Karma is one of the most misunderstood teachings in Buddhism, often confused with its diluted cultural meaning. Yet when the Buddha spoke of karma, he pointed to something precise and profound — a natural law, as intrinsic to human consciousness as gravity is to the physical world. The Buddha did not invent karma; he discovered it, through deep observation, rigorous testing, and direct insight — much like Newton unveiling gravity, and later Einstein with his theory of relativity.

Karma means 'action' — specifically our volitional actions of body, speech, and mind. It is the one domain of experience truly within our control, and thus holds profound significance for our lives. Through our actions, we shape the contours of our mind and our world. Its counterpart is vipaka, or 'result' — every action has consequences, like a seed, must inevitably bear fruit.

Yet not everything that happens to us is the result of karma. Within the ever-changing flow of life, we can observe numerous other regularities — the laws of physics and biology, for example. Illness, accidents, or natural disasters are not necessarily the fruit of past actions but may arise from these other causes. Misunderstanding this has, throughout history, led to harmful justifications of suffering — as seen in the caste system, where birth into a lower caste was falsely attributed to bad karma.

​​Buddhism sees all human life as having the innate desire to grow, and as humans this manifests as a longing for security, fulfilment, and flourishing. Human nature is not fixed; we can rise beyond our limitations. Each of us moves toward these in the best way we know how, guided by our habits and views. The Buddha taught that true happiness lies in aligning our intentions with the law of karma.

Volitions that spring from positive states of mind, such as generosity, empathy, kindness, awareness are called kusala-karma (skilful action), as they nourish life, deepen connection, and foster the growth of ourselves and other beings. Conversely, those that spring from negative and constricted states of mind (greed, hatred, delusion) are called akusala-karma (unskilful action), as they sow harm, division, or stagnation in ourselves and others. Rather than moralising in terms of 'good' and 'bad', Buddhism prefers to think in terms of skill - through training we can become ever more adept in the art of living. ​