Karma and the Atonement

Day ninety-five

I woke up this morning with sunlight streaming through my window and I knew that this would be a good day.  I know the rain is coming later, but for a little while I have the sun and that just makes me happy!  My prayer was upbeat and filled with gratitude for the reprieve from the rain.  After thanking Him for the amazing world we live in I asked Him to please bless me with the ability to remember how I am feeling this morning, because I know that the rain will return and my attitude might not be so cheerful.  With my prayer said I took the opportunity to go outside and take in a little sunshine this morning!

Genesis 42

In this chapter Joseph meets his brothers again, he recognizes them, but they do not recognize him.  He decides to test them and makes a deal, he will keep Simeon and they must return and bring Benjamin with them in order for Simeon's release.  The brother's response led to my research today, it is in verse 21:

"And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us."

His brother's believe that this is happening to them as a punishment from God because of their earlier behavior when they threw Joseph in the well and he went missing.  It sounds a little like Karma to me. 

I grew up in a home with two religions, one being Buddhism.  I am familiar with the term Karma and occasionally my father would say to me and my brother," Be nice to each other or you'll have bad Karma."  Karma is one of those areas where there are some similarities with Christianity.  The Christian version is something like: "you reap what you sow" (Gal 6:7-10) or the Golden Rule "Treat others the way you would want them to treat you." (Matt. 7:14).

There is a huge difference between the Buddhist view and the Christian view when it comes to the results of our actions.   Karma means action or acts, and refers to the accumulation of results a person reaps from his every act and thought, be it good or bad.  This has some similarities with the “law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated.” (D&C 130:20).  This commentary on Latter-day Saints and Eastern Religions provides a great description of the differences:

"The difference is that Hindus believe that the law of karma is absolutely unalterable. Their belief in Samsara, the wheel of rebirth or reincarnation, states that every person will be reborn into a status (which could be human, animal, or inanimate) that is the inevitable result of his actions. Thus, Hindus believe that people who are born into a high caste deserve to be where they are, and so with all creatures. We Latter-day Saints also believe we are born where we should be, but that a just and loving Father in heaven has decided where we can best perform in this mortal sphere of activity. We believe we reap the rewards of our actions, but we also believe in the atonement of Jesus. Were it not for this merciful provision, we would be left with nearly the same doctrine as the Hindus. That is, we would be left to eternally pay the price of our sins."  (Latter-day Saints and Eastern Religions: A Few Thoughts on Bridge Building by R. Lanier Britsch)

Joseph's brothers are caught in the karmic view of their situation, they have kept their secret for over 22 years at this point, and have been feeling the effects of their actions the entire time.  That's a long time to hold on to guilt and to not have the trust of their father. It must have felt like they would suffer forever for their actions.

I have been like Joseph's brothers and for one reason or another did not repent of a sin right away.  Not my best move.  My life was not what it could have been and my heart ached.  It was not until the Lord softened my heart that I realized I was only hurting myself by not letting go. The Atonement made all the difference.  I am so grateful for this Christian belief, it gives me hope that I can be forgiven and that there is a better future.  The doctrine of the Atonement is central to our religion and expresses the love of a Heavenly Father and Savior that want us to become like they are.  What a great blessing!

It is not often that I have the opportunity to combine teachings from the two religions that are a part of my life.  I do not know a lot of Buddhists and the topic doesn't come up much at church.  It was a nice opportunity to reflect on the good in both and not so much on the opposition it presented in my childhood.  It also was a great chance to reflect on the power of the Atonement and the amazing blessings it has brought to my life.  Sunshine and the Atonement, I knew it was going to be a good day!