Karma is a core notion in many Eastern beliefs, including Hinduism and Buddhism. Today, people often incorrectly make use of the word karma to denote luck, destiny or fate. However, if you take a look at the traditional meaning of karma, it means action. Modern science and Newtonian Physics reveal that for every action, there must be an equal and opposite reaction. So the energy created by action needs to be returned, and this is the basis of karma. Karma in itself is neither good nor bad, it is merely labelled that way by people. An often misunderstood aspect is that karma applies to your thoughts and words and not just your actions. So karma very simply explained is, the principle of cause and effect emerging out of any thought or action.
In addition to the karma created from your own actions, you are subjected to the Karmic influences of your family, faith, race, nationality, and more. Every circumstance you encounter in life is the result of some karma and can generate more. You constantly create karma from your actions, thoughts, and words, as well as from your attitudes, expectations, and lifestyle. You create karma from the intended actions you perform knowingly, and likewise from actions carried out unconsciously, whether they be through ignorance or even lack of knowledge. It is additionally possible to take on another person’s karma, which generally is not a good idea since most of us have enough of our own.
Whether you believe that karma depends on continuing cycles of reincarnation, or not, karma implies that you have created and continue to create karma in your life. Karma can have both short-term and long-term effects as it impacts you on many various levels, some of which are not perceived nor immediately evident. Unfortunately, many of us allow ourselves to continue to be controlled by our karma, frequently destined to perform the same habits over and over within this lifetime.
Like it or not, karma cannot be avoided; however, it can be diminished or prevented. The most important thing to remember is that karma can be transmuted or changed. Not only can your choices determine the quality of new karma being created and stored to be released as future events in your life, but there are ways to reduce karma. The best way to reduce karma is to be proactive in your thoughts and actions to decrease the cycle of cause and effect. Each and every moment you should make every effort to be aware of the possible effects or ramifications of your thoughts, actions, or inactions at any point in time. Instead of instantaneously reacting to life, pause to consider your various courses of action, before proceeding. This careful application of containment will aid you to reduce the accumulation of karma and permit you to break free of the karmic chains which bind you into a set pattern within your life.