Karma and Trauma

[DaveSumner]

I was just curious, in Soto Zen, is there any correlation between karma and trauma?

Gassho, David

[Jundo]

Hi David,

If I understand your question, you are asking if there is a connection between Karma and the psychological experience of trauma?

In traditional Buddhism, "bad things" that happen to people are often the result of bad actions by them in this or previous lives. For example, they were cruel or greedy in the past, so they suffer some cruelty or loss to themselves now. Karma is not the only cause of "bad things," which can also be due to other non-Karmic causes, such as natural events, societal events or simple bad luck that are unrelated to one's past bad actions in this or prior lives.

I and many other modern teachers are rather skeptical of such a 1-to-1 correlation between past bad actions and bad effects, especially for actions in past lives. However, certainly, the greed, addictions, clutching, anger and violence, jealousy, spitefulness and such in our past tend generally to have negative, unhealthful or harmful effects in our later life. We can change from our past poisonous ways, act better and free the heart for the future. Even then, not all the "bad things" that happen to us are due to our own doing, and natural events, societal events and bad luck still accounts for much that befalls us.

Even so, amid the ups and downs of life, whether due to our own doing or things beyond our control, our Zen way can help us free the heart, allowing us to accept, embrace and flow with circumstances more, and see beyond the ups and downs. That should help with trauma.

If one is suffering from PTSD or a like psychological condition of trauma, one should seek professional counseling for that. In many cases, Zen practice and professional counseling can go hand and hand, and the mental health professional will recommend Zazen or some meditation practice. For some with trauma, it is hard for them to sit quietly, because fear and bad memories sometimes well up in the quiet of sitting. In such case, any Zazen practice should be taken with care in consultation with the doctor.

Did that answer your question?

Gassho, Jundo

PS - David, if you could remember, would you place "Sat Today" and "Lent a Hand (LAH)" with your posts? Thank you! It helps us stay focused on sitting and good actions in life.

https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/practices/engaged-charitable-projects-center/16154-sattoday-lend-a-hand-please-lah-and-sat-before-chat

[DaveSumner]

I and many other modern teachers are rather skeptical of such a 1-to-1 correlation between past bad actions and bad effects, especially for actions in past lives. However, certainly, the greed, addictions, clutching, anger and violence, jealousy, spitefulness and such in our past tend generally to have negative, unhealthful or harmful effects in our later life. We can change from our past poisonous ways, act better and free the heart for the future. Even then, not all the "bad things" that happen to us are due to our own doing, and natural events, societal events and bad luck still accounts for much that befalls us.

Even so, amid the ups and downs of life, whether due to our own doing or things beyond our control, our Zen way can help us free the heart, allowing us to accept, embrace and flow with circumstances more, and see beyond the ups and downs. That should help with trauma.

I think that this is close to what I was contemplating on. Lately I’ve been thinking about Shikantaza as a healing process. An unfolding of the truth or a realization and abiding in Buddha nature. I guess that it seems like Dogen expresses that sitting in Shikantaza even for one moment unites us with our true nature. But this is all still very hard for me to understand, I was just wondering if anyone else had thought about it that way.

thank you so much for your answer Jundo.

Gassho, David
Sat/Lah

[Hoshuku]

I'd simply say that we all have to remember in many contexts that correlation is not causation.

Bows,
Hoshuku
Satlah

[Jundo]

Dogen expresses that sitting in Shikantaza even for one moment unites us with our true nature

Sitting in Shikantaza is abiding in our Buddha Nature, True Nature, for there is nothing lacking, no separation, nothing more to do or attain. It is so.

And yet, Dogen also reminds us that Buddha Nature is a living thing, and manifests (or can be hidden) in all our activities. Thus, Dogen's way is continuous practice-enlightenment where, rising from the cushion, in the complexity of this world and life, our thoughts, words and acts can bring Buddha to life, manifest Buddha nature, in Wisdom and Compassion, or hide our Buddha Nature in the ugliness of greed, anger and the divided mind of ignorance.

So, whatever our Karma from the past, right now is the pivot point where our actions can manifest Wisdom and Compassion. Alas, we can also fall back into greed, anger and ignorance again in our next breath. Thus, it is ongoing, continuous practice ... never "one and done."

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Seiko]

I was just curious, in Soto Zen, is there any correlation between karma and trauma?

Gassho, David

Hi David,
Some people who are holding onto trauma may find counselling or therapy helpful. Trauma is generally thought of as bad, something to attempt to get over, if we can.

My understunderstanding of karma is that it is neither good nor bad. If I need a descriptor, I would say that Karma is inevitable. I don't think that trauma is inevitable. We can't really get over karma. We can deal with it skillfully or not, but we can't avoid it. I think Karma works like this: apply heat to a pan of water and eventually it boils. Boiling is not good or bad. Heat is not good or bad.

Personally I don't believe either trauma or Karma are some kind of divine judgement.

Gasshō Seiko. stlah

[Tairin]

I would say that Karma is inevitable. I don't think that trauma is inevitable.

That’s a great way to put it. Karma is the outcome of our words, thoughts, and actions. If our intention is to perform good actions then our hope is that it produces “good” Karma but since we can’t know every outcome of our actions we may indeed also produce “bad” Karma.

Good and bad are just value judgements from our perspective but Karma is always an outcome.


Tairin
sat today and lah