Warning: This is a philosophical post, not based on hard-facts. Many of you may disagree to most of the content, but it sure can induce thoughts in your mind.
What is Karma
The Sanskrit (an ancient Indian language)
Warning: This is a philosophical post, not based on hard-facts. Many of you may disagree to most of the content, but it sure can induce thoughts in your mind.
What is Karma
The Sanskrit (an ancient Indian language) word karma means “actions” or “deeds.”
As a religious term, Karma refers to intentional (usually moral) actions that affect one’s fortunes in this life and the next. For simplicity, we will only consider the causes and effects in this life time.
Karma is a concept common to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, For the purpose of this article we will consider the karma as its known in Hinduism.
I apologize to religious people if I miss-state or misinterpret religious matters.
The concept of Karma or “law of Karma” is the broader principle that all of life is governed by a system of cause and effect, action and reaction, in which our actions have corresponding effects on the future.
In many ways its same as Newton’s third law ‘Every action has its equal and opposite reaction’. The similarities end there. A Karma has far-reaching effects and causes than a simple solitary action.
As Karma is about the set of actions, it can be good or it can be bad. A Good Karma goes further to establish your values in front of others. On the other hand, a bad Karma may prevent you from succeeding.
Your bad Karma does, in fact, keep you from getting over debt and from becoming wealthy. A bad Karma can make your personal life and personal finance equally miserable.
This is very powerful – You might not agree with this, but the world’s oldest religion and world’s oldest books believe in Karma to extend to our future lives. Hinduism talks about having 7 lives in an incarnation. The people who appear unfortunate and needy by birth are believed to have bad Karma from their previous life.
At the same time, the religion also states that we shouldn’t ignore the needy assuming its their bad Karma which is responsible for their situation. A good Karma is to help them get on to their feet.
Examples of Good and Bad Karma in Personal Finance
Let’s check some of the good Karma and bad Karma related to personal finance. I am not an expert, the following is just my way of interpreting Karma.
Good Karma – We should help poor, we should give to charity. We should distribute our wealth. A sincere blessing enhances good Karma.
How often we see lucky people around us? We wonder why they have gotten all the luck. As per Karma, they are believed to have good Karma from their past lives. Inspired yet?
Bad Karma – Taking on debt is a bad Karma, Hinduism strongly discourage living on other’s money.
Now, I feel debt is good for in organic growth. You probably can’t afford to buy a home unless you take mortgage. A business can’t produce goods unless it doesn’t issue debt papers and bonds.
Otherwise, when you take on debt to fulfil your mere desire, it’s a bad Karma. Taking on credit card debt to fulfill your urge for an expensive dress you don’t need, can be a bad Karma
Good Karma – Providing good care for family is a good Karma. Ignoring your family isn’t one.
As a provider, your primary objective of life is to provide for your dependent. Taking refuge to excuses, alcoholism, drugs prevent you from taking good care of your family.
Earning extra to provide family better is a good Karma. This is what we live for, this is what the orders are.
Bad Karma – Being selfish with money is bad Karma. Telling lies about money and hiding it are Bad Karma.
Hiding money from your family, spouse, children are bad Karma. Hiding income to pay less taxes is bad Karma.
Good karma – providing a better living condition for others is a good Karma.
Stopping waste, reducing pollution and making environment greener are good Karma. Next time you plan a tree, consider doing a Karma. Let’s leave a better planet for the generations to come. Who get’s benefited apart from the next generation? It’s You!
Bad Karma – Laziness and procrastination is bad Karma.
We live for some purpose, when we deliberately postpone doing things, we defeat that purpose. Leaving an unfulfilled life should scare you off. Do the things you plan to do tomorrow, today. And the things you plan to do today, now!
Living an active life can bring in good Karma as you are fulfilling life’s purpose.
Good Karma – Paying down money you owe is a 