karma

(Hinduism and Buddhism) the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation

Hinduism_small Karma (Sanskrit: कर्म from the root kri, "to do", meaning ''deed'') or Kamma (Pali: meaning ''action, effect, destiny'') is a term in several Indian religions that comprises the entire cycle of cause and effect. Karma is a sum of all that an individual has done and is currently doing. The effects of those deeds actively create present and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life. In religions that incorporate reincarnation, karma extends through one's present life and all past and future lives as well.The law of Karma is central in Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, & Jainism. (These religions were formed in India). All living creatures are responsible for their karma and for their salvation (or release from samsara). As a term, it can be traced back to the early Upanishads.

Karma in the Dharma-based religions -

Hinduism - seemainKarma in Hinduism The concept of Karma, based on the Vedas and Upanishads was adopted by other religions such as Buddhism and Jainism. One of the first and most dramatic illustrations of Karma can be found in the great Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. The original Hindu concept of karma was later enhanced by several other movements within the religion, most notably Vedanta, and Tantra.Karma literally means "deed" or "act" and more broadly names the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction which governs all life. Karma is not fate, for man acts with free will creating his own destiny. According to the Vedas, if we sow Goodness and value theorygoodness, we will reap goodness; if we sow evil, we will reap evil. Karma refers to the totality of our actions and their concomitant reactions in this and previous lives, all of which determines our future. The conquest of karma lies in intelligent action and dispassionate reaction. Not all karmas rebound immediately. Some accumulate and return unexpectedly in this or other births. It is considered an entirely impersonal and spiritually originated law that cannot be abrogated by any person. Karma is not punishment or retribution, but simply an extended expression of natural acts. The effects experienced are also able to be mitigated by actions and are not necessarily fateful. Societal groups like nations and their populations incur collective karma, and personalities incur individual karma. !‡
Three types - There are three types of karma, # sanchita karma, the sum total of past karmas yet to be resolved; # prarabdha karma, that portion of sanchita karma that is to be experienced in this life; and # kriyamana karma, the karma that humans are currently creating and will bear fruit in the future.Karma in Hinduism differs from karma in Buddhism and Jainism, and involves the role of God.

Buddhism - In Buddhism, only intentional actions are karmic "acts of Will (philosophy)will". The 'Law of Karma' refers to "cause and effect", but Karma literally means "action" - often indicating intent or cause. Accompanying this usually is a separate tenet called Vipaka, meaning result or effect. The re-action or effect can itself also influence an action, and in this way, the chain of causation continues ad infinitum. When Buddhists talk about karma, they are normally referring to karma/action that is 'tainted' with ignorance - karma that continues to ensure that the being remains in the everlasting cycle of samsara. This samsaric karma comes in two 'flavors' - 'good' karma, which leads to positive/pleasurable experiences, like high rebirth (as a deva, asura, or human), and bad karma which leads to suffering and low rebirth (as a hell-sufferer, as a preta, or as an animal).There is also a completely different type of karma that is neither good nor bad, but liberating. This karma allows for the individual to break the uncontrolled cycle of rebirth which always leads to suffering, and thereby leave samsara to permanently enter Nirvana.The Buddhist sutras explain that in order to generate liberating karma, we must first develop incredibly powerful concentration, and proper insight into the (un)reality of samsara. This concentration is akin to the states of mind required to be reborn in the Deva realm, and in itself depends upon a very deep training in ethical self-discipline. This differentiation between good karma and liberating karma has been used by some scholars to argue that the development of Tantra depended upon Buddhist ideas and philosophies.Karma is related to the notion of Rebirth (Buddhist)Buddhist rebirth - sometimes understood to be the same thing as reincarnation - which has its roots in the principle of Karma.

