What Is Karma, Really?

We’ve all heard people say “Karma!” or “What goes around comes around!” But what does karma actually mean?

Karma is a Sanskrit word which literally translates to “action.” It is a principle founded in Hinduism; however, different cultural and religious schools vary in how they view the role of karma.

Generally speaking, karma is considered to be a force that promotes cycles of positivity or negativity. In other words, it is the reason positive thoughts, words, and actions are rewarded by positive consequences, and negative thoughts, words, and actions are followed by negative consequences. However, there are many nuances to the karmic process.

While depictions of karma in pop culture are of a great equalizer or vengeful god, it isn’t either of these things. It isn’t good or bad, but simply the process by which actions or intentions are addressed.

A common misconception is that karma is, in and of itself, the positive or negative consequence. For example, when you’ve said something unkind about another person, you might’ve thought to yourself, “That will bring bad karma!”

What you really mean to say is that the action of talking poorly about another person will bring about negative consequences in your own life. Karma actually refers to the process by which those “divine consequences” are issued.

It’s important that we don’t misconstrue the principle of karma and perpetuate an unfounded belief that it victimizes or “dooms” us for eternity. Karma doesn’t hand out rewards or punishments. It’s an energetic exchange that is created, powered, and contained by the self.

Definition of Karma

In Hindu and Buddhist philosophies, karma refers to the “cause and effect” process by which good actions breed more good actions, and bad actions bring about more bad actions. However, to only consider karma as producing consequences is a limited definition.

Karma also refers to the morality of a person’s intentions. Karma is action channeled by thought. Positive intentions would be ones that are considerate of yourself and others and benefit the most people, whereas negative intentions usually indicate malice or the purposeful infliction of harm.

Karma can also be in response to your thoughts and actions toward yourself. If your friend walks around believing, “I am a bad person,” according to the principle of karma, she is repeating a familiar, negative thought pattern that will usher in additional negativity into her present and future decisions.

According to our contemporary misunderstanding of karma, it can be easy to believe that an unfortunate incident in your present life is the result of a mistake you made in the past. However, karma isn’t necessarily that simple. It may help to view karma as more of a cycle instead—as in, your thoughts, feelings, and words fuel your actions, thus feed the karmic cycle of life.

The Relationship Between Karma and Reincarnation

Reincarnation is the philosophy that the soul lives on after the physical body it inhabited has died. Reincarnation is a prominent belief in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, as well as many other religions and cultures throughout the world.

According to an ancient Hindu scripture called The Bhagavad Gita, “As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from childhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death…Worn-out garments are shed by the body; Worn-out bodies are shed by the dweller within the body. New bodies are donned by the dweller, like garments.”

According to the belief of reincarnation, a soul will then inhabit a new physical body, which could take the form of a plant, animal, human, or spirit, depending on what karmic level it reached in its past life.

Souls continue through the process of birth and rebirth until they reach moksha (a Sanskrit word which translates to “release”). In order to reach moksha, or liberation, a soul must reach a level of spiritual enlightenment while inhabiting a physical body. A soul’s enlightenment, according to Hindu philosophers, includes the deep knowing that a being is not their egoic state but rather one with the universe.

Karma In Your Everyday Life

There are plenty of ways we can engage with karma in our daily lives, such as:

• Using self-compassion instead of self-judgment
• Saying kind words to and about others
• Making time for moments of self-care
• Trying out a positive affirmation or mantra
• Respecting the earth
• Giving back to our communities

When you feel badly about yourself or something you have done recently or in the past, use the mantra “Next time, I will do better.” Karma is not about good versus bad; rather, it’s a constant work in progress on our journey through this life.