hom e

con cept s

pract i ce

lifest yle

t radi t i on

m or e i n fo

The Law of Karma

Home

The law of karma underpins the process of

Concepts

transmigration of the soul. Karma literally means

Key Points

"action," but more often refers to the accumulated

The universal law of karma (action

Introduction

reactions to activities. Thus we talk of "good karma"

and reaction) determines each

Atman: The Self

and "bad karma," which are stored reactions that

soul's unique destiny.

Reincarnation and Samsara

gradually unfold to determine our unique destiny.

Karma is generated only in human

Karma

The self-determination and accountability of the

life.

Prakriti: Matter

individual soul rests on its capacity for free choice. This

The lower species are burning up

Maya: Illusion

is exercised only in the human form. Whilst in lower

"bad karma," and gradually rising

Moksha: Liberation

species, the atman takes no moral decisions but is

towards a human birth.

God: Perceived in Three

instead bound by instinct. Therefore, although all

The residents of the heavenly

Ways

species of life are subject to the reactions of past

planets are using up "good

God: Two Main

activities, such karma is generated only while in the

karma," before falling again to

Understandings

human form. Human life alone is a life of responsibility.

human life on earth.

Sanatana Dharma

The Bhagavad-gita categorises karma, listing three

Varnashrama Dharma

kinds of human actions: (1) Karma: those which elevate, (2) Vikarma: those which degrade and

One Goal, Different Paths

(3) Akarma: those which create neither good nor bad reactions and thus lead to liberation.

Key Concepts

Scripture and Guru

Kala: Time
Creation

Core Values

Practice
Lifestyle
Tradition
Extras

Useful Analogies
Going on holiday/Going to prison
Attaining a heavenly destination is like going on holiday; a lower birth like going to prison.
By performing pious activities, one accrues good karmic credits and attains a higher birth in
which one can enjoy without any difficulties. However, when one's pious credits are
exhausted, one falls again to earth, just as one must return from holidays to the regular
routine of work when one's well-earned funds are exhausted.
The residents of heaven can perform sinful actions, but generally do not, as they have all
facilities of life.
For transgressing universal and God-given laws the soul is degraded to the lower
species.Then, through gradual purification (by suffering), he rises again to the human
platform. Once in the lower species the soul cannot exercise free will and is more or less
condemned to a "sentence." This is very much like a criminal who illegally tries to enjoy life
by circumventing the law rather than following it.

Related Stories
The Sadhu's Blessings (STO-105)
A story illustrating karma.

Death in Baghdad (STO-106)

Trying to avoid our destiny.

Quote

"Only the actions of the just smell sweet and blossom in the dust."
James Shirley

Related Practices
Pious activities such as charity, penance and pilgrimage,
especially when performed in anticipation of material
benefits, such as a higher standard of living on earth or an
elevated birth on the heavenly planets.
Avoidance of impious acts, considered to bring misfortune
and degradation. These includes the neglect or abuse of five
sections of society, namely women, children, animals
(especially cows), saintly people, and the elderly

Personal Reflection
Explore common notions of karma, for example, sayings such as, "He had it coming to him!"
and "What goes around comes around."
How much free will do we feel we have in life? What should we strive to change and what
should we be content to accept?

Common Misunderstandings
Hindus don't eat meat because they think that they will then be reborn as an
animal.
This statement suggests that Hindus perform pious activities largely out of fear and selfishness.
It neglects the finer sentiments behind vegetarianism, such as empathy for fellow living beings.

A good dog may become a human in the next life, whereas a bad dog may become a
bird or insect.
The soul passing through lower species doesn't create any new karma. He only works off the
karmic reactions generated whilst in the human form and gradually rises towards another
human birth.

Hindus blame suffering on karma.

Not usually. Blame and responsibility are different. Karma entails understanding that we are all
ultimately responsible for our own lives. Belief in karma does not automatically create
indifference to the suffering of ourselves or others (as the above statement may imply), but
underpins sentiments of "helping others to help themselves.

Scriptural Passages
"In proportion to the extent of one's religious or irreligious actions in this life, one must enjoy or
suffer the corresponding reactions of his karma in the next."
Bhagavat Purana 6.1.45

Meaning and Purpose

Why is there suffering if God is all good and all powerful?
Why do bad things happen to apparently good people?
Why are there inequalities at birth?

Free will and determinism: how much free will do we actually exercise?

Glossary Terms
Punya pious activities.
Papa sinful activities.
Home Concepts Practice Lifestyle Tradition Extras About/Contact
"Heart of Hinduism" is Copyright: ISKCON Educational Services, 2004