The Kamma Principle as Taught in Buddhism
The Kamma Principle can be compared to Newtonian physics which states that to every action there is a reaction. This law of physics has to do with the physical world in that if we throw a tennis ball against the wall, it will bounce back. If we throw it very hard, it will also bounce back very hard. In the same token the Kamma Principle states that if we perform a good deed, we will receive its good consequences; if we perform a bad deed, we will receive its bad consequences. The weightiness of our deed is also reflected by the intensity of its consequences.
Whether we meet with fortunate or unfortunate circumstances in this lifetime is not influenced by external factors such as the stars, the planets, the moon, the sun, but they are a result of our overall past Kamma. Whether we meet with happiness or unhappiness in this lifetime is not dependent solely on our current Kamma. At any point and time, we are affected by our overall Kamma, which includes all of our accumulated Kamma throughout our countless lifetimes as well as our current Kamma or all the deeds that we have performed in the current lifetime.
