Is it good karma to be born as a westerner?

[MrLearner]

Hello everyone,

First of all. This is not nationalistic or racist post, but I'm actually curious.

Ok so generally speaking

Most of the western countries are better developed and have better standard of living, but most are not Buddhists.
Most of the buddhist countries are poor.

My question is, is it good karma that you were born in the western world with good standard of living but no knowlege of buddhism or is it better karma to be born as a buddhist in a poor buddhist country. Obviously most of the people with the very good karma will either be born as a westerner who will find buddhism later on in life or be born as a buddhist to a rich family in a poor buddhist country. However this is only a small number of people. So generally who do you think has better karma a westerner with good standard of living but no knowledge of buddhism, or a buddhist born in a poor buddhist country. Obviously none of this matters if the person doesn't practice buddhism and only a buddhist in theory. However even to practice buddhism, you must have the fortune to get to know it first.

I'm not saying any race or culture is superior here, just a question out of curiosity. Thanks

[Sam Vara]

Hello everyone,

First of all. This is not nationalistic or racist post, but I'm actually curious.

Ok so generally speaking

Most of the western countries are better developed and have better standard of living, but most are not Buddhists.
Most of the buddhist countries are poor.

My question is, is it good karma that you were born in the western world with good standard of living but no knowlege of buddhism or is it better karma to be born as a buddhist in a poor buddhist country. Obviously most of the people with the very good karma will either be born as a westerner who will find buddhism later on in life or be born as a buddhist to a rich family in a poor buddhist country. However this is only a small number of people. So generally who do you think has better karma a westerner with good standard of living but no knowledge of buddhism, or a buddhist born in a poor buddhist country. Obviously none of this matters if the person doesn't practice buddhism and only a buddhist in theory. However even to practice buddhism, you must have the fortune to get to know it first.

I'm not saying any race or culture is superior here, just a question out of curiosity. Thanks

We don't know what type of kamma has brought us to where we are, and speculation on that was discouraged by the Buddha; he spoke more about where the kamma we create now will take us. It is of course fortunate to be born into a situation where the Buddha's teachings are known, and that is probably the most important factor. It's worth noting that there are very few places now in the world where Buddhism is unknown. Virtually anyone can access all the Nikayas and some excellent modern teachings if they have access to the internet. People in countries where Buddhism is an established tradition are fortunate in that there is a lot to support them, and usually a set of customs around reverence and devotion. But Westerners often have the advantage of a critical mindset and a fresh approach.

[coconut]

1. It's good karma to be born human
2. It's good karma to be born in a good/easy life like a first world country

Having good karma doesn't mean you're an Ariya though. One can be a deva and be stuck in samsara. Just because your life is good now, doesn't mean you won't be reborn in hell later, that's why it's important to attain stream entry so that you are protected from bad rebirths forever. Stream entry starts with Right View so read the samma ditthi sutta.

[Disciple]

I would say someone who is born into a devout buddhist family in a poor country has much better karma than the rich person born in a western country who goes through life not being interested or curious about Dharma.

[confusedlayman]

born in poor eastern buddhist country is better than western country. in fact there are more stress and crime in western country with more sucide and anxeity than eastern country.

in eastern country, it is dirty but people are internally happy compared to western country people who living in good air quality but not knowing dhamma

regarding money, there are poor and millionaires in both country.

so the question comes to if dhamma encounter is best karma ? yes irrespective of which ever country u born as problems are there is all country

Also people naturally follow 5 precepts in eastern country where buddhism and Hinduism or Santana dharma is already established so not household take alcohol or have xx before marriage .

[Inedible]

It seems to me that people who are born into a religion because of family tend to know a little bit about it. They can talk about it as a cultural thing. People who have to convert to it have to make a greater effort so they tend to study and practice more. They have a more complete understanding of why they are doing it.

