Karma

Karma, from the Sanskrit verb action, work, or deed that you perform with your hands, simply refers to the fact that actions have consequences.

Related LP Terms

Karma > Right Action

Non-LP Related Terms

Karma > Duty, Karma Yoga

Notes

In ancient usage, karma referred to the positive outcomes that arise as a result of ritual actions.

"The earliest mention of the ethical importance of karma in the Hindu context is found in the Brhadaranyaka Upanisad, when Yajfiavalkya states that “one becomes good by good action, bad by bad” (3.2.10.13)"

Later, in the Dharmasastra, the doctrine become associated with "rebirth according to one's meritorious or sinful deeds."

Jainism has a "fully developed and quite distinct doctrine of karma that entails strict observance of ethical precepts rooted in ahimsa."

Injurious activities inspired by self-interest lead to evil and darkness. This is what is called bondage, delusion, death, and hell. To do harm to others is to do harm to oneself. “Thou art he whom thou intendest to kill! Thou art he whom thou intendest to tyrranize over!” We corrupt ourselves as soon as we intend to corrupt others. We kill ourselves as soon as we intend to kill others.

"The concept of karma entered Hinduism through ancient non-Vedic sects such as Saivism and Bhagavatism and the old Samkhya school. Saivism recognized karma as one of the three impurities responsible for the bondage of individual souls."

Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda: Defines karma as simply action and will (Force in other words). Here, karma becomes what you work for, what you accomplish through will and action. It has NOTHING to do with the Western corruption which absorbs karma into the Zoroastrian Frame and makes it all about God's/cosmic punishment. As the Swami notes: "The word Karma is derived from the Sanskrit Kri, to do; all action is Karma. Technically, this word also means the effects of actions. In connection with metaphysics, it sometimes means the effects, of which our past actions were the causes."

Vivekananda points out that action comes with consequences, one of which is that when one engages in bad actions or good actions, these bad actions or tendencies, habits, and instincts build up over time. To avoid behavioural, psychological, cognitive inertia, which can make adaptation and change difficult, avoid attachment.

According to Vivekananda, duty is an aspect of Karma. Vivekananda has an awesome philosophical discussion in the book Karma Yoga, but it can be a bit confusing. On the LP we see duty as merely the 'aligned responsibility to uplift creation (see the SW entry for Right Action). According to Vivekananda, "devotion to duty helps us in our spiritual progress." This is because duty is an aspect of Right Action which is itself a key component of Alignment

Later on it came to be used as an antidote to the fatalism of some early vedic thought where it came to be an iconic and ideological representation of humanity's free will and ability to choose. "According to them fate was a product of one's own actions and what might look like the intervention of chance in case of some individuals was actually a result of their previous actions done either in their present lives or in their previous ones."

In the Vedas, karma may refer to the divine karma or the actions of God as the source of all creation, preservation, and destruction.

In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, karma indicates the personal consequences of good or bad actions."Accordingly as one behaves so does he become. The doer of good becomes good, the doer of evil becomes evil. One becomes virtuous by virtuous actions. Others become bad by bad actions." As such, karma is an admonishent to be aware of the short and long term consequences of your actions, and to recognize and take responsibility for them.

Yagnavalkya said: 'Take my hand, my friend. We two alone shall know of this; let this question of ours not be (discussed) in public.' Then these two went out and argued, and what they said was karman (work), what they praised was karman, viz. that a man becomes good by good work, and bad by bad work. After that Garatkarava Artabhaga held his peace.

In general usage, karma refers to the positive or negative consequences of actions.

Its ideological function is identified clearly here: "Today if there is one concept that is deeply ingrained in the consciousness of Hindus, and for that matter a vast number of Indians, and influences their thinking and actions so deeply, it is undoubtedly the concept of Karma. They may not think of it constantly while they perform their daily chores, but it is there, deep in their subconscious minds, like a self-regulating mechanism, influencing their lives and actions....Whether they are literate or illiterate, they honor it and respect it. It makes them feel responsible for their lives and accept their lot rather poignantly."

Ojibway notions of Karma

"We believe in the circle of life. We believe that all return to its source; that both good and bad return to the place where they began. We believe that if we start a deed, after the fullness of time it will return to us, the source of the journey. If care is not used when the circle is begun, then the hurts along the way will be received in the end. Such is the belief of the true Ojibway."

Further Reading

The Vedic Origins of Karma, Herman Tull

Karma and Creativity, Christopher Chapple

Footnotes

References