In short: in Buddhism, karma means intentional action, not fate or luck. The Buddha said, "It is intention that I call deeds" (AN 6.63): what shapes your future is the choice behind what you do, say and think.
"Karma" is one of the most used and most misunderstood words in English. In Buddhism it simply means action, and specifically intentional action. The Buddha put it in five words.
"It is intention that I call deeds"
It is intention that I call deeds. For after making a choice one acts by way of body, speech, and mind.
AN 6.63, translated by Bhikkhu Sujato on SuttaCentral. In Pāli: Cetanāhaṁ, bhikkhave, kammaṁ vadāmi.
This changes everything. Karma is not a cosmic scoreboard of good and bad luck. It is the choice behind what we do and say. An accident is not bad karma; a cruel word chosen on purpose is.
Read the full guide
We are heirs to our deeds
I am the owner of my deeds and heir to my deeds. I shall be the heir of whatever deeds I do, whether good or bad.
AN 5.57, one of the Five Remembrances
Our actions shape us. Every angry reply makes anger easier next time; every patient one makes patience easier. That is karma you can watch working within a single week.
Intention leads
Intention is the leader of things; intention is first, they're made by intention.
Small deeds add up
Think not lightly of goodness, that it won't come back to you. The pot is filled with water falling drop by drop.
Common myths about karma
- "Karma is fate." No. The past has effects, but each present intention is new. That is why practice is possible.
- "Karma is instant payback." Not in the early texts. Results ripen in their own time, in ways too complex to calculate.
- "They deserve their suffering." Buddhism does not ask us to judge others' pain. The fitting response to suffering is compassion.
- "Good karma means rituals." Rituals can support good intentions, but karma itself is the intention and the action. See making merit: giving, ethical conduct and meditation.
Working with karma, day to day
- Morning: set one intention. "Today I will speak kindly."
- During the day: before an important word or action, pause for one breath and check the intention behind it.
- Evening: ask, "What did I do today that I am glad to be heir to?"
More verses on deeds: Dhammapada chapter 1, Pairs.
Why people differ, in the Buddha's words: MN 135, the shorter analysis of deeds.
The Buddha's advice to his son on checking every action: the mirror (MN 61).
Why we shouldn't try to calculate karma: the four unthinkables.
Karma and the next life: do Buddhists believe in rebirth?
Try it
Begin with intention in the 3-minute morning practice, and end with reflection in the evening practice.
Questions people ask
What is karma in Buddhism?
Karma (Pāli kamma) means action, specifically intentional action. The Buddha said: 'It is intention that I call deeds.' What we choose to do by body, speech and mind shapes who we become and what we experience.
Is karma the same as fate?
No. Karma is not a fixed destiny. It is about choices: past actions have effects, but present intentions are always new, so we can always choose a better action now.
Does karma mean people deserve their suffering?
Buddhism does not teach that we should judge others' suffering as deserved. The early texts say the results of karma are too complex to work out, and the right response to suffering is compassion.