Karma

There are many definitions for “karma” on the Internet, many of them very confusing. Here’s the easiest to understand for me, from the DVD Four Noble Truths with the Dalai Lama.

“Karma is mistakenly understood in the west as almost identical to the western notion of destiny or fate. Most people think it’s responsible for what happens to them. They say ‘It’s my karma’, or ‘it’s my fate’.

But the buddhist idea is somewhat different. The central notion about karma in buddhism is that it is the evolutionary result of an intentional act. Whatever we do with intention has an evolutionary impact on us.”

Karma is the evolutionary result of an intentional act.

Intention, action, result.

We are all accountable.

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Really cool interview with the Dalai Lama:
http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2004/05/dalai_lama.html