What Does Karma Mean?

Karma is a powerful Buddhist belief that is widely accepted in other Indian religions and cultures. Essentially, karma is the belief that one’s actions and words cause reactions in the present, past and future. It is based on the idea that every intention has tangible consequences. In Hinduism, karma has been explained as a deep-rooted belief that if one acts in a certain way they will eventually receive a reward or punishment. In the simpliest of terms, karma means that what goes around comes around in one form or another.

The Three Types of Karma

The concept of karma is often broken down into three different categories. First, there is Sanchita Karma. This type of karma is the sum total of all the actions that you have taken in your life. It is the accumulated result of every action throughout your lifetime.

The second type of karma is Prarabdha Karma. This karma is the result of actions taken in a previous or past life and is destined to be experienced in the present life. It is difficult to truly understand Prarabdha Karma, as it is related to another lifetime and many lifetimes prior.

The third type of karma is Agami Karma. This is the karma you create in each moment as you make choices in the present. Agami karma is closely related to the idea of free-will – the concept that you have the power to choose how you want to act in each moment and that those decisions will have tangible, long-term consequences.

Karma and Reincarnation

Karma is closely tied to the belief of reincarnation. Although karma itself is not necessarily a belief in reincarnation, they are closely intertwined. According to Buddhist traditions, the idea of reincarnation is that the soul continues to reincarnate into new bodies upon death. This idea is supported by the concept of karma, as karma is believed to be the vehicle by which souls take on a new form. The total sum of all the actions taken in previous lifetimes will directly affect the circumstances encountered in the present lifetime.

In conclusion, karma is a strong and powerful belief that is widely accepted in other Indian religions and cultures. It represents the idea that all intentions have tangible consequences, and is based on the idea that what goes around comes around in one way or another. On top of the three distinct types of karma outlined above, karma has a strong connection to the belief of reincarnation. It is believed that karma will influence the new form a soul takes on when a person dies and is reincarnated.