Karma Of Hinduism: Simplified For Western Audiences

By Author: Chaitanya Kumari
Total Articles: 271
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Karma is the same as the phrase that is commonly used in the Western world- An individual reaps what they sow. The law of karma states that good actions lead to good results, and bad deeds will have bad outcomes. Sanatana dharma states that a person is fully responsible for the consequences of their actions. Let us now go into more detail.

Karma is the same as the phrase that is commonly used in the Western world- An individual reaps what they sow. The law of karma states that good actions lead to good results, and bad deeds will have bad outcomes. Sanatana dharma states that a person is fully responsible for the consequences of their actions. Let us now go into more detail.
Humans continuously perform karma, and sometimes they do actions without assessing the future impact. A person’s future is determined by their current actions. When they do positive actions, they create a positive future.
Karma can be segregated into two broad categories from the view point of seeking results from actions: Nishkam karma and sakam karma. Actions that are done without any selfish motives come under nishkam karma. On the ...
... other hand, we have sakam karma, which speaks of karma that is done with the anticipation of obtaining materialistic gains. In this context, it must be highlighted that it is only nishkam karma that takes an individual closer to God.
Apart from the above, karma can be divided into three more types based on time, as well: Kriyaman karma, sanchit karma, and prarabdha karma. Kriyaman karma refers to the karmas that are done in the present. The effects of this karma will be experienced either in the future or in subsequent births.
Sanchit karma is the karma that was accumulated in the past and which also includes previous lives. The individual might have not yet experienced all the consequences of this karma. Finally, there is prarabdha karma which is a portion of sanchit karma, and the effects of which are being felt by an individual in their existing life.
The significant point to be noted is that the corresponding results of karma cannot be avoided. If the actions are good, then the resulting situations are good. Or else, an individual cannot escape from facing unpleasant circumstances.
Sometimes it is tough to do good karma, as there are situations in life where it’s quite confusing to differentiate between good and bad. In such circumstances, humans have to shift the focus from materialistic results. Hindu dharma states that, here, the person has to emphasize more the aatmik gains that are related to a specific pattern of karma.
As per Hinduism, the law of karma stresses that the outcomes of actions are not inevitable things. There is no need for people to adopt a fatalistic approach towards life. Through doing good karma, in the present, the severity of the effects of bad karma of the past can be lessened to a reasonable extent. For this purpose, pure devotion to God is also a pivotal aspect.
Hinduism teaches that the positive effects of good karma can be shared with others, too. Prayers that are done during pilgrimages and offerings to departed souls of relatives are examples of this kind of good karma.

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