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