# Karma

By [Night bird](https://paragraph.com/@worldinsideout) · 2023-02-01

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**Karma** ([/ˈkɑːrmə/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English); [Sanskrit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit_language): कर्म, IPA: [\[ˈkɐɾmɐ\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Sanskrit) ([listen](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Karma.ogg)); [Pali](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pali_language): _kamma_) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma#cite_note-1) In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of [cause and effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cause_and_effect), often descriptively called the **principle of karma**, wherein intent and actions of an individual (cause) influence the future of that individual (effect):[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma#cite_note-2) Good intent and good deeds contribute to good karma and happier [rebirths](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reincarnation), while bad intent and bad deeds contribute to bad karma and bad rebirths. As per some scripture, there is no link of rebirths with karma.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma#cite_note-halbfass2000-3)[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma#cite_note-4)

The concept of karma is closely associated with the idea of [rebirth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reincarnation) in many schools of [Indian religions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_religions) (particularly [Hinduism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma_in_Hinduism), [Buddhism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma_in_Buddhism), [Jainism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma_in_Jainism) and [Sikhism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism)),[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma#cite_note-KarmaParveshSingla-5) as well as [Taoism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism).[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma#cite_note-evawong-6) In these schools, karma in the present affects one's future in the current life, as well as the nature and quality of future lives—one's [_saṃsāra_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa%E1%B9%83s%C4%81ra).[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma#cite_note-jbowker-7)[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma#cite_note-jamesloch-8) This concept has also been adopted in Western [popular culture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_culture), in which the events which happen after a person's actions may be considered natural consequences.

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*Originally published on [Night bird](https://paragraph.com/@worldinsideout/karma)*