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What is Karma and its effect on Human Life?

Understanding the Laws of Karma

By Dr. Yogesh Kumar Published 3 years ago 7 min read
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What is Karma and its effect on Human Life?
Photo by Rogier Schutte on Unsplash

What is Karma?

The word karma literally means "action" and "work". Hence, the term also describes the ethical or spiritual principle of cause-and-effect, commonly described as the underlying moral law, wherein actions and intentions of an individual are judged according to how they affect another individual.

In most of the world's religions, karma is seen as something that must be worked on, as bad actions or bad thoughts in this life will surely affect one's actions or thoughts in the next. These religions therefore counsel people to be good and help those who need it most, while practicing karma so as not to create any more karma. Read Karma quotes in Hindi here.

There is no such thing as a "good" and "bad" place or time in which to live, eat, or do anything. So in both Buddhism and Hinduism, karma and good actions are seen as essential parts of our everyday lives. The concepts of good and bad, and the actions associated with them are the products of our karmic energy.

Karma in Different Religion

In both Buddhism and Hinduism, karma and action are believed to be part of the natural process of life, without any interference from the higher powers. For example, the concepts of good and bad are not seen as separate entities but are seen as representative of individual responses to circumstances.

In either religion, karma and good karma are thinking to be separate entities, representing the individual responses to their actions. However, this separation is artificial and not supported by any scientific evidence. Both religions agree that the world is made out of spirit and that it is up to humans to care for the world they live in.

Humans are not born with morals, and their actions, while not directly tied to their souls, have an affect on those closest to them. This is the core philosophy behind both Buddhism and Hinduism, and it's the same underlying principle: that all actions are interdependent and are influenced by external forces. कर्म क्या है?

So an action done today by you may have a negative effect tomorrow by the same person, and so in both cases you can see the influence of karma on present and future events.

The Concept of Karma

It seems that karma and the concept of cause-and-effect are closely related. From a philosophical point of view, karma is a necessary part of life, and both Buddhism and Hinduism support its basic premise that all actions have some effect, even if no one was directly involved in the action. A lot more study needs to be done in order to clarify the exact relationship between karma and the cause-and-effect world we live in, but the foundation of karma is similar in both Buddhism and Hinduism.

However, the Law of Cause-and Effect only works within the three main karmic planes of existence. In Hinduism, there are 12 planes of existence, each with their own corresponding areas. Because there are no outside planes, there cannot be such a thing as karma that will work on all levels of the Law. The idea of karma being something that "works on all levels" is therefore inaccurate.

Theologies of Buddhism and Hinduism

Theologies of Buddhism and Hinduism differ slightly from one another, but both emphasize the same fundamental principles. According to Buddhism, karma is nothing other than deterministic residues that are caused by the acts or activities of an individual.

It is believed that these residues become solidified through the accumulation of innumerable karma over a lifetime and enters a realm of "rehabilitation", wherein it helps individuals achieve enlightenment. On the other hand, Hinduism emphasizes the idea that all good acts performed are equivalent with the good thoughts or intentions of an individual, which are believed to liberate him or her from their karma.

Both Buddhism and Hinduism have been the source of much speculation. For example, many have theorized that karma is actually an invisible life force that influences all physical behaviors. This force must be balanced by certain emotions like love and peace, in order for a person to be free from their Karma.

However, most scholars believe that karma is nothing more than deterministic residues that determine certain actions or thoughts and thus influence rebirth. There is also the argument that every action has an effect whether it is good or evil, thus no action can be done twice.

Karma in Different Society

According to both Buddhism and Hinduism, karma is formed during the initial moments of creation. Considered as dark energy, karma affects the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual conditions of the individual at the time of his or her birth.

If these conditions are not resolved in the expected way, it leads to unfortunate events that manifest as a result in a physical existence. Individuals then experience life's obstacles such as pain, disease, aging, loss of loved ones, poverty, and many other problems that are manifested in different ways.

How Does Karma Work?

What karma does is to judge each individual according to their previous actions and decide whether those actions should be punished or rewarded. In some religions, it is believed that good actions performed in childhood will bring happiness and bliss for a person and allow them to live a harmonious life.

On the other hand, evil actions during childhood cause suffering to others and bring misfortune, such as disease, pain, poverty, and other life obstacles. The concept of karma is present in both Hinduism and Buddhism, although the former believes in reincarnation while the latter believes in the universal karma.

In both religions, Karma is seen as a powerful agent that creates and modifies the characteristics of individuals according to their past actions. These beliefs (the law of belief) have caused controversy over the years, causing scientists to speculate on the true definition and purpose of karma.

Examples of Karma

A great example of how karma works can be seen through the example of Mary, who is believed to be a white kalari, or an entity pure of duality, but was forced to perform some good deeds which resulted to her becoming a white safari with purity of mind. Mary must have done some good deeds at her birth, but when she went to the natal pool to drown her child, she must have done some bad deeds as well in order for her to resurface as a natal kalari.

It is believed by Hindus and Buddhists that every action has its corresponding reaction, whether good or bad, and this applies to human actions as well. The good deeds or positive attributes in this case are believed to be the cause of Mary's good actions or affirmative qualities manifested by her in this life.

On the other hand, what are considered as the negative qualities in this case are the results of her actions, which are considered as the results of her negative characteristics brought about by her birth as a human being. This explanation is similar to the famous story in the Bible in which Joseph was accused of being guilty of theft because his possession of a pig is what his uncle used to eat.

Conclusion

One way to find out whether your actions are associated with good or bad karma is through the observation of the various 12 laws of karma. These laws explain that what you do today will affect your past, present and future and also determine whether your current circumstances will continue to exist or not.

When you are able to observe the 12 laws of karma properly, you will start to see for yourself how your karma has affected other people, especially in your life. Since there are many causes for karma to manifest, it is very important to try to understand all the different aspects and effects of karma. If you want to live a better life, then you should try to understand karma better and learn how to practice good karma control.

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About the Creator

Dr. Yogesh Kumar

As an esteemed pharmaceutical scientist and genetic toxicologist, I am dedicated to pioneering advancements in drug delivery systems and therapeutic solutions, with a deep-rooted passion for innovation in genetic toxicology.

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