Buddhism

What is Karma (Kamma)

· 7 min read

A guide to Buddhist karma: definition, types, laws, common errors.

Definition

Karma means intentional action. It is the law of cause and effect.

The Buddha's Quote

"It is intention that I call karma." (AN 6.63)

The Three Roots

  • Desire
  • Aversion
  • Ignorance

Types of Karma

  • Virtuous
  • Unvirtuous
  • Neutral

The Five Laws

  1. Certainty
  2. Growth
  3. Immutability
  4. Non-transfer
  5. Inversion

Common Errors

  1. "Karma is destiny": NO
  2. "Karma justifies injustice": NO
  3. "Suffering is always karmic": NO

Sources

  • Geshe Kelsang Gyatso: The Heart of the Buddha
  • Walpola Rahula: What the Buddha Taught
Share
Download PDF

Related articles

Buddhism

What is Nirvana (Nibbana)

Buddhism

What is Buddhism: The Doctrine of Awakening

Buddhism

What is a Sutra: The Written Teachings of the Buddha

Comments

Sign in to leave a comment.

Loading...

Get new articles

Subscribe to receive notifications when we publish.

← Back to blog