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TOPIC
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WHAT IS KARMA? 2

IS KARMA A
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INFINITE LOOP?

KARMA THE
MATTER OF 5
BELIEF

DOCTRINE OF
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KARMA

LAW OF
CAUSATION AND 7
REACTION

PHILOSOPHY OF
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KARMA

THEORIES ABOUT
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KARMA

REINCARNATION 11

RATIONAL OF
SPIRITUAL 12
HEALING

POWER OF
KARMA IN
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RELATION TO
DESTINY

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What is karma?

Karma is a concept of action, work or deed, and its effect or

consequences.

In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of

cause and effect, often descriptively called the principle of karma,
wherein intent and actions of an individual (cause) influence the
future of that individual (effect): Good intent and good deeds
contribute to good karma and happier rebirths, while bad intent and
bad deeds contribute to bad karma and bad rebirths. As per some
scripture, there is no link of rebirths with karma. Karma is often
misunderstood as fate, destiny, or predetermination.

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Is Karma an infinite loop?
Karma is often described as an infinite loop or cycle of cause and
effect. According to this belief, any action we take, either good or
bad, will have consequences that will eventually come back
to us. This concept is rooted in various religious and philosophical
traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The idea is that
our actions, thoughts, and intentions create a kind of energetic imprint
in the universe. This imprint remains and influences our future
experiences, determining the quality of life we will have in the future.

When we perform positive actions, we generate positive karma, which

is believed to attract positive outcomes and experiences. Similarly,
negative actions generate negative karma, resulting in undesirable
consequences. This cycle of cause and effect continues indefinitely,
even stretching across different lifetimes in some belief systems. The
concept of karma emphasizes personal responsibility and
accountability for our actions.

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It suggests that our actions in the present moment can shape our
future and that we have the power to create a positive or negative
outcome for ourselves. It also promotes the idea of treating others
with kindness and compassion, understanding that our actions will
eventually come back to us.

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Karma the matter of belief
However, different interpretations of karma exist within different
religions, and even within individual believers. Some believe in
instant karma, where the consequences of actions are immediately
experienced in the same lifetime, while others believe in cumulative
karma, where the effects of actions accumulate over multiple
lifetimes. The concept of karma can also vary between different
cultures and philosophical systems.

Given the subjective nature of karma, it is a matter of personal belief

and faith. While individuals may have their own experiences or
observations that align with the concept of karma, it cannot be
objectively proven or disproven. Therefore, one's acceptance or
rejection of karma as a belief system often depends on their personal
faith and worldview

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Doctrine of karma
The doctrine of karma holds that we undergo the consequences of our
own actions, even if they are thoroughly predetermined. So even
when we are thoroughly in the grip of predestination, it is our own
actions in the past that are responsible, and not any agency other than
us such as the Fates or even gods.

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Law of causation/ action and
reaction/retribution
The great law or the law of cause and effect When most people talk
about karma, they’re likely referring to the great law of cause and
effect, Patel says. According to this law, whatever thoughts or energy
you put out, you get back — good or bad. In order to get what you
want, you have to embody and be worthy of those things. It’s the
concept of what you reap, you sow.“For example, if you want love in
your life, be loving to yourself,” she says.

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Philosophy of Karma
The philosophy of karma is a distinguishing and inherent part of the
Indian philosophical system. It comprises of two basic factors namely,
karma(action) and karma-phala (the result of an action),according to
which everyone reaps the fruit of their actions. Consequently, it can
be defined as the principle of actions performed, and their results that
had been / shall be / are being obtained.

Also, the difference in the time of the fruition and performance of acts
remains a mystery. Since karma is identified to be an eternal law
pervading the entire universe, it is also associated with rebirth. It must
be noted, no action can be nullified, though it can be performed
without the desire of result (Nishkāma karma). Thus, the points of
concern are, can it be determined whether people truly believe in the
philosophy of karma or not? how we may know whether we are
reaping the fruits of our past actions or not? how this principle works?
how karma-phala is provided? if rebirth is true and this is not our first
birth? also, if rebirth is true, freedom from it is possible or not?
Though an answer to all of these questions cannot satisfy every
human psyche, yet they play an important role in forming the belief of
people towards karma and karma- phala.

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The response towards this philosophy is further the cause of the
attitude of individuals, influencing their morals, ethics, and forming
an important part of their behaviour at their workplace. A
workplace is characterized by professionalism, commitment, ethics,
organizational aims, performance, deadlines, laying pressure on
professionals at the individual level for their performance. As a result,
it can be termed as a place with the regular demand of karma with the
equal intensity of the expectation of results.

Individuals may find it tempting to take the steps which are unethical,
wrong, or not recommended for desired outcomes, or they may follow
the righteous path and may fail to obtain the desired outcome.

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Theories about Karma
The theory of karma as causation holds that: executed actions of an
individual affects the individual and the life he or she lives, and the
intentions of an individual affects the individual and the life he or she
lives. Disinterested actions, or unintentional actions do not have the
same positive or negative karmic effect, as interested and intentional
actions. In Buddhism, for example, actions that are performed, or
arise, or originate without any bad intent, such as covetousness, are
considered non-existent in karmic impact or neutral in influence to the
individual.

Another causality characteristic, shared by karmic theories, is that

like deeds lead to like effects. Thus, good karma produces good effect
on the actor, while bad karma produces bad effect. This effect may be
material, moral, or emotional – that is, one's karma affects both one's
happiness and unhappiness. The effect of karma need not be
immediate; the effect of karma can be later in one's current life, and in
some schools it extends to future lives.

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Reincarnation
Reincarnation teaches that life continues after so-called death. The
body does not last, but thesoul lasts forever—the permanent soul in a
temporary body. The soul cannot go back to God until it reaches
perfection. Hence, when the body perishes, the soul must have
another body in order to overcome its imperfections. The body is the
residence and the soul is the resident. The fleshly house is perishable
and the soul, being the image of Spirit, is imperishable.

Therefore, when the body dies, the soul has to shift somewhere else
for shelter. Because of the soul’s intimate contact with the body, it
develops physical desires. These imperfect material attachments cling
to the disembodied soul and prevent it from returning to the Spirit.
Thus, the immortal soul has no other alternative but to come back to
the mortal school of life to work out its imperfections.

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Rational of spiritual healing
Bhagavad Gita said that nothing that you have done or studied or any
effort that you have made will go to waste. It is a chain of lives and
you improve your life slowly. To remedy to Karma, you need to
understand that this personality, this life is not really the real picture.
You have to learn to see the big picture of your soul’s life. It is the
history of your soul. Karma has many aspects.

You think wrongly that karma is something that’s happens to you and
that there’s good karma and bad karma, but it’s not correct thinking.
There’s no good karma, there’s no bad karma. It’s only your journey
of accumulating knowledge and decreasing ignorance. Your life
journey is to accumulate knowledge and decrease ignorance Karma
comes from desire and desire comes from ignorance, i.e. not knowing
who you are, so you would just project an idea of who you are.

You need to understand that you are already everything, complete and
whole , you are the immortal Self, satchidananda Atman . Remember
the Self. You know that nobody can hurt you. Nobody can touch you.
It’s only the cosmic play. Really, you are untouched and you’re
unhurt. The journey of life is the journey of purification for you to get
to understand this Truth. You keep thinking that you are this limited

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self and therefore have plenty of desire which continuously will create
new karma. And you keep evolving in the cycle of karma we call the
wheel of birth and death which never ends.

The main thing to remedy to karma is the Karma Yoga attitude. It’s
not about other people. When you do karma Yoga, it’s not that you do
service to other people. Of course, you have to have an attitude of
service and of love, but really you are working out your karma, it is
for yourself. It is the smartest way to turn your karma to dharma.
Karma is that which binds you because of your inherited tendency of
thinking in the past, and dharma is that which liberates you by the
right thinking about your duty and what you are supposed to be doing
in this life.

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Power of karma in relation to destiny
Karma simply means to perform actions, but it is the motive or intent
of the actions that determines one’s destiny. Therefore, each human
being, and not the Almighty is the architect of his or her own future.
Destiny functions on the spiritual law of action that is subtle and
cannot be influenced or manipulated by humankind. A majority of
humanity believes in this spiritual law in one form or other,
irrespective of religious following or inclination.

Many of us have been taught that when we make mistakes by

performing actions outside the moral code of ethics, we can simply
ask forgiveness from God, which would surely be granted. Therefore,
we continue committing same mistakes again and again, which has
brought us into a helpless stage, as we knowingly commit immoral
actions, fully cognisant of the consequences.

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