Karma and Aspiration: Who Is Steering Your Life?

Karma is the force from the past; aspiration is the will of the present. Understanding these two forces helps us transform our destiny and live each day with greater peace and meaning.

There is a question that each of us has asked ourselves at least once: "What are we living for?" It was this question that a caller once asked Master Thích Chân Quang in a moment of suffering. And that very question became the inspiration for today's dharma talk, on the topic of Karma and Aspiration.

We all believe in cause and effect (karmic law). But have you ever asked yourself: "What brought me into this life?" And "From here on, how will I live?" These two questions lead us to two invisible forces that shape our lives: the force of karma and the force of aspiration.

Karma and Aspiration: Two Opposing Forces

Simply put, karma is the force from the past that pushes us along. Aspiration, on the other hand, is our own willingness, our own will to direct our life along a path we choose. Master Chân Quang explains:

"Karma, in terms of cause and effect (karmic law), is the force from the past that drives us, that determines us, that compels us to move through certain circumstances, through a certain kind of life. So karma is the force of the past. And what does aspiration mean? It means our own willingness to be born into a certain place, or to willingly do a certain thing."

At first glance, karma seems like compulsion, while aspiration seems like freedom. But in reality, in daily life, these two forces are intertwined and inseparable. There are moments when we feel we freely choose our career, our spouse... only to discover we were pushed by circumstances we never wanted.

When Are We Governed by Karma?

Master Chân Quang offers very down-to-earth examples: a person forced by her parents into a marriage she did not want, or someone who falls into unemployment, poverty, or accidents. These are the times when we do not want something, yet we must accept it. Even wealth and splendor can sometimes be karma, when it arrives unexpectedly, not of our own making.

"There are moments when circumstances push and pull us, when we cannot control ourselves, and we end up unemployed, or falling into poverty, or meeting with unfortunate accidents, and our life at that time is truly a struggle, full of hardship. These are things we do not want. We do not want them—no one wants these things to happen to them—but they still happen."

The force of karma is formidable. It sweeps us along in the endless cycle of samsara (cycle of rebirth). The Master uses the image of a bicycle coasting downhill with broken brakes:

"It is like riding a bicycle down a slope with the brakes already broken. There is no resisting it."

How Does the Force of Aspiration Transform Karma?

Yet if karma alone governed us, we would drift aimlessly. Fortunately, we also have aspiration. Aspiration is the will to sow wholesome seeds; it is the rudder that lets us steer past the thorns, deserts, and abysses of life. Master Chân Quang explains:

"If we have the will to sow wholesome seeds, what is that will to sow wholesome seeds called? Aspiration. ... Samsara (cycle of rebirth) still pushes us forward without stopping, but now our course begins to shift, to turn aside."

When we resolve to practice, to do good deeds, to honor the Buddha, we cannot stop karma's pull, but we can choose a better path for ourselves. Instead of entering the desert, we walk toward a cool stream; instead of entering the thorns, we walk into an orchard.

Karma and Aspiration in Everyday Life

In matters of career, some people train in one profession but end up working in another. That is karma pushing them along. But when we feel love for others and wish to help, that is aspiration. Karma and aspiration blend together to create the circumstances of each person's life.

Especially regarding wealth and poverty: if one lives only by karma, the rich become arrogant, indulgent, and cruel, while the poor become bitter, stingy, and narrow-minded. The Master teaches:

"That person's karma made him rich, but he has no moral principles to live by, no aspiration. So once rich, by instinct arrogance and indulgence arise. Arrogance always gives rise to cruelty."

Conversely, a person with ideals in life, when meeting with wealth, knows how to use money to do good and help the world. They understand that all possessions are blessings from merit born of cause and effect (karmic law). However, giving generously does not automatically make one rich. What matters is knowing how to treasure money. The Master advises:

"Do not be wasteful. Because when we are wasteful, we fall into the karma of squandering and will become poor. Do not be stingy either, for stinginess also shows we do not treasure money, and that too leads to poverty. So here, we must use money wisely. And by wisely, I mean we truly treasure every hundred, every two hundred, every five hundred thousand dong, and at times we must dare to spend fifty thousand, or a hundred thousand, or two hundred thousand."

Whatever we treasure, we will receive more of. Treasure human bonds and you will have friends; treasure money and you will have money. But treasuring is not stinginess—it is knowing how to use things wisely, for ourselves and for others.

A Story of Love and the Heart

In the dharma talk, the Master tells a story both simple and profound, about a childless couple who prayed to a deity for a child. They were promised a child after six months, but when they returned, they were refused. The reason was that they had no love for children. When the neighbor's children came into their orange and apple orchards to play and make a mess, they took up a whip and chased them away. The deity declared:

"You have an orchard of oranges, an orchard of apples. Children came to play among your trees, and you took up whip and stick, beating them and driving them off. Do you have any love for children in your heart? You are not worthy to have a child."

The story reminds us that to receive something, we must hold its seed within our mind/heart. To have children, we must cherish the young. To have money, we must treasure money. To have happiness, we must treasure the happiness of others.

Conclusion: Live by the Force of Aspiration, Not the Force of Karma

We are born into this life because of karma. But we can choose our direction through aspiration. The force of aspiration is not merely a wish—it is the will to act. Let us sow wholesome seeds, practice diligently, and nurture compassion. With aspiration, we will no longer drift aimlessly, but can turn our life into a meaningful journey.

However strong the force of karma may be, as long as we hold a steady rudder—that is, aspiration—we will always stay on course, no matter how hard the wind blows. Let us begin today, with the smallest thoughts and actions. Homage to our Original Teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha.