| oes around must come around. This is the basic | | | | actions, and not just those perceived by the public. |
| understanding of the Law of Karma in the | | | | Even thinking badly about another person has its |
| Western world in which it has already become an | | | | consequences. |
| integral part of the prevailing culture and philosophy. | | | | The Law is central to Asian religions that were |
| In fact, you can trace similarities between karmic | | | | mostly created in India such as Hinduism, Buddhism, |
| principles and those from modern cultures and | | | | and Jainism, although there are stark differences |
| religions. It can be related to the concept of doing | | | | between how it is explained. |
| good deeds in Christianity if interpreted as if you | | | | In Hinduism, the Law of Karma involves the |
| do good things, then it will come back to you or | | | | concept of a God and is used primarily to provide |
| conversely, if you do bad things, then bad things | | | | enlightenment on what is evil. It is broadly explained |
| will happen to you. The stark difference, | | | | as the action-reaction relationship that universally |
| however, comes with the Christian belief that | | | | governs our current and previous lives. The concept |
| everything can be overcome by love and | | | | lies on our passionate or conscious action, and the |
| forgiveness. | | | | corresponding dispassionate or unconscious reaction. |
| Meanwhile, modern spirituality, which revolves around | | | | The Law was first explained and illustrated in the |
| the principle that virtue is rewarded and that sin leads | | | | Hindu epic Mahabharata through a dialogue between |
| to suffering, draws heavily from the Law of | | | | the protagonist, Arjuna, and his charioteer, Krishna. |
| Karma. For a lot of people, it is a more sensible | | | | The dialogue touched on various themes of morality |
| take on spirituality compared to that of eternal | | | | and philosophy; and together with the Vendanta and |
| damnation for sinners. | | | | Tantra, it has served as the cornerstone for the |
| Karma literally translates to deed or | | | | original Hindu concept of karma. |
| act. It is the law of moral causation that | | | | In Buddhism, the Law of Karma is used more |
| specifically includes the whole cause and effect cycle. | | | | in an ethical sense rather than an explanation for |
| According to it, nothing happens to a person that he | | | | natural phenomenon. While differing in specific details |
| does not deserve. Karma sums up everything that a | | | | with the way the Hindus see it, karma for believers |
| person has previously done, is currently doing, and will | | | | of Buddhism focuses on the belief that actions of |
| be doing in the future. It is a universal principle, which | | | | beings will affect their own future. In short, |
| means that no one can change its course except | | | | everything has its consequence. Those consequences |
| God or the Higher Universal Force. | | | | may come within one lifetime or in one’s |
| Karma implies that a person is inherently accountable | | | | succeeding lives. |
| for everything that is happening to him. This implies | | | | Note that in Buddhism, karma is focused more on the |
| that whether he experiences happiness or misery all | | | | effect and not on the cause. The consequences of |
| depends on his actions. Karma encompasses all | | | | one’s actions are based on certain conditions. |