and awful and they will never be truly happy. They might look happy on social media etc, but in the dead of the night, when it’s quiet, they know. That must be an awful way to live and is karma to a certain extent.
But then no, I cannot explain why children are abused or trafficked. No karma in that at all.

It's totally made up. If you believe in it, where do you think it comes from? What force is making karma happen? A deity of some kind?

Karma I believe is lost in translation https://www.britannica.com/topic/karma

what goes around comes around is how westerns view the meaning of karma, thus how it is believed to mean

I'm sorry you were bullied. That does seem to be very much a karmic learning experience for your bully. I'm sure she thinks of you often and hates what she did to you now that she can see your experience from another perspective.

I don't think karma exists.

I don't believe in Karma in the sense that if you do something bad, you'll always be punished somehow, later down the line (in a cosmic sense). I don't think that's true. Plenty of people get away with doing bad things.
However, I do believe that everyone creates their own world around them. I mean that the type of person you are defines the type of life you'll live. Good people will be liked and respected, will have good people in their lives etc. Yes there are some things you can't control (like getting cancer) but generally a good person of integrity will attract good things in their life.
Conversely, if a person is difficult, unlikeable, behaves badly, then generally they won't be liked and won't be able to create a good life for themself. They'll either be unpopular or will attract like minded people. If they're powerful, they'll attract yes men. But they'll never be truly valued, loved or respected for who they are.

I believe in it, but it may take years to happen.

It's not 'instant'

I sort of do believe in it and have seen it happen but regardless of that, I don’t do wrong as I like to sleep with a clear conscience.

I think you need to believe in some sort of great purpose or plan to believe in karma. Life is messy and unpredictable. There is no rhyme nor reason to it.

What, then? There's someone/thing keeping tally? He knows if you've been naughty or nice? Then deals out appropriate punishments? Give me a break!

That’s the point - no one decided that - just is. It does suck if we don’t realise that hurting others hurts us. According to Buddhism all of us have done everything in limitless past lives, we’ve all been rapists and murderers and everything in between. But if we do realise then we can do things to purify/ prevent negative karma ripening and create positive karma, it’s actually very liberating as we can change our future. You of course don’t have to believe it but because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not true.

You of course don’t have to believe it but because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not true.

It is true? Who knew?

Absolutely, and then people in the West want to impose their conditions for believing in Karma!

Anyone bothering to search the origin of Karma will find that Karma + Reincarnation go together.

If you don't believe in Reincarnation, Karma will not make sense to you.

Because no one is ever going to finish a life and get the consequences of everything they have done in that life, good or bad.

If only for the sense of practicality, there will be a balance left when life ends, unless the person concerned has got rid of all Karma and is being 'liberated'.

If there is karma from a previous life I can only imagine I must have been a mass murderer.

My father was diagnosed with cancer when I was six months for the next thirteen years he spent a fair bit of it in hospital. I had several spinal surgeries including one just a week after his death I spent my childhood passed round like a parcel as there was no one to look after me.

I've almost died several times, I've suffered from infertility, baby loss and my only surviving child has a life limiting genetic condition. In the last ten years I've helped nurse four members of my family. I lost an Aunt in August and it looks like I'll lose my mum any day. That's all my birth family gone.

I've always tried my best in life to be considerate and not hurt anyone. I've fucked up my own health as I've always put everyone else before me. That's not even half of it if I wrote it all you wouldn't believe me. I know some people who've done some majorly shitty things and yet their life is rosey. I find karma hard to believe in. No one deserves the life I've had.

You have got it completely wrong.

Believing in Karma does not mean behaving callously towards anyone who is suffering in any way.

It means being always kind, considerate and helpful towards those suffering.

By behaving callously, we ourselves would be incurring bad Karma.

And we never know when our own past Karma is going to strike us.

A person perfect, healthy and happy in every way can suddenly have a stroke or sclerosis.

Yes, everyone get the consequences of Karma, good and bad, there is no escape.

Of course in real life, everyone acts differently towards those suffering, whether they believe in Karma or not.

I repeat:

Karma and Reincarnation go together, as defined by those who explained these concepts thousands of years ago in India.

They do not make sense in isolation.

People in the West have learned the word Karma, but most don't understand what it really means.

It is absolutely not the same as sins of the father get visited on the daughter.

The same Soul that incurred the Karma enjoys/suffers the consequences.

'He' might not know, but the internet giants certainly keep a tally of your every move, whether you have been naughty or nice!

Those who believe in Karma and its consequences in future lives:

The entity that was Hitler is suffering terribly wherever it has reincarnated and will do so for a very long time - from one or more of the sufferings mentioned by posters above including cancer, disability, rape on a daily basis and what not.

Those who sort of believe in Karma and its consequences in the same life:

He suffered inwardly in his bunker - he must have been inwardly terribly distressed - and that was it.

Those who do not believe in Karma and its consequences:

Hitler more or less got away with his crimes.

I count myself in the first category.

Call it delusion if you like, but at least I have faith that full justice will always be done eventually, unlike the inadequate justice or injustice we see all around us.

@NoProblems
You're wasting your time educating on here.
Most on here don't even believe in God so no point in them understanding Karma.

thisiswheretheseagullfliesaway, very sorry to hear about all your sufferings and I do hope things will get better for you.

It is an enormously good thing that you have always tried your best in life to be considerate and not hurt anyone.

You say: "No one deserves the life I've had."

You also say: "I know some people who've done some majorly shitty things and yet their life is rosey."

If you don't mind answering, what do you think are the reasons behind this?

It will happen at the right time. Divine Timing.