Karma

[edit] INTRODUCTION TO KARMA

Most people define karma as both the good and bad things that a person does, which in turn, determines their destiny. Hindus, jain, Sikh and Buddhists are the main believers in karma. A person may have either a good or a bad karma. This good or bad karma is synonymous with the law of cause and effect, which is in effect, called the law of Karma. "Karma" is a Sanskrit word that means "act” and its effects are either felt immediately or in the afterlife by everyone.

Many people may define karma in various ways but the basic concept is the same. The law of karma implies that people are responsible for their own actions in this life and in the next world. Some religions that support reincarnation also suggest that the effects of karma are felt throughout a person’s life, their past and their future as well.

[edit] Importance of karma

Karma tries to explore why different things happen to people the way they happen. It provides an insight into why life seems to be so unfair, and why bad things happen to good people and vice-versa.

It is built around a basic concept in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism that supports a definite attempt to influence one’s fortunes through actions. People call it karma when good things happen to a person and call it bad karma when bad things happen to them. This offers them a viewpoint that helps them to understand the workings and random misfortunes of life.

[edit] Cause of karma

Ignorance is believed to be the root cause of karma.Ignorance subsequently leads to the ally craving.

Karma may be classified as follows:

1. Reproductive karma Every birth comes with a past karma which may be good or bad, depending on the circumstances of the person's death. Karma that determines the circumstances of a future birth is called reproductive karma. A person’s death is regarded as temporary. Another form of life is believed to take place at the moment of death.

2. Supportive karma This type of karma supports the reproductive karma. It is not good or bad in itself but merely supports the outcome of the reproductive karma. A moral supportive Karma assists in giving good health, joy, wealth, etc, while an immoral supportive karma gives pain, sadness, etc.

3. Counteractive or obstructive karma This is the type of karma that tends to disrupt the reproductive karma that a person was born with. This may occur in different forms like ailments and temporary failures which may combine to prevent a person from enjoying the fruits of their good karma. Also, someone with a bad karma may enjoy good food and accommodation as a result of his obstructive karma.

4. Destructive karma As dictated by the law of Karma, the residual energy of the reproductive karma may be subdued by a very powerful opposing karma from the past. This type of karma is not merely obstructive but can also lead to the complete destruction of the counteractive force. There are other classifications of Karma but the aforementioned is the major one because it helps us understand why people call it karma when good or bad things happen to people.