Karma is one of the most known concepts of Buddhism and Hinduism. At the same time, it is also one of the least understood. You may hear people speaking about having a good or a bad Karma without really knowing what it is about.

Those two main Eastern religions define Karma in the same way despite having developed their own concept of “Karman”, which can be roughly translated into “action”.

For the followers of these philosophies or religions, Karma is the principle of action and reaction, of the universal law. All our actions involve other living beings and this leads to consequences that, sooner or later, will affect us.

Therefore, Karma is part of the natural forces of the universe, such as the gravity force, for instance. According to the principle of karma, all our actions, thoughts and intentions create energy. They are causes that have consequences. If we let go of positive energy, we will receive positive energy. In the same way, if you send negative energy to the world, you may get problems and difficulties. Karma is simply an echo of what we do, say and think.

This does not mean that karma takes revenge. Karma does not take revenge when we send negative waves. However, this is the general Western understanding of karma. We think that it is a kind of punishment from the universe for our bad deeds of the past. But karma does not work that way, it is neither revenge nor justice. Karma is reflected energy.

How to live according to karma – the 12 life lessons related to the concept of Karma, also known as “laws”

By following these 12 karmic lessons you will be able to make the necessary changes within yourself to generate positive Karma and to free yourself from negative Karma. If the world around you is chaotic, it is because there is chaos within you. Once at peace with yourself, you can be at peace with the rest of the world.

1. The law of Cause and Effect
   What you sow you will reap – The message is like that of the Law of Attraction. In other words, everything you give is also what you will receive, be it positive or negative. So if you want love in your life, be loving. If you want to enjoy financial abundance, be generous. And if you want to have honest and open relationships, you need to offer authenticity and honesty to the people you care about as well.
2. The Law of Creation – According to the karmic law of creation, you shall be active participants in your life if you want to get what you desire. You can’t just wait for things to happen. You should aim to surround yourself with what you want in your life and look at your environments for clues about what you need. An important part of understanding the Law of Creation is to see that what happens outside tells you what is going on inside. So, if you don’t like what your life looks like right now, look within yourself and ask yourself what needs to change.
3. The Law of Humility – Of the 12 laws of Karma, this one is often emphasized. The importance of this karmic rule is that you have to accept the true reality of something but that you can ever change it. For example, if you constantly blame others for something you’ve done or see someone who disagrees with you as an enemy, you’re far from being modest. Therefore, you will find it very difficult to make the changes you need. Introspection can help you take full advantage of the law of humility.
4. The Law of Growth – The message that you need to know about this law is that you have to change and then you can expect the world around you to change. All you have is control over yourself and not over the people or things around you. So, focus on your own development before trying to control or change others. Let them come to their own conclusions about what needs to be changed.
5. The Law of Liability – This law summarizes the most common meaning of Karma. What happens around you is a mirror of what happens inside you. That’s why you are responsible for all your life experiences, be it pleasant or unpleasant. Like the law of growth, this karmic law aims to teach you that you should try to take responsibility for the good and bad things you create, rather than constantly looking for excuses.
6. The Law of Connection – This law emphasizes the interconnected nature of past, present, and future and reminds you that your control over the present can help you erase the bad energy of the past. Another point raised by the law of connection is that it takes time to correct the karmic wrong-doings of the past. However, every little step can have unexpectedly powerful effects.
7. The Law of Focus – Your life will be more satisfying if you would direct your attention to a single activity or thought one at the time. Your mind is not equipped to follow multiple tasks with the same level of focus. So, if you have several important goals, try to follow them in a linear, ranked order instead of giving each goal only a fraction of your energy. Another vital lesson is that if you focus on your higher values, you won’t be able to focus on other emotions or thoughts like those that come from resentment, anger, or possessiveness.
8. The Law of Giving and Hospitality – You must give to the things you believe in. This law helps you understand the importance of your actions, reflecting your deeper beliefs. For example, if you want to live in a peaceful world, you need to focus on cultivating peace for others. This law is also about how the universe will “test” you. Life gives you the opportunity to apply the lessons learned and show you when you need to work further on yourself.
9. The Law of the Here and Now – As we have seen, Karma relates to ideas about accepting the truth of your reality. Similarly, Karma is linked to the theme of truly living in the present moment. If you cling too much to the feelings, experiences, and beliefs of the past, you will always have one foot in the past. Likewise, if you focus on anxiety or greed, you will always have one foot in the future. Following the law of the here and now means reminding yourself that the present is all you really have and that you have to fully exploit it.
10. The Law of Change – The law of change conveys the message that the universe gives us what we need. Then, you will find that history repeats itself again and again until you show that you have learned what you need to do to create a different future. If you notice that you seem stuck in a cycle, this is because there is something fundamental that has not been addressed yet. Conversely, if things around you start to change suddenly and dramatically, take this as a sign that you’ve recently made significant strides in your growth.
11. The Law of Patience and Reward – The law of patience and reward states that all your greatest achievements require constant hard work. This means that you need to be patient, regardless of your goals in life. If you expect immediate results, you will be disappointed in the end. You should try to understand your true purpose. Then, act in accordance with that purpose and enjoy the reward of knowing that you are doing what you should be doing with your current life. Over time, the associated successes (emotional and material) will follow.
12. The Law of Meaning and Inspiration – Finally, the law of meaning and inspiration is a good law to think about when you need a motivational boost. This aspect of Karma emphasizes that each of your contributions will affect the Whole, small, or large the contribution may be. Whenever you make creative and loving contributions to the world around you, your act inspires equally positive behaviors from others and attracts more positivity into your life. You may not always feel meaningful, but you are. Without your presence, the energy of the universe would be substantially altered.

Conclusions

To create good karma, you have to send positive vibrations to the world. This does not necessarily mean that you have to donate all your savings to an NGO or quit your job to work as a volunteer. It is the small gestures of daily generosity that count, such as giving up your seat on the bus, inviting that friend you have not seen for a while to drink something, or helping a colleague in difficulty.

Do not forget to express gratitude when others take care of you. What matters is to act selflessly, not to expect anything in return. Simply appreciate doing a good deed without a hidden agenda, even if you just keep the door open for your neighbor.

What do you think about the 12 Laws of Karma?

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