Western interpretation - An academic and religious definition was mentioned above. Millions of people believe in it and is a part of many cultures and the psyches of millions of people. Others without religious backgrounds, especially in western cultures or with Christian upbringings, become convinced of the existence of Karma. For some, karma is a more reasonable concept than eternal damnation for the wicked. Spirituality or a belief that virtue is rewarded and sin creates suffering eventually leads to a belief in Karma.According to Karma, performance of positive action results with the reaction of a good conditioning in one's experience, whereas a negative action results in a reaction of a bad response. This may be an immediate result following the act, or a delayed result occurring either in the present life or the next. Thus, meritorious acts may create rebirth into a higher station, such as a superior human being or a godlike being, while evil acts result in rebirth as a human living in less desirable circumstances, or as a lower animal. Some observers have compared the action of karma to Western civilizationWestern notions of sin and judgment by God or gods, while others understand karma as an inherent principle of the Universe without the intervention of any supernatural Being. In Hinduism, God does play a role and is seen as a dispenser of karma; see Karma in Hinduism for more details. The latter understanding is accurate with regard to Buddhism and Jainism. Most teachings say that for common mortals, having an involvement with Karma is an unavoidable part of day-to-day living. However, in light of the Hindu philosophical school of Vedanta, as well as Gautama Buddha's teachings, one is advised to either avoid, control or become mindful of the effects of desires and aversions as a way to moderate or change one's karma (or, more accurately, one's karmic results).

Parallels with Christianity - Christian teachings do not usually include the idea of Karma, although some parallels can be made, such as in the ethic of reciprocityGolden Rule and as exemplified by biblical verses:

God is not mocked (Rom. 3:8)

Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Ga. 6:7)

“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” (Heb. 10:30) Karma is thought by some Society of JesusJesuit theologians to be consistent with the doctrine of Purgatorypurgatory. For other Christians however, the idea of the Abrahamic God makes the concept of karma redundant. Most interpretations of Christianity do not emphasize the religious importance of thoughts and intentions (volition), that are usually understood to be a major form of karma by the doctrines that use that concept. The Christian doctrine on forgiveness and remission of sins is very different from the belief that one is eternally caught in the cycle of cause and effect, in this life and beyond.

New Age and Theosophy - The idea of karma was popularized in the West through the work of the Theosophical Society. Kardecist SpiritualismKardecist and Western New Age reinterpretations of karma frequently cast it as a sort of luck which is associated with virtue: if one does good or spiritually valuable acts, one deserves and can expect good luck; conversely, if one does harmful things, one can expect bad luck or unfortunate happenings. In this conception, karma is affiliated with the NeopaganismNeopagan ''law of return'' or ''Threefold Law,'' the idea that the beneficial or harmful effects one has on the world will return to oneself. There is also the metaphysical idea that, because karma is a force of nature and not a sentient creature capable of making value judgments, karma isn't about good and evil deeds, since applying those labels would require those judgments, but about positive and negative energy, where negative energy can include things not seen as "being bad" like sadness and fear, and positive energy can be caused by being creative and solving problems as well as by exuding love and doing virtuous acts. This conception of karma handles the big problem with the more traditional view, because it explains why bad things happen to people who've done nothing "wrong"; it is due to the sort of energy they have sent into the universe with their thoughts and feelings, which exert as much power as actual actions. This view of karma centers around the idea that all things are made of karmic energy and thus able to affect each other. It is referred to as "omniverse karma" or "omni-karma" because it requires the existence of an omniverse, (a space which contains all the universes) as portrayed by superstring theory, with which it closely agrees, and includes concepts such as souls, psychic energy, synchronicity (a concept originally from Carl Jung, which says that things that happen at the same time are related), and ideas from quantum and theoretical physics (such as that time doesn't exist as we think it does).

See also -

Edgar Cayce on Karma

Just-world phenomenon

Karma in Hinduism

Sin

Theosophy

Yuanfen

Esoteric Christianity

References and related external links - !^{†‡ veda.harekrsna.cz - Dharma-Karma-Samsara}

lioncity.net - Karma In Buddhism

swami-center.org - Destiny and Its Correction

exoticindiaart.com - Exploring Karma - Tales of a Universal Principle

photonics.cusat.edu - Karma and the laws of Quantam Mechanics

ohbliss.org - Law of Karma - Dhamma Practice Book Series, by Luang Poh Jarun of Wat Amphawan, Thailand

bswa.org - Hundreds of free buddhist talks and huge forum.

