The concept of karma is meant to teach us responsibility for our actions as karma is a system of cause in effect. For every action you take there is always an equal reaction. If your thoughts and deeds are positive, then positive things will be returned to you.
In short, if you have bad karma then bad things will happen to you and if you have good karma, good things will happen to you. Where people often get discouraged is they don't feel like they see the results of their good deeds. For example, "I fed the homeless over Thanksgiving, yet I didn't get anything I wanted for Christmas". So let's think about that statement for a moment. Yes the person did a good deed helping others but he didn't see the results he wanted by getting some gift for Christmas. The truth of the matter is, we don't get to pick and chose the way good karma will come back on us. Sure it may result in getting something you want, but more often than not it won't. Good karma comes back to you in many ways and often time those ways are not always so visible.
One way it come back to you and you not really know it is from this example. Let's say you took a test in school. You got an answer half right. Normally the teacher would not give you credit for the answer, as it was only half right. But then karma works its magic and the teacher thinks to herself about what a good boy (or girl) you are and how you did make a true effort to try and goes ahead and gives you the credit for the answer. That ups your test score from a B to an A. That increases your overall GPA which in turn helps you get a scholarship to college or perhaps that summer internship you wanted. So yes, you may not have seen the results of your good deeds, but they did exist.
Now let's discuss the other end. Bad karma is the one thing we hear about probably more than anything. We all see the many things other people do yet they appear to be going on about their lives without a care or concern in the world. There was once a person in Nexus who lied, cheated and manipulated his way into power. He blackmailed others to get what he wanted and even stole money from his path. He would use his influence to rig justice cases and get other paths to blacklist those he didn't like. No matter how many horrible things this person did, it seemed like nothing bad ever came to him. Surely this person has horrible karma, so why did nothing ever happen to him?
Well like good karma, we may not always see the results of bad karma. Although he got away with so much in game, his real life could have been in utter turmoil. This could include problems at work, with his girlfriend or even his family. He could have wrecked his car, had his dog die or even worse. So although it seemed like he had it all, despite all the bad things he did, appearances can be deceiving.
Now let's look at another often misunderstood angle of karma. There was once a person who everyone loved. They worked hard, were nice to everyone, held the position of guide, judge, carnage host and even council in their clan. They spent 7 years in Nexus and you would be hard pressed to find one person who had a bad thing about him, even from the people he had to arrest as a judge because he was always fair and willing to listen.
One day this person gets hake and on that day loses everything he worked for ... Judge, Clan Council, Guideship and even carnage host. Since this person was such a good person, why would such a bad thing happen to him? Well truth is, being a good person and having great karma isn't going to prevent bad things from happening to you sometimes. It may bring you good things but sometimes bad things just happen and there is nothing we can really do to stop them.
No matter how good you are sometimes your friends are going to get mad at you, you are going to get a bad grade on something and your pet is going to die. These are all just part of the balance of life. There will always be some bad in the world. Karma isn't about preventing bad things from happening to you but instead bringing more good to your life.
Just remember that when it comes to karma, for every action you take there will be an equal reaction. That means if you do something good, you have good (or positive) karma. If you do something bad, you have bad (or negative) karma. We may not always see the direct result of our deeds or mis-deeds but they are there. So always be the best person you can be and the best will come back to you.
Karma isn't an object you can hold in your hand like a Flameblade or a Bekyun's Spear, yet karma is always with you. Karma is a reflection on who you are as a person. If you see an amber on the ground and pick it up, even though you know that amber is not yours and it belongs to another, that would be a reflection of who you are as a person and will measure heavily on your karma. Although you may not find it important at the time, one day that deed may be the very factor that determines your future fate ... so was that amber _really_ worth it?
There is a saying "One good deed returns another" ..... That too is about your karma. Although you may not realize it, every single action you take reflects on who you are as a person. Your self worth, the value of your soul is based on the concept of karma. What is your soul worth? Only you and the Gods can truly answer that.
Shunnyo (angel): You are one with the Gods, and your soul is worthy to dwell amongst them. By completing one mentor you may "let your karma shine" and obtain a Faerie light.
Angel's tear: Your journey has been long, you have achieved inner peace and tranquility, you speak with the Gods. From here to Angel it typically takes about 14 mentors.
Spirit: You have reached the threshold of Immortality, you put aside Mortal possesions and passions (from here to Angel's tear it typically takes about 8 more mentors. You now have enough karma to obtain 10 or more I-ching readings.
Dragon: You are at the pinnacle of mortal grace, your soul is noble, beautiful and fearsome to behold. From here to Spirit it typically takes about 4 mentors.
Tiger: You have entered the nobility of souls- fierce, wise and just. You now have enough karma to obtain up to 9 I-ching readings. From here to dragon you typically need about 4 mroe mentors.
Bear: You hold quiet power and great wisdom, confidence and fortitude. From here to tiger you typically need about 3 mentors.
Ox: You are stalwart and honest, worthy of trust, strong of heart. From here to Bear you typically need just 1 more mentor.
Monkey: You are clever and good-hearted, the Gods smile on you (here to Ox 1 mentor)
Jindo dog: You are faithful to the teaching of the Gods. You now have enough karma to get your first 5 I-ching readings. From here to monkey you typically just need 1 mentor.
Rabbit: Your soul moves ever quicker toward its goal. Through completion of a few minor quests and some worshipping, this level of karma is fairly easy to obtain.
Squirrel: Your education progresses, you store knowledge for the ordeals to come. At this level of karma you can now enter the markets located just outside the Kugnae and Buya inns. From here you typically need about 1 mentor for dog karma.
Cat: You have begun the journey to perfection. This is typically the level of karma most characters begin at. Although some characters at random (although rare) start out with karma as high as angle's tear.
Rat: You are out of favor with the Gods, you must purify your soul and cleanse your spirit. This often happens when one is jailed or leaves a subpath. It is best to seek the assistance of a Monk for forgiveness.
Snake: You are among the cursed of the Earth, you crawl alone in shame. This often happens when one is jailed or leaves a subpath. NPCs will no longer speak with you. You need to increase your karma at once. Although it is possible to mentor out of snake karma (some say 4 to 6 or even 8 mentors to do this) it is best to seek the assistance of a Monk for forgiveness.
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