karma

Definition

The sum total of a person's actions, which determine the person's next incarnation in samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth.

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit कर्म (kárma), nom.sg. of कर्मन् (kárman, “act, action, performance”); first attested in English in 1785 in a translation of the Bhagavad Gita by Charles Wilkins.

Example Sentences

• "‘We are all part of a circle of karma. We will be rewarded for the good deeds of our forefathers, and pay the price for their sins.’"
• "That means everything from lighting to the vibes, the karma of the room."
• "How many times when you have been in a bar have you felt that a confrontation was building up, even without extensive verbal exchanges? Sometimes you can feel the karma or energy of a place change, and you should not ignore that"