The Karma of a Nation
The Sanskrit word karma has essentially become part of the English lexicon, taking on a “what goes around comes around” sort of meaning in everyday parlance. That’s not too bad a definition, as far as it goes, but there’s actually quite a range of thought about the nature of this thing we call karma . On one hand, for instance, we have the very precise definition that karma is the result of action done with intention. On the other hand, we have the metaphysical implications of what one’s accumulated karma means for their subsequent rebirth. Karma is also sometimes referred to rather simply as a law of cause and effect. Every thought or action helps create the ground or causes and conditions from which the next thought or action arises. Which brings us to patterns of thought or action. The word karma derives from the Sanskrit root kri , which carries with it connotations of doing, making, and creating. And where there is doing, making, and creat...