[santa100]

I'm not saying any race or culture is superior here, just a question out of curiosity. Thanks

Obviously there's no way to know the exact working mechanism of kamma unless one's attained the supernormal powers. So, we can only make educated guess based on the patterns described in MN 135/MN 136 that the type of kammic investment one's doing right now will result in results of similar kinds in the future (ie. one who practices charity materially will enjoy a comfy future life materially; one who donates knowledge/understanding will enjoy a high IQ index subsequently; one who provides peace/harmony will enjoy future peace/harmony, etc...). So back to the OP's westerner example, it's important to pay more attention to a more well-balanced practice. For if one only help others solely for their material needs and nothing else, then it's not un-reasonable to assume that in the future, s/he'll born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but might not be able to excel in other disciplines like intellectual knowledge, power, beauty, spiritual maturity, etc..

[rhinoceroshorn]

While civilization has been improving our houses, it has not equally improved the men who are to inhabit them. It has created palaces, but it was not so easy to create noblemen and kings.

I think the West made a great job improving our material world, while the East made a great job improving our immaterial world, so to speak. Both have their merits. I don't think we should degrade the West because we now like the East.

[Ceisiwr]

Not if you are a white, straight conservative male

[SarathW]

I think to be born as a human is a dark and light Kamma.
I gained deep understanding of Buddhsim by reading English translations even though I was born to a Buddhist and only Sinhalease speaking parents.
Only advantage of born as a Buddhist is that you can accept Anatta teaching easily.
My observation is that many Western Buddhist including Buddhist monks struggle to understand and accept the concept of Anatta.
Generally poor people enter the path seen the suffering and the rich people enter the path by seen the futile nature of the wealth.
In my opinion it is good kamma to be born as wealthy. People in poor countries wasting all their life trying to be rich and ignore the teaching.

[dharmacorps]

In some ways, from a perspective of dhamma, it may be better to be born in an Asian buddhist country with less counterfeit dhamma than the western world has.

[Inedible]

It doesn't do any good to compare your life with what other people have. To begin with, you only see the outer layers unless you are already Enlightened.

Unless you are planning your next incarnation, it is a bit soon to be choosing where in the world to be reborn. If you are planning your next life, it would be best to try for a Pure Land. I have heard that Amida Buddha and The Medicine Buddha have Pure Lands which are unusually easy to be reborn in.

[Antaradhana]

There is kamma that leads to birth in a pleasant environment: in the world of devas or in the world of people, in a wealthy family, in high society, having no need, having satisfaction in the five strands of sensual pleasures. Good behavior and generosity in past lives lead to this fruit.

There is kamma that leads to the meeting with the Dhamma. This is the result of the practice of Dhamma and belief in the Three Jewels in past lives.

There is kamma leading to the ability in samadhi and superpowers. The experience of meditation and the development of superpowers in past lives leads to such a fruit.

There is a ratio of these fruits of kamma in this life.

[DooDoot]

we can only make educated guess based on the patterns described in MN 135/MN 136 that the type of kammic investment one's doing right now will result in results of similar kinds in the future

MN 136 appears unrelated to this question. As for MN 135, it is merely one sutta from thousands spoken to a Brahmin student and appears unrelated to land of birth. Your viewpoint appears to say there are not rich people in Asia. Also, since the West acquired much of its recent wealthy from colonialism, which included theft, drug dealing, etc, it appears MN 135 is illogical if the questionable translations & interpretations are taken on face value.

[Ceisiwr]

we can only make educated guess based on the patterns described in MN 135/MN 136 that the type of kammic investment one's doing right now will result in results of similar kinds in the future

MN 136 appears unrelated to this question. As for MN 135, it is merely one sutta from thousands spoken to a Brahmin student and appears unrelated to land of birth. Your viewpoint appears to say there are not rich people in Asia. Also, since the West acquired much of its recent wealthy from colonialism, which included theft, drug dealing, etc, it appears MN 135 is illogical if the questionable translations & interpretations are taken on face value.

Or, you know, embracing capitalism rather than socialism/communism.