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What is Karma? According to Hinduism Karma literally means “action,” in Sanskrit and more broadly names the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction, which Hindus believe governs all consciousness. Karma is not fate, for we act with what can be described as a conditioned free will creating our own destinies. According to Hinduism, karma is seen as a person’s actions bringing about either positive or negative results in the current life or in a future life through reincarnation. In other words, a person’s deeds and behavior are reflected in his life circumstances.

The phrase “What goes around comes around” has circulated for decades. Sometimes people cite Bible verses, summarized as “You reap what you sow,” as a thumbnail explanation of karma. 

There is no external force punishing us for our negativities nor rewarding us for “being good.” We simply experience the result of what we have done in the past. 

A karma is an action, any kind of action – actions of body, speech, and mind are karmas. And generally speaking, actions bring results. Many New Agers believe in karma, treating it as a law of cause and effect that assures cosmic balance, although in some cases they stress that it is not a system that enforces punishment for past actions. 

In this writing I want to explain to you what I feel Karma is. I am not saying that the previous definitions are wrong and that I am right. In my opinion Karma is what you think it is. Karma is not something that happens to you externally but what happens to you on the inside. Let me explain. 

Let’s say you loaned someone some money and that person promised to repay you as soon as they get paid. Payday comes and goes and they haven’t paid you back, then another and another and every time you see them they have an excuse as to why they haven’t paid you back yet. This continues for weeks, months and even years. But as you are waiting for your money you see this person living the high life. 

They are going out to eat, going out with their friends to events and wearing new clothes. Where is the justice you may ask? Is Karma nothing but a bedtime story we tell ourselves to make us feel better? 

He got away with it and Karma is nowhere to be found. Remember that the deed that this person did is not the action but what he becomes. And with every deed he is building a house he must live in. The money that they are not paying you and anyone else is another brick in their house they must live in. 

They start to become imprisoned in this house and little by little their circle of friends and acquaintances becomes smaller and smaller because no one will take him for his word. When people can’t take you for your word then they want nothing to do with you anymore. Another thing that will happen is that they will start seeing the world through their own filter. They assume that since I am doing this to others, others will do it to me as well. They become suspicious of others and the actions that they do. Even if it’s offering to buy them a cup of coffee and they will start to wonder why are they being nice to me? What are they up to? What do they want? 

They will go through life not trusting anyone and always have to sleep with an eye open and constantly looking over their shoulder. This is the house they have built for themselves. Where did he learn this behavior? In most cases he didn’t learn it on his own. This was taught to them by others, a friend, family member or perhaps someone they idolized . And just as this is learned this they will also teach this to others until one day the chain is broken by someone who says this is enough. I didn’t like it when it happened to me so I’m not going to do it to anyone else. 

Unfortunately you will have to pay for the sins of your father until you can prove you are not your father and they may take a long. You may think that it may not be so bad to be them. Reap all the rewards and never have to pay the bill. 

Trust me if you became them for just one day and lived their life, you would be oh so grateful that all they took was your money and you didn’t have to live in their house everyday. A day where you are afraid to answer the phone, check your emails. You hear a knock on your door and you stay quiet hoping that person will go away or even afraid to go out because you may run into someone you wronged. 

That is no way to live the rest of your life, afraid and always holding your breath. The ones that are paying for their actions do it internally. You won’t see the payment because they act as though everything is great and are putting on a great performance for others hoping that no one can see how empty their house is. 

Yes the outside is nice and shiny but the inside is empty. There is no peace, joy, rest or trust. They must always show to others how content they are but remember content people don’t need to tell people how content they are, it always shows. 

It does no good to stand outside of their house and wait for the payment to come due it only adds to your sentence not theirs. Their payment will come due when the universe says it’s time to become due and not a moment before and trust me it will come. 

Go on living your life and build your house with good bricks. A house furnished with good deeds, integrity, peace, joy and rest. Ask yourself what kind of bricks am I building my house with and what kind of house do I want to live in?