karma
Reader question – Gabriel Vinicius, Ferraz de Vasconcelos, SP
ACTION AND REACTION
In Indian philosophy and religions, karma is a kind of universal law of cause and effect. It dictates that every action has future consequences, which depend on its nature. “Simply put, a good action leads to good results and a bad action to bad results,” says Herman Tull, professor of religious studies at Laffayette College (USA).
ETERNAL DEBT
As Indian belief predicts rebirth after death, karma goes far beyond the saying «Here it is done, here it is paid». The relationship between action and result can last for more than one life, and each person’s suffering is determined by actions in one (or more) previous life(s). Those who act in the right way can free themselves from the burden accumulated by their previous lives.
GREATER GOOD
Also written with a c in Portuguese, the word karma comes from Sanskrit (ancient Indian language) and literally means action. She already appeared in very old Indian texts, written between the years 1000 and 700 before Christ, which spoke about sacrificial rituals. It was believed that, as a result of the act, it was possible to achieve wealth and even “a place in heaven”.
UNIVERSAL IDEA
Karma is present in the religious and philosophical texts of all religions in India such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. The idea that we reap what we sow also appears in other religions, such as Christianity and Judaism, which do not, however, believe in reincarnation. But the concept went beyond religious practice and became a way of explaining luck and bad luck in everyday life.
Sources: Michaelis Dictionary and Encyclopedia Britannica
Consultancy: Finnian M. Moore-Gerets, Visiting Professor of Religious Affairs at Brown University, and Herman Tull, Visiting Professor of Religious Studies at Lafayette College
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