Dictionary term
Karma
Direct answer
Karma is an Indian religious and philosophical concept of action and consequence, later simplified in popular culture as what comes back to a person.
Karma means action and its consequences, though traditions define it more deeply than payback.
Karma means action and its consequences, though traditions define it more deeply than payback.
A plain educational schematic; it does not diagnose a condition or replace professional care.Quick reference
- Use when
- Use Karma when explaining Indian religious concepts, moral causality, action, consequence, reincarnation, and modern misuse.
- Do not use it for
- Do not use karma to blame victims, explain suffering simplistically, or celebrate another person's pain.
- Reference category
- Consciousness & Spiritual Psychology
- Related terms
- Birth Chart, Zodiac, Transit
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The story behind Karma
Karma is central in Indian traditions including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, then entered Western spirituality and popular language through translation, Theosophy, yoga culture, and New Age thought.
Karma in spiritual tradition
Spiritually, Karma asks whether action is being taken seriously without losing compassion.
Karma in the Bible
Christian readers should distinguish karma from grace, providence, judgment, repentance, forgiveness, and mercy.
Why Karma matters
Karma matters because popular usage often reduces it to revenge or cosmic punishment. In Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain contexts, karma is a complex moral and causal principle tied to action, intention, rebirth, and liberation.
Karma at work: an example
A page can say karma is not simply someone getting what they deserve immediately.
Safety note
Sources and editorial method
This concise reference separates established definitions from historical, symbolic, or interpretive claims. Entries without external references are presented as editorial summaries rather than primary-source scholarship.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Consciousness & Spiritual Psychology
- Also appears in
- Consciousness & Spiritual Psychology
- Aliases
- None listed
- Last updated
- 2026-07-15
Read consequence with compassion
Karma in a book is one thing; Karma in your own birth chart is your life. The Oracle casts your real chart and tells you what it means for your love, your work, and your year ahead, in conversation, free.
Speak with the OracleYour year, written once from your chart alone: the Cosmic Codex reads the whole of it, month by month. Open the Cosmic Codex
Related terms
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Common questions
What is Karma?
Karma is an Indian religious and philosophical concept of action and consequence, later simplified in popular culture as what comes back to a person.
How should Karma be approached safely?
Use Karma when explaining Indian religious concepts, moral causality, action, consequence, reincarnation, and modern misuse.
What should I avoid when interpreting Karma?
Do not use karma to blame victims, explain suffering simplistically, or celebrate another person's pain.
