Does anyone believe in Karma?

According to the general concepts of what is right and wrong in Hinduism, am I adding to the negative side of my karma by drinking and partying?

• (Assuming I don't harm anyone else) Just curious. I don't believe in karma.

• Answer:

  As Pavi said, such questions are a waste of time. That said- Hinduism lacks a standardized moral code & as such, is open to interpretation by everyone. The nearest thing Hinduism has to a true dietary law is the Manusmriti- which is a late-medieval record:- "There is no sin in eating meat, drinking liquor, and having carnal intercourse, for that is the natural way of created beings, but abstention brings great rewards." Consumption of Hallucinogenic substances was & is common in several Hindu rites since Vedic times. However while the Vedas do celebrate Soma, they're also the first works in history to warn against intoxication. Those who consume intoxicants lose their intellect, talk rubbish, get naked and fight with each other. Lastly, we come to the Bhagavad Gita- & probably the section you're looking for. The mandate in that is simple- Don't drink. Ever. If you really need an answer to this question, the first thing you ought to be asking is what kind of an answer you wish. There's a Bronze age opinion, an Iron Age opinion, opinions by the thousands of sages who've written the Puranas & other works, the medieval Manusmriti of North India & finally- the pseudo-monotheistic Hinduism that's so popular these days for some reason. The choice is yours. PS- Personally, I advise you to party on. Things are always simpler when you're not obsessing about stuff like sin & Hell :P