There are what are called the four parts of karma. We think of karma as one thing but karma is actually many things. Not only is karma cause but karma is also the effect. They come together. They are interdependent. You can't have a cause without an effect.
The root verb for karma in Sanskrit really is pointing to the cause because the cause creates the effect. In pop culture we think about karma like a car accident for the person that you don't like, you go 'they got theirs, bad karma.' Karma is more than this. If you want to get into trying to understand and explain how you have varieties of karma, different degrees of heaviness they're called, different ripening contingencies, different ways that things ripen, you can look at what are called the four parts of karma. There is the object, the intention, the action and the completion. If all four of these variables are in the equation you get a very powerful, full effect karma, both virtue and vice.
What is the object? The object is always somebody else. It is always the subjectivity. You can be the object of your own loving-kindness you can be the object of your own hatred. Someone else can be the object of your loving-kindness. Somebody else can be the object of your hatred. The door that I hit can be the object but in that case there's no subjectivity there. It can't have the completion because no one's there to feel the completion. I can have the intention and the action so I get portions of the karmic reaction.
The object is either your own subjectivity or someone else's subjectivity. The intention is obvious. The intention is that motivation that causes the action, virtue or vice, ill will or love and compassion. The action is the follow through, the behavior and the completion is the subjective experience of the action. Once there is a subjective experience either to yourself or the other, then that karmic domino effect has reached its completion. That's why it's called the completion. Object, intention, action, completion.
If all four are present in the equation it would attest to a very heavy karma, both positive and negative. The minute you start having one or less of the variables it becomes lighter in its karmic repercussion. The classic one that's in the text that they debate on is if you find a monk's robe in the street and we could just say if you found someone's wallet in the street. There is no object. The object is not the wallet. The object is the person that's missing the wallet.
You have the wish to take the extra effort to find the recipient because you want to return the wallet, virtue or vice? Virtue. You take the steps to call the cab driver that you found it in so that they can call the dispatch to see if they can find the last person in the cab. It may take fifteen minutes of your time. That's the action. Somebody gets a random act of kindness phone call from the dispatch saying 'we found your wallet". What do they feel? They feel joy. That's the completion. Who gets the merit? Who gets the wallet? Everybody's happy.
Random acts of kindness are so cool. Let's make the whole program about random acts of kindness. But first, let's learn how it works. Why is Geshe Tenzi Zopa flying high on life? Because his main preoccupation is random acts of kindness. How many of you in Nepal and in India felt that you were too scared to ask him something and he sought you out to give the very thing that you were wanting? I know that's how I feel with Geshe Tenzin Zopa. I'm sitting in my bed and I see a little ping and it's from him and he's sending me some little picture and some little quote. Random act of kindness. Makes my day. .
Object, intention, action, completion. If some of them are not there you can still get some semblance of the karma. For example, you could try to deliver the wallet to somebody and it never makes it to the recipient. Does that mean there's no karma involved? No. We can try to make our target twenty thousand and we can only raise five thousand for the nuns. Maybe it gets siphoned off let's say, because some of these NGOs like to pocket the donations of innocent Westerners who are trying to help people. It happens. So it never makes it to the nuns. Do we lose the merit? No. It's just not as substantial as if it finally arrives there. This is what is called the heaviness of karma.
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FAQs
Once there is a subjective experience either to yourself or the other, then that karmic domino effect has reached its completion. That's why it's called the completion. Object, intention, action, completion. If all four are present in the equation it would attest to a very heavy karma, both positive and negative.
What are the 4 stages of karma? ›
The four types of karma are sanchita (accumulated karma), prarabdha (allotted karma), agami (future actionable karma), and kriyamana (present actionable karma). By learning what each of these is, you can better understand the karma in your own life.
What are four types of karma? ›
Hindu scriptures categorise karmas into four types: sanchita, prarabdha, kriyamana and agami. Sanchita karma is the stock of samskaras, vasanas, unfulfilled relationships and impressions stored over various lives in our soul consciousness. Moksha, liberation, can only be gained when the karmic balance sheet is clean.
What is the karma answer? ›
Hinduism identifies karma as the relationship between a person's mental or physical action and the consequences following that action. It also signifies the consequences of all the actions of a person in their current and previous lives and the chain of cause and effect in morality.
What are the 4 dimensions of karma? ›
There is physical, mental, emotional and energy action which we can call karma. If the action sinks deeper than these four dimensions, then we call it kriya.
What is the 4th law of karma? ›
4. Karma expands. Once we have an imprint of an action in our mind, it tends to be habit-forming.
What is the hardest karma? ›
Of all karmas, deluding karma is the most difficult to overcome. Once this is eradicated, liberation is ensured within a few lifetimes. Obstructing karma (Antarāya karma) – The fruition of these karmas creates obstructions to giving donations, obtaining gains, and enjoying things.
What is the golden rule of karma? ›
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In other words, behave the way you want others to behave.
What are the four noble truths karma? ›
The Four Noble Truths
They are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering. More simply put, suffering exists; it has a cause; it has an end; and it has a cause to bring about its end.
How to remove bad karma? ›
Breaking the cycle of bad karma involves a conscious effort to change your actions, thoughts, and reactions. It requires self-awareness, honesty, and sometimes the guidance of spiritual or therapeutic practices to heal and transform the negative patterns into positive ones.
Karma certainly hits back. There is a consequence to each of your thoughts words actions. Some people do not believe in it just because the result is not immediate. The result of your karma may be experienced after a gap of time which can be weeks, months, years, decades.
Does karma really work in relationships? ›
Good Karma will let your relationships flourish and make your life harmonious and peaceful. But it doesn't mean that all your relationships will last. If you have so much of a good Karma, you will also have to experience breakups, as your Karma knows that what's not good for you has to eventually end.
Is karma just revenge? ›
Thus, the law of karma does not take revenge, it is a natural reaction to your action. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan, the Enlightened being, has said, Karma is like the fruit of a mango tree. The mango will yield the tree and the tree will yield the mango, and the cycle continues.
What is karma in simple words? ›
Karma is a word meaning the result of a person's actions as well as the actions themselves. It is a term about the cycle of cause and effect.
How long does karma last? ›
Karma has no timeline and it's not always negative. Follow these five steps to stop wishing bad karma on those who have hurt you. Karma is a Sanskrit word that denotes the cycle of cause and effect, meaning each action a person takes in life will affect him or her at some point in the future.
What are the 5 precepts of karma? ›
The precepts are commitments to abstain from killing living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication. Within the Buddhist doctrine, they are meant to develop mind and character to make progress on the path to enlightenment.
What are the 5 conditions of karma? ›
Similarly, there are five conditions that modify the weight of karma and they are persistent, repeated action; action done with great intention and determination; action done without regret; action done towards those who possess extraordinary qualities; and action done towards those who have benefited one in the past.
What are the four factors for intensity of karma? ›
They are the intention (Tib: sam pa; Wyl: bsam pa), object (Tib: shi; Wyl: gzhi), action (Tib: jor wa; Wyl: sbyor ba) and completion (Tib: tar tug; Wyl: mthar thug). Each of these four brings its own result and—if it is negative—can be purified by one of the four opponent powers.
