#Karma

Before the rise of Buddhism in ancient India during the 6th century BCE, the Indian subcontinent was a cradle for diverse and influential belief systems that profoundly shaped the later development of both Buddhism and other religious philosophies. Understanding these ancient beliefs not only offers important context for the emergence of Buddhism, but also provides insight into the spiritual and societal values that continue to impact Thai culture today.

In the period preceding Buddhism, society in ancient India was deeply rooted in animistic and polytheistic practices that revolved around the reverence of nature, ancestral spirits, and a pantheon of deities both malevolent and benevolent. Evidence suggests that the beliefs of the Indus Valley Civilization (circa 2600–1900 BCE) included forms of animism and fertility worship, but it was the Aryan migration into northern India that introduced and elaborated upon Vedic traditions—the spiritual backbone of pre-Buddhist Indian society (kasmonblog.wordpress.com).

The principle of self-reliance stands as a central pillar in Buddhism, shaping not only the core of religious practice but also cultural attitudes in Thai society. This teaching, which is grounded in the Buddha’s encouragement that individuals take responsibility for their own actions and inner development, remains relevant in modern Thai life amid rapid social changes and ongoing spiritual quests.

Buddhist self-reliance, or “attāhi attano nātho” (one is one’s own refuge), is rooted in the historical context of the Buddha’s own life in ancient India. According to the Pali Canon, the Buddha repeatedly emphasized that liberation from suffering cannot be outsourced or bestowed by outsiders—such as deities, spirits, or even the Buddha himself—but must be achieved through cultivating wisdom, ethical conduct, and mental discipline personally (Watnyanaves.net). This foundational teaching has permeated Thai Buddhism for centuries and continues to inform both monastic and lay practice.

A recent research study has revealed a fascinating psychological bias: while most individuals believe they are destined for good karma, they tend to expect that others will receive the opposite—bad karma. This counterintuitive finding, highlighted in a new article on CNN Health, offers profound insights into how beliefs in cosmic justice impact our perception of ourselves and those around us.

Karma, a concept rooted in Buddhist and Hindu traditions—and widely influential in Thai society—suggests that moral actions determine future consequences. The study’s results underline how this ancient belief manifests in modern attitudes, with significant psychological and social implications for communities shaped by Buddhist sensibilities like Thailand’s.