Friday, April 14, 2006
Karma. Many hear the term and resolve to interpret it as the reward for a good deed. The cyclical pattern of this ideology, however, is not in the least about gain. Instead, the idea behind it is to maintain a balance and to strive toward a compassionate society.
Karma is giving without the expectation of receiving anything in return. I got my first taste of karma in the most unpredictable way.
Following a thorough scanning of a quaint hole-in-the-wall café that a friend recommended, I randomly chose a booth by the window and sat down to what I thought would be a decent meal. Instead, I was greeted by a snappy, frazzled, fed-up waitress.
After rudely shoving the menu at me, snapping when I asked for specials, mumbling under her breath that she hated her job as she wrote the order, and coming back with the wrong plate, twice. I was slightly frustrated. Discontent with the rude treatment, I was ready to leave without even touching the $7 meal, let alone leaving a tip.
Then a simple thought occurred. What could that waitress’s life be like? What had she gone through that very morning? Did she have kids to provide for, but could not? Did she get into a car accident? Was she terminally ill?
It was more than likely none of those problems, but it must have been something. Something caused her to behave in the manner she did. The unhappiness that she obviously felt must have been hastened by the way a majority of others probably chose to treat her, because of her behavior.
In a rash decision, I left the cold meal along with a $30 tip at the table and walked out the door.
Some weeks later, after having long forgotten the waitress and the less-than-satisfying meal, I received a letter unrelated to the dinner incident stating that $40 would be returned to my bank account for an overcharge.
It was karma. What goes around comes around. Perhaps.
The fact that I gave a little bit and got even more in return could have been a simple coincidence, but the monetary reward was not something that I sought.
The ideology of karma stems from an ancient Buddhist concept that has been adapted by today’s society as a chain of cause and effect, giving a little in hopes of receiving a lot.
The problem, however, of the misinterpretation of karma and many other seemingly selfless acts is the idea of gain. Simply put, if one’s sole concern is gain, the cycle ceases to exist and nothing is given.
Later that evening, I continued the cycle. After finishing a load of laundry, I stuck 50 cents into the washer for the next person doing a load.
-Pavlik is a Plano, Texas, freshman in journalism.
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