[Buddha-l] Re. karma and consequences

[Robert Ellis]

I just realised I have not responded fully enough to Vicente. he wrote
>>Anyway, there is not any definitive way to know the phenomena when our perception and knowledge exists in a relation between subject and object.? Finally, our mind health and the real knowledge of the life must be measured according? the happiness in yourself and the people around you.<<
?
I agree entirely that there?are no definitive ways, because the subject-object relation leaves us in a state of uncertainty. However, it is not going to help us in this situation to accept premature solutions which depend only on an appeal to faith. There are no definitive ways, but there are provisional, continuous, and incremental ways of gradually casting off delusion. I think the very notion of justifiable spiritual life depends on the prior acceptance of that uncertainty, but nevertheless with an avoidance of nihilism?through the adoption of?provisional universal values. This is the Middle Way as illustrated symbolically in the Buddha's early life story, in which he came to understand the limitations of the two different extremes.?Both the nihilists in the palace and the eternalist ascetics offered?premature certainties which did not fully address conditions.

Happiness does tell us something about whether conditions have been addressed, but not enough. One can achieve temporary states of relative happiness by dealing with the conditions in a restricted zone, whilst those outside remain unaddressed. The Amish seem a good example of that, but then so is the relative happiness of Western civilisation at present, with major environmental conditions not addressed.
Best wishes,
Robert


Robert Ellis

website: www.moralobjectivity.net