ABC

Karma

Doctrines and rituals

Karma (Skt., Pa. kamma, ‘deed’, ‘action’) is a key concept in Buddhism. Originally karma referred to a sacrificial act in Brahmanic ritual (Brahmanism) but then underwent reinterpretation in Buddhism. Karma is, above all, a moral concept according to which every deed or act – positive as well as negative – has ramifications for a being’s future course of life and for its next rebirth. According to Buddhist understanding, karma pertains not only to physical actions but also to things people think and say.