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    What is karma?

    Potter's hands shape wet clay on a spinning wheel in light
    Short answer: For Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, karma simply means action. Every deed, every feeling and every thought leaves an impression that shapes later events. Past actions live on as impressions, present actions bring you a result right now, and what you do follows naturally from your own nature.

    What Gurudev says

    You know the moment when you hear the word "karma" and immediately think of fate, of something mysterious hanging over you? Gurudev makes it something much simpler.

    For Gurudev, it all starts with the literal meaning: karma simply means action – nothing more, nothing less.

    Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The real meaning of is Karma is Action. Action can be classified into three: The past, present and future. The past actions are impressions, the future actions are also impressions and present actions is Karma that is giving you result now.

    From the official Art of Living website — “Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar”

    How this action arises, Gurudev explains through the connection between dharma and karma: your nature determines what you're inclined toward – and what you actually do with it is your karma.

    Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Dharma is your nature and Karma is your duty. Suppose your nature is to cook food, or your nature is to teach, or your nature is to help people, or do business, that is your Dharma. And the action that follows, what you do in your life, that is your Karma.

    From the official Art of Living website — “Every time you are confused you grow one step higher” (Jan 2 2012)

    For Gurudev, karma begins even earlier than the visible action – namely with the feeling or desire that comes before it.

    Many kinds of feelings arise within us. All these feelings propel or cause some action. So that feeling is also called Karma, and the (resultant) action is also called Karma. For example, when a desire to create arises from within you, then that desire or feeling is also Karma. The action has already begun.

    From the official Art of Living website — “Sri Sri's Commentary on the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 - Part 1” (Aug 15 2015)

    Understood this way, karma isn't some distant, mystical concept, but something happening in every single moment: in what you feel, what you want, and what you do.

    What you can do

    1. Recognize karma as action, not fate. When something happens, ask "what action is behind this?" rather than "why is this happening to me?"
    2. Notice your feelings before they turn into action. A desire or a feeling is, for Gurudev, already the beginning of karma – watch what's rising in you before you act.
    3. Ask what fits your nature. Your dharma shows you the direction; your karma is what you actually do with it.
    4. Observe what impressions your actions leave behind. Past deeds keep working – consciously notice what impressions you're creating today.

    Frequently asked questions

    How can I stop worrying? Gurudev pushes the question of worry all the way to its root: there's really nothing you truly need to worry about, because both pleasant and unpleasant events arise according to your own karma and simply pass through you. He describes worry more precisely as holding on to a single thought that would actually move on by itself – thoughts come and go, and most aren't even really "yours."

    What is karma, explained simply? Gurudev explains karma through the example of hurt: what happens to you now is often nature bringing back something you caused in the past – and understanding this brings settledness rather than a feeling of being a victim. At its core, karma simply means action for him: past, present and future deeds leave and shape impressions that form what's unfolding right now.

    What to do about constant worrying? Gurudev says: there's really nothing you need to worry about or get lost in, because both pleasant and unpleasant events arise according to your own karma and pass on again. Worry, Gurudev says, arises when you hold on to one particular passing thought instead of letting it move on – most thoughts come and go through the mind on their own.

    Why do seemingly undeserved bad things happen to some people? Gurudev explains that both pleasant and unpleasant events arise according to your own karma and pass through you – there's literally nothing to worry about. Using the example of hurt, he goes further: what happens to you is often nature bringing back something from the past. Understanding this brings a deep settledness, instead of feeling like a victim.

    Related questions

    Sources

    The quotes on this page come from:

    • Official Art of Living website — “Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar”
    • Official Art of Living website — “Every time you are confused you grow one step higher” (Jan 2 2012)
    • Official Art of Living website — “Sri Sri's Commentary on the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 - Part 1” (Aug 15 2015)