About responsibility and karma towards liberation

One most the most important concepts in Buddhism, and a highly mis-interpreted one, is karma (in sanskrit or kamma in pali). This word means 'action' en refers to a relationship of cause and effect of everything we do. This implies that the true intention behind all volitional acts will return to us eventually; therefore, the consequence of our actions are not a reward nor a punishment from an 'outer' power, but a natural response for our original intentions behind any action. In the Dhammapada we find: "By oneself is wrong done, by oneself is one defiled. by oneself wrong is not done, by oneself, surely is one cleansed. one cannot purify another, purity and impurity are in oneself [alone]" (Dhammapada XII: 165). This means than we should take responsibility of our actions being aware of the true intentions behind them, so we can be ready to face the consequences. Even if we know we have done something wrong, we can regret it and then be ready to face what comes next, now with a compassionate intention in order the ones we hurt and, consequently, cleaning our own karma in the process. Thus, this means that we are responsible of our own spiritual and material development which, combined with certain causes and conditions in this interdependent world, can help or hurt others. Furthermore, this means that we should be aware of our actions and not focusing in what others do or not, making judgements without even knowing the true intentions behind their actions.
"Let one regard, neither the discrepancies of others, nor what is done or left undone by others, but only the things one has done oneself or left undone." (Dham. IV: 50) We must realize that sometimes we spend to much energy, time, words and thoughts judging others' actions when, in reality, one cannot know exactly the intentions behind them. So, what use of it? One may say, 'it is for my own sake because I will know how to behave next time I see this person'; other can also argue 'this is what should be done in order to respond better to a certain situation when needed', 'it is good to know who is truthful or not', 'it is worth the time applied to it in order to avoid being hurt by other's actions'. All this comments are valid and completely in accordance to the conventional way of seeing things. However, what the Buddhist teachings stress is to focus in our own development because, by doing so, we will be spiritually strong and ready to face any kind of situation, whether a treason from a loved one, a 'stab in the back' from a friend or a negative comments about us from different people. This does not mean not to do anything about it! to the contrary, through meditation and true awareness we will be able to answer in the best way, in a compassionate manner to all this and more 'problems'. Suddenly, this 'problems' transformed from being something negative and a continuous reason to suffer, into a new test in our course on 'how to liberate myself from suffering and how to help others to do so'. The problems and disappointments are only steps (some of them higher than others) we can take in our way up to the ultimate liberation of the self.
We can read the same lesson about not judge others in the Gospels when Jesus said "Do not judge, or you too will be judged (...) How can you say to your brother, 'let me take the speck out of your eye', when all the time there is a plank in your own eye'? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (Matthew 7: 1,2-4,5)
And if someone is thinking, 'well, this is impossible in our society! even more this are teachings of the two greatest human beings ever on Earth! I am not good enough!' Well, this will be just a justification for failure in the spiritual level that covers a lack of responsibility and commitment towards our own well being and others. These two Great Human Beings set the example which we must follow gradually. Just as a 50km marathon, the path is already set by them, may be with two different routes but getting to the same end. There are all kinds of signals and even lots of beings cheering us up (in this spiritual path we have devas, angels, gandharvas or other highest beings), also refreshing acts of love that encourages us to continue believing in goodness, and a huge range of participants. Some will finish earlier than others; some will think that they are not capable to end but there will also be people who will help others to believe and help them to run (not running for them or carrying them in the back!); some other people who will sit back without being interested in making any effort thinking that is better and more entertaining to talk about the outfit of other runners, their physical appearance and their lack of interest in enjoying the moment. The good news is that we have the chance to choose how do we want to live and in any case we will achieve what we want and it will be filled whether by hatred, anger and jealousy or by love, compassion and sympathetic joy. So ask yourself, how is my life going? what can I expect in relation with my actions? if I deserve everything I am dealing with, what did I do to have it this way and, more importantly, how am I going to shape my future present in order to enjoy more myself and others? think and meditate about it...you worth it!