Exploring Karma: What Is It?

Karma means action and refers to physical, verbal, or mental acts that are done with purpose and, therefore, intentional. These intentional actions effect our minds and leave imprints or seeds on our mind-streams. When the appropriate conditions come together, the imprints ripen and sprout out into our life experience.

For example, when we act intending to help someone wholeheartedly and with kindness. This action effects us in such a way that it leaves an imprint on our mind-stream.  Thereafter when the right conditions arise, we will cultivate the fruits of this imprint into ourselves, receiving help when we need it because of the nature of the action's goodness.  When it comes to Karma, it is understood that the fruits of our actions transfer onto our next lifetime and do not get lost. 

With Karma, if an action brings suffering, it is considered unwholesome, destructive and unvitues.  On the contrary, if an act results in happiness, it is wholesome, constructive, or noble.  

According to Karma, acts are not intrinsically positive or evil but are only classified according to the effects and outcomes that result from them.  Both consequences emerge from factors that have the potential to generate them. An apple tree will flourish if we sow apple seeds, not chilli seeds. Chili, not apples, can grow if chilli seeds are planted.

In the same way, happiness and goodwill will ensue if we act constructively; if we act destructively, problems will arise. Whatever happiness and prosperity we experience in our lives comes from our own right actions, while our own negative actions are the product of our problems.

Furthermore, Karma can be both individual or communal. The acts we do collectively as a society are mutual Karma: soldiers use weapons, a group of religious practitioners pray or meditate.  It is understood that meditation as a collective cultivates good karma.  Together as a collective, we will experience the consequences of these acts and their collected Karma even in future lives. Yet each party member feels, talks, and behaves subtly differently, generating individual Karma, the consequences of which each individual will feel him or herself.