Negative action, according to karma

Image: Richard Bradley (Spiders in Ohio)

Spiders became my regular roommates, much more welcome than the occasional scorpions who came to visit. The big spiders would appear as if by magic, beamed in one day to a spot on the wall where they would remain for days or weeks, looking as if they’d always been there and would always remain. While there, they seemed never to move or else would creep very slowly for just a few inches only to settle into stillness again. 

Then one day, they’d be gone just as suddenly and inexplicably as they’d appeared. Some people were bothered by the spiders on principle, but I wasn’t. We had an understanding, I suppose, and lived easily together, each with our own territory and rhythm. Our unspoken boundaries held well. Never even a spat. For me, these big spiders were like trees—and seemed almost as rooted until they disappeared without trace.

The smaller, quicker spiders were more startling. Sometimes they appeared in my concrete sink as I washed dishes. I tried to lift them out of the sink to save them from drowning but, invariably, I regretted the attempt. I can’t tell you how many spiders I’ve apologized to for inadvertently amputating their legs in my attempt to rescue them. I’ll be making amends for several lifetimes.

I always had a soft heart for creatures. I remember my parents handing me a can of insecticide and directing me to kill the flies in our backyard before guests arrived for a barbecue. I must have been ten or twelve years old. Tears streamed down my face as I obeyed my parents’ instructions and sprayed, muttering through gritted teeth, “But why can’t we all live in peace?!”

Fortunately, motivation counts when it comes to karma. For a negative action to be complete in a karmic sense, four characteristics must be present. The action must be directed toward a particular object. (I’d have to have a particular bug in mind.) The actor must have an intention-carrying thought. (I’d need a desire to do harm.) The actor has to take action in line with that thought. (I’ll get you, damn spider!) And the goal must be achieved. (Intended target hit.) Luckily for me, I had no such intention toward the spiders in my sink. Unluckily for the spiders, they still lost their legs.

~ Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo
from Threads of Awakening

What is the law?

Source: Favim

“A Roman came to Rabbi Gimzo the Water Carrier, and asked, “What is this study of the law that you Jews engage in?” and Gimzo replied, “I shall explain. There were two men on a roof, and they climbed down the chimney. One’s face became sooty. The other’s not. Which one washed his face?” 

The Roman said, “That’s easy, the sooty one, of course.” 

Gimzo said, “No. The man without the soot looked at his friend, saw that the man’s face was dirty, assumed that his was too, and washed it.” 

Cried the Roman, “Ah ha! So that’s the study of law. Sound reasoning.” 

But Gimzo said, “You foolish man, you don’t understand. Let me explain again. Two men on a roof. They climb down a chimney. One’s face is sooty, the other’s not. Which one washes?” 

The Roman said, “As you just explained, the man without the soot.” 

Gimzo cried, “No, you foolish one! There was a mirror on the wall and the man with the dirty face saw how sooty it was and washed it.” 

The Roman said, “Ah ha! So that’s the study of law! Conforming to the logical.” 

But Rabbi Gimzo said, “No, you foolish one. Two men climbed down the chimney. One’s face became sooty? The other’s not? That’s impossible. You’re wasting my time with such a proposition.” 

And the Roman said, “So that’s the law! Common sense.” 

And Gimzo said, “You foolish man! Of course it was possible. When the first man climbed down the chimney he brushed the soot away. So the man who followed found none to mar him.” 

And the Roman cried, “That’s brilliant, Rabbi Gimzo. Law is getting at the basic facts.” 

And for the last time Gimzo said, “No, you foolish man. Who could brush all the soot from a chimney? Who could ever understand all the facts?” 

Humbly the Roman asked, “Then what is the law?” 

And Gimzo said quietly, “It’s doing the best we can to ascertain God’s intention, for there were indeed two men on a roof, and they did climb down the same chimney. The first man emerged completely clean while it was the second who was covered with soot, and neither man washed his face, because you forgot to ask me whether there was any water in the basin. There was none.”

~ James A. Michener 

What is the law?

Source: Favim

“A Roman came to Rabbi Gimzo the Water Carrier, and asked, “What is this study of the law that you Jews engage in?” and Gimzo replied, “I shall explain. There were two men on a roof, and they climbed down the chimney. One’s face became sooty. The other’s not. Which one washed his face?” 

The Roman said, “That’s easy, the sooty one, of course.” 

Gimzo said, “No. The man without the soot looked at his friend, saw that the man’s face was dirty, assumed that his was too, and washed it.” 

Cried the Roman, “Ah ha! So that’s the study of law. Sound reasoning.” 

But Gimzo said, “You foolish man, you don’t understand. Let me explain again. Two men on a roof. They climb down a chimney. One’s face is sooty, the other’s not. Which one washes?” 

The Roman said, “As you just explained, the man without the soot.” 

Gimzo cried, “No, you foolish one! There was a mirror on the wall and the man with the dirty face saw how sooty it was and washed it.” 

The Roman said, “Ah ha! So that’s the study of law! Conforming to the logical.” 

But Rabbi Gimzo said, “No, you foolish one. Two men climbed down the chimney. One’s face became sooty? The other’s not? That’s impossible. You’re wasting my time with such a proposition.” 

And the Roman said, “So that’s the law! Common sense.” 

And Gimzo said, “You foolish man! Of course it was possible. When the first man climbed down the chimney he brushed the soot away. So the man who followed found none to mar him.” 

And the Roman cried, “That’s brilliant, Rabbi Gimzo. Law is getting at the basic facts.” 

And for the last time Gimzo said, “No, you foolish man. Who could brush all the soot from a chimney? Who could ever understand all the facts?” 

Humbly the Roman asked, “Then what is the law?” 

And Gimzo said quietly, “It’s doing the best we can to ascertain God’s intention, for there were indeed two men on a roof, and they did climb down the same chimney. The first man emerged completely clean while it was the second who was covered with soot, and neither man washed his face, because you forgot to ask me whether there was any water in the basin. There was none.”

~ James A. Michener