Accountability and Responsibility

    There is much confusion when people try to explain or interpret accountability in Buddhism. Accountability does exist in Buddhism: look no further. Karma is what begets accountability. Karma, is the threefold law that all of us are bound to. We are held accountable by this law, be it for better or worse. Any action you or I take comes with consequences, and also many would agree that the consequences for negative karma are often harsh.

  Accountability is something that also had to do with mindfulness, one of the 5 noble strengths in Buddhism. One who is mindful will also be accountable. One who is mindful is sincere, although for the ones who are first starting an up most path that the pursuit of accountability through karma must learn to be accountability for themselves. It's taken me a long time to find my place in this world, but alas, my role in this world, as of all of ours, changes. The best any of us can do is be open minded and learn the rewards that we may reap for generating good karma.

   Responsibility and accountability go hand in hand. You must be responsible and considerate towards those you serve. Responsibility is a duty to others to be held accountable for the welfare of friends, family, or even those who are indirectly related to you. So we may link the responsibility and accountability are the precursor and the product of karma. Let me explain this in an objective way. If I do good towards anyone, then I am being responsible, which begat my actions.  Karma is then mine, and the events that unfold afterwards are what I am to be held accountable for. You see, there is indeed a correlation between the three.

  But why does it seem that accountability was not mentioned in Buddhist texts? There may be one of many plausible reasons. I throw around the idea of lingual differences, but that answer doesn't seem to satisfy me. I think karma was the answer and both responsibility and accountability was, as aforementioned, the branches and the roots on our tree of karma. By doing good actions we make investments in our future. The choices we make today impact our life and what form we take on in the next life. It is true that there is great reward in positive karma and also heavy burden in negative karma.

  Never believe that there is a lack of accountability in this dream we call life. Everyday people ask us to be responsible, and thus we are held accountable for these burdens. Call the fostering of positive karma a chore or what you will but those who do not take responsibility for their future are lost. Go out there, control your future by doing good towards others. Burdens come and go, I hope that you know the task of accountability when they do arrive. Both a true warrior and a sage  know the importance of their loved one's trust.