Karma is a concept rooted in various Eastern religions and philosophies, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, which refers to the idea of cause and effect or the law of moral causation. It is often described as the sum of a person's actions, intentions, and behaviors that determine their fate or destiny in subsequent lives or within the cycle of reincarnation.
According to the principle of karma, every action, whether good or bad, will have an eventual consequence or outcome. Positive actions generate positive consequences, while negative actions yield negative consequences. This concept emphasizes the idea that individuals are responsible for their own actions and the subsequent effects they will experience.
Karma is not solely concerned with the present life but extends beyond it, suggesting that actions in prior lives can influence one's current circumstances. It is believed that the choices and actions individuals make in their present life shape their future lives or impact their spiritual journey towards enlightenment.
Moreover, karma is not only concerned with moral actions but also includes intentions and thoughts as contributing factors in determining future outcomes. It encourages individuals to cultivate virtuous qualities, such as compassion, kindness, and honesty, in order to generate positive karma and ultimately achieve a higher state of consciousness or liberation.
In contemporary usage, the term "karma" has also been appropriated in colloquial language to describe the idea of "what goes around comes around." In this context, it refers to the belief that one's actions or behavior will eventually catch up to them, either positively or negatively, in the course of their lives.
