| Karma has long been an idea tossed about in | | | | inevitability. |
| Western popular culture but few people outside of | | | | By understanding these two ways in which our lives |
| Eastern religions truly understand its significance. To | | | | are constantly being affected by karma, we can be |
| understand the difference between good and bad | | | | prepared to recognise the difference between good |
| karma, you must first understand what karma is. | | | | and bad karma. |
| Karma Defined | | | | |
| The easiest way to explain karma in simple terms is | | | | Good & Bad Karma |
| that it's like a cosmic cause and effect cycle. Every | | | | Often we hear "that person has all the luck" but what |
| action you take leads to a specific effect. For | | | | should really be said is "that person has good karma." |
| example, if you do a good deed for someone today, | | | | What most of us consider luck is simply the work of |
| there's a good chance that someone will do a good | | | | karma repaying us for our actions. Sometimes those |
| deed for you in the near future. | | | | actions are from our current lives; sometimes from our |
| While karma may be a new idea to many of us, the | | | | past experiences. We may not always be able to |
| concept of cause and effect is not. We all know that | | | | trace the cause of our luck - good or bad - but we |
| if we drive too fast on a wet road then apply our | | | | must know that it exists and guides karma's hand. |
| brakes quickly; the effect is likely to be skidding and | | | | Good karma brings us fortunate turns in our lives. We |
| possibly an accident. We all know that when rain falls it | | | | may meet a friend, find happiness, be blessed with |
| causes the grass to grow. | | | | financial security, come across a job opportunity, etc. |
| However, karma has a significant impact on our lives. | | | | Bad karma, on the other hand, plagues us with |
| The Twofold Impact of Karma | | | | misfortune. |
| Karma works in our lives in two ways: | | | | However, do not assume that every time something |
| - Guiding us towards our purpose in our present life - | | | | bad happens to you it is because of bad karma or |
| Each time we are reborn; we come with a purpose, | | | | because you have acted badly during one of your |
| usually to rectify something from our past life. Karma | | | | lives. In some cases, what we perceive to be an |
| manifests itself as certain themes in our lives, perhaps | | | | unfortunate turn of events now can lead to wonderful |
| problems with relationships and by paying attention to | | | | effects. For example, if you lose your job, it may not |
| these themes and taking steps to change them in our | | | | be a punishment but a way of opening a path to a |
| lives we can achieve our karmic goal. | | | | brighter job opportunity in the near future. |
| - Repaying us for our actions - In physics, we are | | | | Because we cannot determine the effect our actions |
| taught that each action has an equal and opposite | | | | will have, we can only strive to do what we think is the |
| reaction. Karma teaches us this as well. What you do | | | | right thing and follow the path we believe we are |
| today will have repercussions in your life. That is | | | | destined to travel. |