When it comes to rules that govern lives, the concept of karma is one that has always made the most sense to me. Doing good deeds will manifest good things in one’s life; acting badly will only invite negativity. All in all, having good karma seems a worthy goal, but often I over-worry about the bad kind—like lying about a relative’s death to get out of work or making fun of someone. How much does the good outweigh the bad, and vice versa? As it turns out, there’s more than one way to define karma and the way it shapes our lives.
The Origins of Karma
The word karma is Sanskrit for “act,” “action,” or “doing.” The idea came about around the 5th century BC and has its roots in Brahmin doctrine, which is the basis of Hinduism. The wandering monks of ancient India (called shramana), who advocated self-denial of pleasures as a means to spiritual enlightenment, also influenced the movement. As a result, karma became the main principle of not only Hinduism, but also Buddhism and Jainism. However, each religion’s interpretation of karma—specifically, how it works and what it means for our futures—varies significantly.
Karma in Hinduism
In Hinduism, there’s more than one way to determine karma. In fact, there are four—actions we do, actions we ask of others, our words, and even our thoughts. There’s also more than one kind of karma within this religion. The first, sanchita, refers to the karma we’ve manifested over all of our lifetimes. (Hindus believe in reincarnation, the outcome of which is based on one’s karma.) Prarabdha is karma that’s earned at the present and the last kind, kriyamana, is karma over the present life that adds to sanchita.
Basically, Hindus think that everything has an effect on our future, right down to occasional mean thoughts. Luckily, what we actively do has more of an effect. There are some sects that believe in a divine power that controls karma and that we can make up for bad karma via pilgrimage or faithful acts. But for others, we alone control our destinies; there is no erasing of bad karma, but balancing it is possible.
Karma in Buddhism
For Buddhists, a higher authority doesn’t rule over their lives and determine their outcomes. They live based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama—also known as Buddha—but acknowledge that they, not Buddha, are responsible for their present and future happiness. To be free of worldly pain and suffering, one must try to live the most ethically sound life possible, which means always striving for good intentions. In Buddhism, it’s the intention behind the act, not the act itself. It’s like helping a neighbor move but inwardly complain the whole time. If the intention’s not genuine, the good deed doesn’t count for much.
Another major way Buddhism’s version of karma differs from Hinduism’s is the way it’s judged. Rather than basing everything on the specific thought or action, the person’s character and the nature of the situation come into play as well. There’s also a lot of optimism when viewing karma and one’s ability to enter into a higher divinity. Buddhists believe it’s always possible to become a better person, regardless of the past.
Karma in Jainism
Jainism is a religion started in India that encourages non-violence and spirituality as a means to higher consciousness. Those who follow this religion think of karma as little particles (called “karmic dirt”) that attach themselves to souls based on the energy emitted by people, be it through words, actions, or thoughts. In fact, the only way to enter into a divine state is to erase all bad and negative thoughts from entering the mind.
Like Buddhism, Jainism rejects the notion of divine authority or fate. We choose the courses that our lives take. And we can’t fully escape the effects of our decisions, but we can make other decisions that create more of a karmic balance in our lives. It also promotes the idea that everyone can reach the goal of divine consciousness, but because there’s still pain and injustice in the world, obviously we’re not always making choices that lead us down that path.
