Karma 101: What Goes Around Comes Around...and What You Can Do About It [Paperback]

Joshua Mack (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2002

With Karma 101, we'll turn this ancient Eastern doctrine on its head. Karma is notoriously vague concept; we'll outline the basics, debunk the mysteries surrounding it, and offer a kitschy but practical take on karma, including ways for readers to use it to their advantage - in this lifetime.

 

Some of the tips offered include:

• Controlling your karma
• Deflecting other people's karma
• How to prevent coming back as a pauper in your next life
• Techniques to speed up karma

   

  Rooted in spirituality, this quirky introduction to karma is geared toward the armchair Buddhist. It is the only approach to this subject that isn't overly complex and esoteric. There's no need to wade through lengthy volumes of material—the essence of karma is within your grasp. Start practicing today!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joshua Mack spent four years under the tutelage of a Buddhist guru. He lived in India and Nepal, where he became a student of Vipassana meditation and alternative methods of thought. He is currently a freelance writer and publishes a daily Internet newsletter. He lives in Ithaca, NY, with his dog, Max.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Fair Winds Press (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931412197
• ISBN-13: 978-1931412193
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,117,089 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars VERY BASIC LOOK AT BUDDHIST TEACHING OF KARMA, October 28, 2004

By 

Jennifer Smith (California, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Karma 101: What Goes Around Comes Around...and What You Can Do About It (Paperback)

Mr. Mack has written a short, very funny look at karma-lite and it should not take you more than a few hours to get through this book. Although entertaining, I wish the book had more substance to it. Mr. Mack presents the Buddhist teaching of karma and gives pretty short shrift to the Hindu perception, even though, in my own opinion, the Hindu view makes more sense when it comes to explaining the world and why things happen.

One of the shortest chapters is Why Bad Things Happen to Good People and this surprised me. With AIDS and Holocausts, child molestation and monsoons that kill thousands, one would think that Mr. Mack would have spent a little more time with why this stuff gets dumped on innocent people all the time. Another chapter might have been Why Good Things Happen to Bad People, since we all know liars, thieves, adulterers, etc., who never pay for their crimes or transgressions. According to traditional Buddhism these people will 'pay' in a next life, making it balance out, but Mr. Mack appears to have no belief in reincarnation (or if he does, he hides it well), leaving one to wonder how karma works things out in the end.

There are a few contradictions in the book, when anecdotes are presented to show karma in action. A shy, country-music-hating man finds himself at a country music festival with his wife. He hums classical music, does not tap his toes and for this negative karmic action he pays when the porta potty he is in tips over on him and covers him in poo. Yet karma is supposed to be objective and not punishment. Would the porta potty not have turned over if a Shania Twain fan had been in it? A fish-hating woman puts a goldfish into a restaurants outdoor faux pond after deciding she does not want it in the house anymore, and the next day the family sees that the pond has been drained, therefore killing the fish. If she had not taken the goldfish there would the pond not have been drained? How are the 2 karmically connected at all?

For those who have little knowledge of the very basics of karma this book can answer a few questions, but if you're really interested, I would suggest books written by either Hindu teachers or Buddhist teachers, as they have more information, depth and answer the questions about Life that most of us have regarding pain, illness, suffering, death, etc.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read - - And Informative!, November 9, 2002

By 

"alyssabost" (Ithaca, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Karma 101: What Goes Around Comes Around...and What You Can Do About It (Paperback)

I just loved this little book! It is full of stories that illustrate the reality of karma in our everyday lives. I had always been a bit intimidated by the word "karma" until I found this book at my friend's house, and now I feel completely at ease with the concept, and able to use it to improve my position in life. And the book is hilarious! It's not often that you come across a book that is such a joy to read in addition to being so educational. I liked it so much that I bought a copy for my mother for Christmas.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yay, Karma!, December 2, 2002

By 

britt (Providence, RI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Karma 101: What Goes Around Comes Around...and What You Can Do About It (Paperback)

I have been interested in Buddhism and eastern philosophies for a while. But like many people these days, I have a hard time finding the time to devote myself to anything besides work and sleep...So this book was a fun and informative help to me. I happen to be living with some very devoted Buddhists right now, and they also read the book and loved it-said that it is right on-well written and truly helpful for people wanting to learn more with little time to delve...Thouroughly enjoyable education!!!