Bad thoughts = Bad Karma?

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Re: Bad thoughts = Bad Karma?

ground
Posts: 2592
Joined: Wed Nov 25,
2009 6:01 am

by ground Sun Mar 31, 2013 4:00 am

P
o
s
Digity wrote:
t

Sometimes something is on my mind that's really bothering me. It's usually has something to do
with the way someone acted, which I disapproved of. Often times when I tell other people what
happened thye agree that the person was wrong and it was stupid, etc. In these cases I often
start having a lot of bad thoughts about the person thinking that they're stupid idiots, etc, etc,
etc. I don't want to have these thoughts...I want to be more peaceful, but I can't control it or at
least I currently can't control it. I kind of let my mind spew a lot of venom, but I know in the
back of my mind it's not right or inline with the Dhamma. Am I creating a lot of negative karma
here? I wasn't sure, because it's not like I'm fully intended to be mean towards these
people...these thoughts and urges just arise. My intention is to not be this way, but I don't feel
like I can control what's arising in the moment. Any advice on how to deal with this more
wisely?

Try to focus on things that foster your self-confidence. If you are content and satisfied with
yourself your negative thinking about others will diminish because the source is a sense of
inferiority.
o
p
Digity
Posts: 799
Joined: Wed Mar 30,
2011 2:13 am

Re: Bad thoughts = Bad Karma?

by Digity Mon Apr 01, 2013 4:36 am
P
o know what...I realized 90% of the
You
s
live
t in a privileged part of the world,

crap I worry about or am angry about is kind of stupid. I

have a good life and I spend my time mulling over what
so-and-so said. I think I need to stop focusing my attention on these stupid issues and put my
focus in a better place.

http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=16684&p=238439[19/8/2558 18:41:55]

Bad thoughts = Bad Karma? - Page 2 - Dhamma Wheel

o
p

Re: Bad thoughts = Bad Karma?

ground
Posts: 2592
Joined: Wed Nov 25,
2009 6:01 am

by ground Mon Apr 01, 2013 6:20 am

P
o
s
Digity wrote:
t

... I live in a privileged part of the world, have a good life and I spend my time mulling over
what so-and-so said. ...

Yeah, that's the reason for buddhism in a privileged part of the world too.
o
p
Digity
Posts: 799
Joined: Wed Mar 30,
2011 2:13 am

Re: Bad thoughts = Bad Karma?

by Digity Mon Apr 01, 2013 8:43 pm
P
I'mo going to make an effort to complain less. It'll
s
int a first world country have it well and need to

be part of my practice. Most people who live

shut up about their problems. There's people

who are far worse off out there.

o
p

Re: Bad thoughts = Bad Karma?

by BlackBird Mon Apr 01, 2013 9:45 pm
P
o
Strengthening
one's metta practice would
s
t

BlackBird
Posts: 1872
Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2009
12:07 pm
Location: New Zealand

be a strong catalyst for positive change in this case.

"For a disciple who has conviction in the Teacher's message & lives to penetrate it, what accords
with the Dhamma is this:
'The Blessed One is the Teacher, I am a disciple. He is the one who knows, not I." - MN. 70
Kitagiri Sutta

o
p

Re: Bad thoughts = Bad Karma?

by waimengwan Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:59 am
P
o
s
t

Whenever unwholesome thoughts arise, we should dispel them by wise reflection on the evil
consequences of such thoughts, use bare attention to contemplate their three characteristics,
or forcefully suppress them if necessary.

waimengwan
Posts: 159
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2012
2:22 am

Thank you Bhikkhu Pesala for sharing, what are the three characteristics ? And if we suppress
these thoughts won't it come back to bit us again, usually things that are suppressed works
that way. Or we have to suppress until we find the right remedy / antidote. Please share
thanks.
o
p

taintless
Posts: 19

Re: Bad thoughts = Bad Karma?

by taintless Sun Apr 07, 2013 10:54 am
P

http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=16684&p=238439[19/8/2558 18:41:55]

Bad thoughts = Bad Karma? - Page 2 - Dhamma Wheel

Joined: Sun Nov 25,
2012 4:49 pm

My friend,
Bad intention, is bad karma.
Not bad thoughts.
o
p

Re: Bad thoughts = Bad Karma?

by Bhikkhu Pesala Sun Apr 07, 2013 11:21 am
P
o
s
waimengwan wrote:
t
Bhikkhu Pesala
Posts: 2478
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009
8:17 pm

Thank you Bhikkhu Pesala for sharing, what are the three characteristics ? And if we suppress
these thoughts won't it come back to bite us again, usually things that are suppressed work that
way. Or we have to suppress until we find the right remedy / antidote. Please share thanks.

The three characteristics are impermanence (anicca), suffering (dukkha), and not-self (anatt).

See the Sabbsava Sutta on the savas that should be removed through rejection (=
suppression). As long as the unwholesome roots are not destroyed by insight, unwholesome
thoughts rooted in ill-will or lust may arise when conditions so conspire. Whenever they do
arise they should be rejected, otherwise, we will follow them and the latent tendency to lust
and ill-will will get strengthened. Could anyone observe the five precepts without suppressing
the intention to do wrong? If one never had the slightest intention to break any of the five
precepts, then one would already be a Stream-winner, for whom observing the five precepts is
natural and stable morality.
It is the intention that characterises a thought as good or bad. Bad thoughts such as, "I want to
seduce that man's wife," "I want to kill that man," "I don't believe there is any result of merely
thinking bad thoughts," are the unwholesome thoughts of covetousness, ill-will, and wrong
view.
Can anyone be content if they covet things that they don't own, or have to meet with people
they cannot stand?
AIM Website Pli Fonts In This Very Life Buddhist Chronicles Software (Upasampad: 24th
June, 1979)
o
p
Digity
Posts: 799
Joined: Wed Mar 30,
2011 2:13 am

Re: Bad thoughts = Bad Karma?

by Digity Sun Apr 07, 2013 4:49 pm
P
o
s
taintless wrote:
t

My friend,

Bad intention, is bad karma.

Not bad thoughts.

Yes, but if bad thoughts are a symptom of bad intentions then having bad thoughts could be an
indication of underlying bad intentions.
T

http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=16684&p=238439[19/8/2558 18:41:55]

Bad thoughts = Bad Karma? - Page 2 - Dhamma Wheel

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