? ohbliss.org - Introduction to Karma

members.tripod.com - What is Karma ? Spirituality Category:Concepts in !HinduismCategory:BuddhismCateg ory:JainismCategory:Reincarnat ionCategory:Sanskrit? !termsast:Karmabg:Кармаcs: Karmada:Karmade:Karmaet:Karmae s:Karmaeo:Karmofr:Karmagl:Karm aid:Karmaja:業he:קרמ� �lt:Karmanl:Karmapl:Karmapt:Ka rmaru:Кармаfi:Karmasv:Kar math:กรรมvi:Nghiệp

A New Consciousness Bible
Q & A interview transcripts, journals and photographs document events usually equated with the 'supernatural' or 'miraculous.' The author apprenticed as a 'carpenter in the Hollywood dream factory' before becoming an author with this book in 1997.
http://www.testament.org/

The Rational Spirituality Movement website
The Rational Spirituality Movement is a worldwide association of individuals who share a common spiritual worldview based on reincarnation and karma. This worldview is unique because it is based on rationality and analysis of modern evidence, not on faith and belief in revealed wisdom, and because it places the emphasis on karmic learning and personal responsibility. The evidence comes primarily from theoretical physics, near death experiences, children who remember past lives, and past life and interlife regression.
http://www.rsmovement.org

diamantweg boeddhisme nederland
Diamantweg boeddhisme is een Tibetaans boeddhistische traditie die de nadruk legt op meditatie en praktische beoefening.
http://www.diamantweg-boeddhisme.nl/

www.metaphysicalsolutions.com
Learn about energy field/karma/space clearing. Ask questions, order essences to empower your energy field. Order absent healing/space clearing sessions
http://www.metaphysicalsolutions.com/

BREATHE YOGA AND PILATES
BREATHE is the premier source for London's best yoga and Pilates teachers, offering private instruction for individuals and small groups in homes and offices all over London. There is no limit on class size and teachers are available seven days a week.
http://www.breatheonline.com/

The Esoteric Philosophy Homepage
A comprehensive collection of articles on Esoteric Philosophy from various sources. Includes a great links page to sites on esotericism.
http://www.esoteric-philosophy.net/

Yogic Journal
Notizie e Ricerche su Spiritualità, Yoga e Filosofia. Gli articoli più interessanti e approfonditi da tutto il mondo su discipline spirituali, religiose e orientali. I discorsi di Sri Chandrasekhara Saraswati Swamigal sull'Advaita Vedanta, metafisica della luce nel sufismo e nell'opera di Corbin, la vita e l'opera di Shankara, cristianesimo e vita eremitica, misticismo, via della conoscenza, metafisica e yoga
http://www.yogicjournal.it

Katinka Hesselink Net
Personal website with many articles on karma, reincarnation, buddhism, sufism, fourth way and theosophy. With spiritual quotes by people like Jiddu Krishnamurti, Gurdjieff, Blavatsky and the Dalai Lama.
http://www.katinkahesselink.net/

National Capital FreeNet
Local online community hosting special interest groups, community websites, and providing low-cost Internet services.
http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/

KarmaNet
KarmaNet provides on-line training systems for holistic health schools and private instructors. Free introductory course. Contact for information via email.
http://www.karma-net.com

Instant Karma: The John and Yoko Magazine since 1981
Archival material from 60 issues, plus current news about John, Yoko, Sean Ono Lennon, and Julian Lennon. Related links.
http://www.instantkarma.com/

Karma Triyana Dharmachakra
This is the North American seat of His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa, Ugyen Trinley Dorje, Supreme Head of the Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism. Woodstock, New York
http://www.kagyu.org/

Bad Karma Mecha News and Events
News, community, forums, and events.
http://www.badkarma.net/