The true meaning of Karma

By Bayo Ogunmupe In defining karma, most people are wrong about its meaning. People are wont to say,Karma is a bitch, we hear that all the time. But somebody does something good, he gets good karma in return. Something bad happens to someone, that is because he had bad karma. But that isn't how karma works. We all think we know what karma means, sadly, we don't. The true definition of karma we have wrong. This misunderstanding of the true definition of Karma doesn't help any of us. When you truly understand what karma means, you can use it as a powerful tool for personal development. Indeed, karma is a Sanskrit word meaning 'action.' It refers to a cycle of cause and effect which is an important concept in the religions of Asia, particularly Hinduism and Buddhism. In its essence, karma refers to both the actions and the consequences of those actions. It is important to note that karma isn't set in stone, it isn't out of our control, and is not indirect. By this, I mean you don't do good things with hopes of getting good in return. Karma isn't doing your chores this week in hopes of winning the lottery. Instead, it means: the steps of your life, your spiritual development and your personality are directly molded by your thoughts and actions. The present you affects the future you. According to a Buddhist, "Karma is an action, not a result. The future is not set in stone. You can change the course of your life right now by changing your intentions by acts and self destructive patterns." First of all, karma has nothing to do with 'fate.' If you do something bad, it doesn't mean something bad will happen to you. Karma is based on your actions and your thoughts at every single moment. This explanation of karma by Barbara O'Brien of Buddhism.com blog explains it best: "Karma means action not fate. In Buddhism, karma is an energy created by willful action through thoughts, words and deeds. We're all creating karma every minute, and the karma we create affects us every minute. It is common to think of 'my karma' as something you did in your last life that seals your fate in this life. But this is not the Buddhist understanding of karma." Thus, karma means: action, work or deed. When we talk of karma, what we are referring to is: the spiritual principle of cause and effect where intent and actions of an individual (cause) influence the future of that individual (effect). But it isn't just you reap what you sow; that's not all, it is more than that. While karma has a strong core of cause affecting effect, it is also more that your actions and thoughts will affect how you live your life.It is less of I picked up recycling outside so I'll get a good thing later but more of the good actions I choose now will mold me into a virtuous person the rest of my life. Allow me to add a quote from an Upanishad, "A man of good deeds will become good." Our flawed interpretation of karma originated from the pop culture of you get what you deserve, wealthy musicians, and manufacturers praising themselves saying their creativity and hard work made them wealthy. That their hard work paid off; that they got what they deserved. It is easier to justify: bad makes bad, than there's a dynamic energy system that responds to our every action. Also, our misguided perspective that we aren't in control of our destinies cause us to attribute success in life to fate. Certainly, karma is not fate. Karma is an internal power that we create, for good or bad. When we shift this to say, 'that's karma' when something bad happens to us, we are giving up our internal will power. We're giving up on our ability to change things. It's because of this false view of karma, that we desire to transform karma into a form of cash cow, based on our ethical and spiritual behaviour. However, if we can let go of this misunderstanding of happiness, we can see that all we need is to live deeply in the present moment with mindfulness and discover our true nature. Karma is simply energy; our intentional thoughts and actions. This energy we generate now and in the future affect us. It merely shapes our future path and destiny. It has nothing to do with reward or punishment. Karma is unbiased and it is ours to control. Let us see how karma actually works. Examples of bad karma are oppressing people, abuse of power, stealing and cheating. When through these actions you create bad karma, you will bear bad results either immediately, within your lifetime or in your other life. Some of the results of your bad karma could be being born into abject poverty, involvement in a destructive connubial relationships and being punished by society. And to gain good karma: you volunteer for good causes in your community, loving others as yourself, choosing what is moral over what is easy. The results of your creating good karma are: you become a pillar of good for your society, you gain increase in wisdom, you own a healed soul and carry healing powers. Thus, when you perform certain actions, you will bear certain consequences. That is how karma works. There are three types of karma: accumulated karma, this is karma of actions you have taken in the past. Ripened karma: this is karma ready to be experienced in your present life and lastly, current karma: this is karma that you are making now, which you will experience in the future. Which is why karma plays an integral part in the cycle of the soul's rebirth. The actions you have taken in the past will affect your reincarnated self in the future. There are two salient laws of karma. One, What you sow, so shall you reap. Two, whatever spiritual law or truth you refuse to accept will continue to haunt and limit you until you accept it. I urge you to water your mind through using karma as your guiding force. Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How you know this is the experience you are going through at the moment.