Various Religious Perspectives on Karma
A Youtuber by the name of Phil Burnell, or his moniker “Darksyde Phil” joined youtube in 2008. During that time, creating content for YouTube was new, and to a large degree unregulated by copyright laws or “kid friendly” standards (Kundsen, 2017). He was one of the early adaptors of the platform who recorded himself playing video games and adding commentary. What initially garnered him attention and an audience, was the entertainment value of watching him fail, blame the game and the game designers for his failures. In addition, he would often engage in rants criticizing other people who posted youtube videos and were able to bolster higher numbers of video views and audience participation than himself. It should be noted that by his own words he was at that time, “making a stupid amount of money” (Kundsen, 2017). He boldly stated that he would never beg or ask his viewers for money, promote the selling of merchandise, or use a live streaming platform like Twitch where the audience could donate money and interact with him.
Fast forward to today where he has for the past few years made a number of poor financial decisions. He frequently begs for donations, and has done quite literally everything he said he would not do earlier in his career. He is currently going through a public bankruptcy process (Memology 101, 2020). A large portion of his failure can be attributed to his failure to listen to the suggestions of his fans and critics (Kundsen, 2017). In fact, his vocal negativity towards others which was once his greatest asset in terms of entertainment, has now become his greatest hinderance. Where he was once making close to a hundred thousand dollars a year, he is now struggling to pay his bills (Memology 101, 2020). A detractor community has sprung up around Darksyde Phil that is more active and vocal than the community of his supporters.
A believer of Jainism might point out that the reason for Darksyde Phil’s reversal of fortune has to do with his accumulation of bad kharma in his previous life, and that when he is reborn in his next life he will have further unfortunate circumstances. In his videos, he is seen hoarding material possessions, prone to fits of anger and pride, and turns his opinion into fact which goes against the multifaced (anekanta) view Janis ascribes to. It also goes against the doctrine of naya (Webb, n.d.). The attachment to material possession and the passions he has of fear, greed and pride and his willful rejection of knowledge are unethical and also cause bad kharma.
A believer of Buddhism might state that Phil Burnell’s life is one that is filled with suffering. He often wishes life could be as it was when he was making a lot of money and attempts to recreate that scenario. Those thoughts and actions violate the first universal truth, “Everything in life is impermeant and always changing.” (uri.org, 2020). His desire to posses things such as a large house he couldn’t afford, didn’t make him happy. That falls inline with the second universal truth about a life based on obtaining possession not being able to produce happiness. A believer of Buddhism might state that Mr. Burnell doesn’t understand the Four Noble Truths, the first of which is that “Human life has a lot of suffering” and the second, “The cause of suffering is greed” (uri.org, 2020). Much of Mr. Burnells life can be seen in the many thousands of videos he has published on the YouTube platform. Many of which demonstrate behaviors that are opposite of the Eightfold Path toward Nirvana.
A believer in Hinduism might say that Phill Burnell has not done enough to “purify and refine” his mind and senses to comprehend to truth that he isn’t correctly seeing the world or himself (uri.org, 2020). They may further elaborate that Phill should stop complaining and take responsibilities for his own actions. Although Maya describes the complex situation of contradictions where were we think one thing and do another, remove justice for more injustice to replace it, and that while we are told how things should be they unfold differently (ex: get good grade, get a degree and you will be able to get a good job), we are responsible for our dharma or code of behavior (uri.org, 2020). Phil Burnell blaming his detractors, the game he is playing, or game developers for his rage and other behavior would be rejected by a believer of Hinduism.
A believer in Sikhism might to Phill Burnell’s behavior as out of control which is governed by a life that isn’t mindful of God. Mr. Burnell drinks frequently and has had been on a number of broadcasts where he is drinking as a result of fans donating to specifically encourage that behavior. Sikhs believe that God should be remembered in everything a person does called “simran” (uri.org, 2020). They would question how Mr. Burnell remembers God during his cursing, lewd language, and negative speech towards others. Sikhism is a way of life which is characterized by virtuous living (Sikhs.org). Mr. Burnell isn’t living a virtuous life or earning an honest living because he frequently begs for donations and indulges in worldly temptations. For example, Mr. Burnell admitted to spending thousands of dollars on mobile games (Memology 101, 2020).
Reference:
Webb, M. (n.d.). Jain Philosophy. Retrieved from https://www.iep.utm.edu/jain/
DarksydePhil | Down the Rabbit Hole. Kundsen, F. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So7wLuuDiHA
DarkSydePhil - The Road to Bankruptcy. Memology 101. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgCAJ68SDCw
uri.org. (2020). Buddhism: Basic Beliefs. Retrieved from https://uri.org/kids/world-religions/buddhist-beliefs
uri.org. (2020). Hinduism: Basic Beliefs. Retrieved from https://uri.org/kids/world-religions/hindu-beliefs
uri.org. (2020). Sikhism. Retrieved from https://uri.org/kids/world-religions/sikhism
sikhs.org. (2011). Introduction to Sikhism. Retrieved from https://www.sikhs.org/summary.htm