The Law of Karma

Published on May 11, 2004

Central to the philosophy of yoga is the universal spiritual concept of reaping what you sow: the law of Karma. Karma is the future consequences of one’s current intentions, thoughts, behaviors and actions. While the Karma you currently create is the seeds that present future life experiences, your Karma is not your fate. You have the ability to consciously choose how you respond and react to Karmic generated events, thus reducing the current impact of your Karma and reducing or eliminating future Karma. This is both a psychological and physical practice, with the mental attitude much more powerful than the physical deed.The law of Karma is connected to the constant changing physical world the yogis call Samsara, the spinning wheel of life and death. This wheel is said to have six spokes: virtue and vice, pleasure and pain, attachment and aversion. These spokes are the types of Karma that bind us to the wheel and keep it spinning. The goal is to break the spokes of Karma to become liberated from the mundane and suffering world of Samsara.

Good Karma is good, bad Karma is bad, but attaining any kind of Karma is undesirable. The goal, through the practice of yoga, is to stop the cycle of Karma by ceasing further Karmic accumulation. The yogis tell us the only way to not produce Karma is to act selflessly, without ego, without the desire for any reward. Liberation from Karma and Samsara is known as Nirvana, a highly esteemed spiritual state. But striving to attain a state of Nirvana is not a necessary goal; any reduction in Karma will improve one’s life, well-being and happiness.

Share with

Friends

Our Latest

Yoga Articles
  • Mental Health Benefits of Yoga

    10 Tips for Harnessing the Mental Health Benefits of Yoga

  • Best Time to Meditate

    Finding the Best Time to Meditate: Tips and Advice on When to Sit

  • Purusharthas

    Purusharthas: The Four Goals of Life

  • Trimurti

    Trimurti: The Hindu Trinity of Brahma Vishnu Shiva

  • Brahman

    Brahman: Definition, Meaning, and Philosophy

  • Yoga Nidra

    Yoga Nidra: Meaning, Benefits, Videos and Tips

  • Living Like a Yogi

    17 Rules for Living Like a Yogi

  • heart opening yoga poses

    The Best 16 Heart Opening Yoga Poses

Remove Ads with a

Premium Membership

Viewing ads supports YogaBasics, which allows us to continue bringing you quality yoga content. Sign up for a premium membership to remove all ads and enjoy uninterrupted access to the best yoga resources on the web.

Explore More

Yoga TipsAdviceArticlesPracticesBasicsTechniques

  • benefits of using props

    5 Ways Using Props Will Deepen Your Yoga Practice

  • Intense cardio yoga session

    Need More Intensity? 7 Ways to Amp Up Your Yoga

  • Warrior Poses

    The 5 Warrior Poses of Yoga

  • Sri Yantra

    Sri Yantra: Meaning, Symbolism, and Benefits

  • mindful eating

    6 Easy Ways to Start a Mindful Eating Practice

  • yoga for running

    Yoga for Runners: Top Tips and Best Benefits

  • Restarting a yoga practice

    11 Ways to Reboot Your Yoga Practice

  • Home Yoga Studio

    15 Tips for Creating an Amazing Home Yoga Studio

  • Tantra Yoga

    Tantra Yoga – Defined and Demystified

2 responses to “The Law of Karma”

  1. Raine Avatar
    Raine

    I never thought of a total absence of karma as being a good thing, but, having read this, it does make good sense. I do realize that karma is very real and will return to you what you put forth. By not physically trying for good karma or reward, but just simply being as good and correct as you can will naturally return a state of serene bliss.

    I am enjoying reading this site very much. It’s nice to look at familiar concepts in a new light.

  2. Jenn Avatar
    Jenn

    I’m having a hard time now with the concept of karma. I’ve always (for the most part, I am human) been very kind, helping others, and doing the right thing. I had a horrible traumatic incident happen to me which has left me suffering deeply with ptsd and has lowered the quality of my life. I realize bad things happen to good people and life’s not fair, I’m just not sure where karma fits in.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Timothy Burgin Avatar
About the author
Timothy Burgin is a Kripalu & Pranakriya trained yoga instructor living and teaching in Asheville, NC. Timothy has studied and taught many styles of yoga and has completed a 500-hour Advanced Pranakriya Yoga training. Timothy has been serving as the Executive Director of YogaBasics.com since 2000. He has authored two yoga books and has written over 500 articles on the practice and philosophy of yoga. Timothy is also the creator of Japa Mala Beads and has been designing and importing mala beads since 2004.
Yoga Basics