I fail to see how this is an example of karma.

I think you get good karma for doing good things, not bad karma for doing good things you moron.

How isn't this an example of Karma? A lot of these homeless people probably don't have jobs, and this guy comes and swoops up a perfectly good volunteer position just to rub it in their faces. What an asshat!

*facepalm*

this is actually a good example of karma. /facepalm at people who can't see the obvious.

Actually, it's not an example of karma at all. Karma means what you do in this life will reflect on your next through reincarnation. It has nothing to do with what happens in five minutes or a year after a series of good or bad deeds; that's a little something called "what goes around comes around" or "you reap what you sow".

I always think of the song "Slaughter of the Soul" by At the Gates when I hear that saying.

We're gonna have a karma argument again? Karma is based on the idea that the energy you create attracts a like energy to you. If you create negative energy then negative energy will find you. It is the idea that all things that we do actively shape past, present, and future experiences.

#45: Maybe if you're some kind of new age retro hippy.... Karma is simply an idea of cause and effect where everything that happens to us is the result of our previous words, thoughts, and actions, and that good begets good and bad begets bad. In its origins, in Hindu and Buddhism, it also factored in reincarnation, but this bit is largely ignored in Western society where people tend not to believe in such.

That's what I just said, genius. I learned this from a Buddhism class I took in college. So thanks for repeating what I said and wasting everyone's time.

You're all stupid, there's no such thing as "karma". Things happen, not because of something you did a week, month, or whatever ago, but because of whatever occurrence that caused said thing to happen. For instance, this guy got mugged because the mugger is a criminal, not because of "karma". I'm sure OP's pulling a prank or something last year caused this.

Did I say karma was real? No, I said it was an idea. Calling someone stupid really is quite unwarranted. Don't call someone stupid for believing in something different than you. Everyone has a right to their own faith.

#54: I did not describe the same thing at all. The entire idea of karma being an "energy" and all of that shit is a new age retro hippie thing. Karma proper, as according to both Hindu and Buddhism, is simply the idea that these effects occur, regardless of whatever reason. The endpoint is the same, but that's about it. #56: Of course there's a such thing as karma. As I pointed out, it's a Hindu & Buddhist concept and the concept exists. Now, does karma reflect reality? Almost certainly not, but less than half the thread was even saying it did. #66: Curious how it's unwarranted to call somebody stupid, but implying the same with the sarcastic use of "genius" is just fine....

i agree with #56

Uhm, guys... "Karma" is a figure of speech. Aside from the term in Buddhism meaning 'What good and bad you do in your current life will effect you afterlife', it does also passively mean 'to have done good', or bad karma being 'to have done bad'. For those of you who doubt about the definition of karma, read and attempt to comprehend the chaos theory. It is without a doubt the perfect definition of the issue saying 'Whatever choice you have made previously, regardless of greatness or how small, it will change your present and future.'

your*

No, it is not some reto age hippie thing. All I do by saying "energy" is using a terminology that some people understand better. And sarcastically calling someone "genius" is very different from calling someone stupid. all I did was imply that you are not a genius, not that you are stupid.

#98: Nah, some people are scared by the word "Energy". It's become like "God" or "Love", it's a "debate", not an idea anymore. I'm not saying good things bring bad things, and vice versa. But still, guys, we know NOTHING about energy. We know some of its mechanical issues, barely. We still hardly know how to quantify it. The last thing that was said about energy is that it is plausible that at least 80% of our universe is made out of energy. SO I say, if we're composed of 80% of energy, or whatever you want to call it, something that cosmically has an impact on everything... Then I say, why not, Karma's not a retarded idea.

hey morons, I think he's being sarcastic

#99 I think people are scared by anything that requires thought. People want to be told what to do and how to do it. "God" and "love" are both metaphysical, but "energy" has scientific substance to it. So yes, I agree that people can be scared off by the word, but it does provide some weight to what is said simply because it can be measured. Now, it's almost 3am, so I'm sorry if my brain is so fried that I'm not making any sense right now.

