Karma is one of the most used words in spirituality -- and one of the most confused. Buddhism and Vedānta both use the term, but with important nuances.
What Is Karma
The word karma comes from the root "kṛ" -- to do. Karma is action. And every action produces a result (phala). This is universal in both traditions.
Karma in Buddhism
In Buddhism, karma is tied to intention (cetanā). Action motivated by ignorance, attachment, or aversion generates negative karma. Action motivated by wisdom and compassion generates positive karma.
The goal in Buddhism is to cease the cycle of karma entirely -- to reach nirvāṇa, the extinction of suffering. The Buddha taught the Noble Eightfold Path as the means to purify actions and reach liberation.
Karma in Vedānta
In Vedānta, karma is also action-result. But there is a fundamental difference: karma never liberates. No amount of good actions eliminates fundamental ignorance.
The Vedic tradition classifies karma into three types: - Sañcita -- karma accumulated from past lives - Prārabdha -- karma bearing fruit now (including this body) - Āgāmi -- karma being created now
Vedānta says only jñāna (knowledge) liberates. Karma yoga prepares the mind, but it is knowledge of ātman that dissolves ignorance.
The Essential Difference
In Buddhism, there is no ātman -- the doctrine of anātman denies a permanent self. Karma propagates without a fixed subject, like a flame passing from candle to candle.
In Vedānta, ātman exists and is the reality. Karma is real only from the standpoint of those identified with the body-mind. When knowledge reveals ātman, karma becomes irrelevant -- like debts in a dream when you wake up.
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