Talk:Benefits of the Science of Karma:Interfaith Perspectives

By Vishal Agarwal

Hindus differ in our understanding of Karma from that of New Agers, Christians, Muslims and Jews. The Abrahamic philosophy of Karma is very rudimentary compared to the Dharmic formulations. For this reason, the word ‘Karma’ has become a commonly used term in the English lexicon. Within the Dharmic family, the Buddhists and Jains have very sophisticated theories of Karma but they ignore or deny the role of the Divine in the operation of the Law of Karma.^[1] A discussion of these non-Hindu Dharmic theories of Karma is beyond the scope of the present compilation. In short, Dharmic traditions that do not accept Divine Role in administering the Law of Karma tend to list and classify Karma and their effects very elaborately so that the connection of any deed with its single fruit is a mechanical/automatic process that does not require any external oversight like that of a God.

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↑ Even within the Hindu tradition, the Sāṃkhya Darshana denies the role of a Divine Being in implementing the Law of Karma. The Yoga Darshana is silent on it. Later versions of the Pūrva Mīmāṃsā Darshana postulate an entity named ‘apūrva’ generated by Karma. This apūrva ensures that the performer of Vedic ceremonies or other Karma receives the fruit of his actions in the next life. This concept of apūrva is absent in the Pūrva Mīmāṃsā Sūtras of Rishi Jaimini but is introduced by the commentator Shabara. The Vedānta, Nyāya and Vaisheṣhika Darshanas emphasize that the Lord is responsible for ensuring that the Law of Karma operates as intended and everyone reaps the fruit of his respective deeds.

[1] Even within the Hindu tradition, the Sāṃkhya Darshana denies the role of a Divine Being in implementing the Law of Karma. The Yoga Darshana is silent on it. Later versions of the Pūrva Mīmāṃsā Darshana postulate an entity named ‘apūrva’ generated by Karma. This apūrva ensures that the performer of Vedic ceremonies or other Karma receives the fruit of his actions in the next life. This concept of apūrva is absent in the Pūrva Mīmāṃsā Sūtras of Rishi Jaimini but is introduced by the commentator Shabara. The Vedānta, Nyāya and Vaisheṣhika Darshanas emphasize that the Lord is responsible for ensuring that the Law of Karma operates as intended and everyone reaps the fruit of his respective deeds.

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