Except you could have explained more as I did, since the concept is the meaningful part, anyway, and not bring the new age retro hippie "energy" crap into it. You say that energy is scientific, but the way you're using it it most certainly is not. Scientific energy cannot be created (woohoo conservation laws!) and it cannot be attracted (what does that even mean?). Negative energy has nothing to do with negative attitudes whatsoever, and I'll be surprised if there's a single person who uses the new age retro hippie idea of "negative energy" AND the Dirac equation. Scientific concepts don't scare me, though people pretending that co-opting scientific terms makes something scientific do. By the way, we know a lot about energy, even if we don't know anything. And what's this shit about "energy is 80% of the universe"? If you mean something like 80% of the universe containing energy, that doesn't even make any sense since we don't even know if the universe is finite or not. Or do you mean that 80% of the "stuff" in the universe is energy? That makes even less sense since we take that number to be 100%.

Over the internet, anyone can pretend to be a doctor in philosophy or an Astrophysician. I don't, I study medicine and, though in France that requires a Master grade in Physics, I'm sure you know much more about some of this than me. I was quoting (approximately) Stephen Hawking, I can't seem to find the exact quote, but he said, from what we know of the universe, he conceived it as only 2% of matter, 18% of unknown stuff and 80% of energy. (And I can only agree with that) About the expanding universe, well, these are percentages. Not fix numbers. I'm sure you get that ? Anyway, that wasn't my point. It's just we really know little about energy. To me, it can be both physical and metaphysical, and reducing it to one point of view is being narrow-minded. About attraction, well I never said you could attract energy. But every attraction, action, reaction and so on is ruled by energy. That's what I meant. Again, I don't need to give you examples, I think. I hope I answered it all, sorry if some of my expressions/grammar is weird, again, I'm french.

I never said that using the word "energy" made something scientific. I am directing all of my words to someone of a lesser understanding, so I use terminology that will get through to them. And I've already said that once. If you have anything remotely worthwhile to say, instead of being an ass to the rest of us, then by all means, continue this conversation. If, however, all you have are foolish attempts at insulting the rest of us, just leave. The rest of us are being more mature than that.

#106: That matter? It's energy. That other stuff? It's energy, too, as far as we currently know. Now that you've clarified what you've meant regarding 80%, though, the infinite universe thing is irrelevant. But, yes, 100% of the universe is energy unless we are missing something _huge_ in physics right now. And, if we are to take a "metaphysical energy", it is very much distinct from the physical energy and just happens to share a name. #109: What was #102 if not trying to equate the new age retro hippie "energy" with actual energy? You could have explained it perfectly well without bringing mistaken concepts of "energy" into it. For a good example of this, see my own explanation, in fact. Though, I find it interesting that you're calling me an ass and immature given that you're the one slinging insults around while I think I've actually been rather civil.

I grow tired of repeating myself. When you decide to actually read what I said, rather than skim through it and pick what you want from it, then I'll bother responding to you.

Hmm, I actually did read every word you said in this thread and if you're repeating yourself and if I'm not responding to what you're actually saying, you're not doing a good job of making yourself understood. Ironic, given the posts that started this, don't you think? I'm also amused how you say I'm the ass and that I'm the immature one, given that you're the one being unnecessarily dismissive and insulting. If you want, I can sit here and chart out how I've responded to everything you've said rather than skimming and then you can tell me what I'm misunderstanding, but I don't think you actually want that.

shit happens. did you think yours didn't smell?

"and death is her sister..." please finish the lyrics for me :D

That's like telling somebody who lost their child "at least you can have babies."

I think there might be a difference between losing a child and being mugged you freaking idiot

Yeah, I hat it also.

I baseball cap it, I think hat is a strong word.

I wear hats for fun and never got mugged" on the way back to my car"... Coincidence?

yeah hats provide amazing protection. btw I tried fixing my error but it wouldn't let me. it said antiflood protection.

well, I just happen to disagree. No lies, last time I went to the food bank, I met Justin Bieber. If u don't beleive me, search on images.google.ca "justin bieber at the toronto food bank"

didnt u read, it said he volunteered, u don't know if he has a better job and just decided to be a good person and volunteer

or get mugged.

Exactly. I would also think that a homeless shelter may not be in the best area of town, so the chances of getting mugged would increase significantly.