#10: Karma

1) What does karma mean?

Karma means action, work or deed; it also refers to the principle of causality where intent and actions of an individual influence the future of that individual.​ 2) What is the result of having a good action and a good intent?

Good intent and good deed contribute to good karma and future happiness, while bad intent and bad deed contribute to bad karma and future suffering.​ 3) Does karma affect your life now, or just future lives?

Karma is closely associated with the idea of rebirth in some schools of Asian religions. 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 - or, one's saṃsāra.​ 4) In which country would you find the origins of karma? With origins in ancient India, it is a key concept in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism, Shintoism, and others. 5) The Upanishads state that deeds are related to desires, how does this relate to life in the western world? (especially when discussing consumerism)

Now as a man is like this or like that, according as he acts and according as he behaves, so will he be; a man of good acts will become good, a man of bad acts, bad; he becomes pure by pure deeds, bad by bad deeds; And here they say that a person consists of desires, and as is his desire, so is his will; and as is his will, so is his deed; and whatever deed he does, that he will reap.

—Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, 7th Century BC

The Upanishads relate to life in the western would by saying that he who does good acts is a good person and those who do bad acts is bad, and by saying that what he desires he will get what he desires. If he did a good deed, his will will be greater.