In Buddhism, karma (Sanskrit: karma, Pāli: kamma) refers to intentional actions that affect one’s future. Unlike popular Western interpretations that often oversimplify karma as a kind of cosmic “reward and punishment” system—“what goes around comes around”—the Buddhist view is more nuanced and intricately tied to the ideas of intention, cause and effect, and mental conditioning. Related article What Does Buddhism Say About Suffering?
The Meaning of Karma
In the Buddhist context, karma means “action” or “deed.” But more specifically, it refers to volitional actions—those performed with intention (cetana). This includes actions of body, speech, and mind.
“It is volition, monks, that I call karma; for having willed, one acts by body, speech, and mind.”—The Buddha (AN 6.63)
This means that simply performing an act is not enough to generate karma; it must be driven by intention. Accidental actions do not carry karmic consequences in the same way that purposeful actions do.
Types of Karma
Karma is not a single kind of force but can be categorized in various ways. Here's a chart showing a common classification:
| Type of Karma | Description |
|---|---|
| Wholesome Karma | Intentions and actions rooted in generosity, compassion, and wisdom. |
| Unwholesome Karma | Actions motivated by greed, hatred, and delusion. |
| Neutral Karma | Actions that have neither wholesome nor unwholesome consequences (e.g. breathing). |
The Law of Cause and Effect
At the heart of the Buddhist understanding of karma is the law of cause and effect, or dependent origination (Paticca Samuppāda). This law suggests that everything arises due to conditions and ceases when those conditions change or cease.
Karma plays a key role in creating the conditions that shape our present and future experiences. For example:
- A person who cultivates patience (a wholesome mental habit) is more likely to experience peace and better relationships.
- Someone who acts out of anger and causes harm may develop mental stress, guilt, or even face retaliation from others.
This doesn't necessarily mean immediate results. Karma can ripen across lifetimes. Some actions bear fruit in this life; others take longer to manifest. You may like to read Ten wholesome deeds and ten unwholesome deeds in Buddhism here.
Examples of Karma in Daily Life
Here are some practical examples that illustrate how karma functions:
- Speaking harshly to a friend out of anger → friend becomes distant or hurt → relationship deteriorates (unwholesome karma).
- Donating food to someone in need with a kind heart → creates joy for both → increases generosity in the community (wholesome karma).
- Meditating daily → reduces stress and enhances clarity → better decisions and inner peace (wholesome karma).
Even thoughts and intentions carry karmic weight. Harboring ill will may not hurt someone directly but can condition the mind to become more angry and agitated over time, leading to future unwholesome acts.
Karma Is Not Fate
A common misunderstanding is that karma means people are stuck with their past actions, or that someone’s suffering is deserved due to their past karma. This is not the Buddhist position.
In Buddhism:
- Karma is not deterministic. It is one of many conditioning factors.
- We have agency. Each moment is an opportunity to make new karma.
- Present actions can counteract or mitigate the results of past karma.
For example, someone may have a tendency toward anger due to past karma, but through mindfulness and effort, they can cultivate patience and transform their mind.
The Role of Karma in Rebirth
In Buddhist cosmology, karma plays a central role in rebirth. When a being dies, it is the karmic energy (not a soul) that conditions the arising of a new existence. The kind of rebirth—whether in a human, animal, heavenly, or hell realm—is determined largely by the quality of one’s karma.
However, Buddhism emphasizes that rebirth isn’t eternal or fixed. One can evolve from lower to higher realms (or vice versa) depending on one's actions.Related article - What are the Six and Eight in Buddhist Teaching.
Karma and Liberation
The ultimate goal in Buddhism is liberation from the cycle of birth and death (samsara). As long as karma continues to be produced, the cycle continues.
But through practices like:
- Mindfulness (sati)
- Ethical conduct (sila)
- Meditation (samadhi)
- Wisdom (panna)
…one gradually reduces the creation of new karma and purifies old karma. Eventually, a person may reach Nirvana, the state beyond karma, rebirth, and suffering.
Summary Chart: Key Aspects of Karma in Buddhism
| Aspect | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Definition | Volitional action driven by intention. |
| Types of Actions | Body, speech, and mind |
| Key Influences | Greed, hatred, delusion vs. generosity, compassion, wisdom. |
| Not Fate | Karma conditions experience but does not determine everything. |
| Affects Rebirth | Karma determines quality of future existence. |
| Path to Freedom | Ethical and meditative practices lead to cessation of karmic cycle. |
Final Thought
Karma in Buddhism is a profound teaching on the power of intention and the interconnectedness of our actions and experiences. It teaches us that we are the authors of our own destiny, not by magical retribution but by the choices we make—moment by moment. Related article - Rebirth and Karma: Buddhist Perspectives on Life After Death.
Through awareness, ethical living, and compassionate action, one can cultivate wholesome karma, reduce suffering, and progress on the path to ultimate freedom.
Thanks.
Written By HarvestedSpiritualmind.
Spiritual Practice and Life Motivation Researchers.