Karma

Karma is a concept describing the moral law of cause and effect that governs actions and their outcomes. The word derives from Sanskrit karma, meaning action or deed; in Pali it is kamma. In many Indian religious and philosophical traditions, karma explains how intentional actions bind a person to the cycle of rebirth and influence future experiences.

In Hinduism, karma plus dharma shapes the conditions of future lives within samsara. Actions are categorized as shaping current and future rebirths, with forms such as sanchita (the accumulated stock), prarabdha (the portion currently active), and agami (future karma). Liberation, or moksha, is attained by transcending karma through knowledge, ethical conduct, devotion, and union with the divine. In Jainism, karma is viewed as a physical substance that adheres to the soul; liberation requires shedding all karma through strict ethical conduct and ascetic practices. Sikhism recognizes karmic law but emphasizes God's will (hukam) and divine grace, teaching that righteous living and remembrance of God can mitigate karmic effects.

In Buddhism, karma concerns intentional actions that condition future suffering or happiness. There is no permanent self, and karma contributes to cyclic existence (samsara) until enlightenment, achieved by the path to liberation (nirvana). Across traditions, karma is a nuanced doctrine with variations in mechanism and emphasis, yet commonly links ethical conduct to future possibility.

In modern usage, karma is often employed as a general moral shorthand—“what goes around comes around”—and may be used outside doctrinal contexts, sometimes drawing criticism for oversimplification or determinism.