muggle baiting vs. muggle torture

[houyhnhnm102]

No: HPFGUIDX 155385

Many listees:

> carmic [sic]
> karmic

houyhnhnm:

I have to take exception to the way the word "karmic" has 
been used recently on the list in a way almost the opposite, 
it seems to me, of its real meaning.  Karma is not some 
supernatural agency doling out punishment to *my* enemies.  
It does not take sides.

Karma literally means "deed" or "act".  The law of karma 
is the binding effect of action. Karma is not punishment or 
retribution, but simply an extended expression of natural 
acts. It can be likened to Newton's Third law of Motion.

In Buddhism the law of karma states that for every event 
that occurs, there will follow another event whose 
existence was caused by the first, and this second 
event will be pleasant or unpleasant according as 
its cause was skillful or unskillful.

I think there are a number of examples of the operation 
of karma in Harry Potter.  

Sirius's recklessness in going after Peter by himself 
leads to his being falsely accused and incarcerated.  
His recklessness ultimately leads to his death.  The 
caused events in both cases are unpleasant because 
the original actions were unskillfull.

DDM!Snape's cherishing of resentment leads him into 
the snares of the Dark Lord, and that mistake results 
in his living a lonely and bitter existence after returning 
to the right side, not because he is being punished by 
some supernatural agency, but merely because it is the 
inevitable consequence of the choice he made.  Running 
off to join an evil dark lord because you feel you have 
been wronged is an unskillful act.

The twins unskillful action (because it put another's 
life at risk and served no purpose) with respect to 
Montague leads to Draco's discovery of a way to get DEs 
into the castle. An additional result was to put Harry 
in temptation's way when he was left alone with the 
Pensieve causing the Occlumency lessons to fail causing 
Harry to be lured to the MoM.

That is why some people on this list are concerned about 
the way in which Hermione carried out the organization of 
Dumbledore's Army.  Her unskillful actions led to Dumbledore 
leaving the school at a time when they had most need of him.  
We don't know yet whether or not there will be further 
unpleasant consequences resulting from Hermione's unskillful 
actions, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are.