Karma, a concept rooted in ancient Eastern philosophies, refers to the law of cause and effect. The essential idea is that every choice generates energy that produces a variety of outcomes, either in this life or in a possible future reincarnation. While the idea of karma may seem mystical, many people perceive it as a universal principle similar to Newton’s law that states every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Even the Golden Rule seems to embody the idea of karma, since it encourages us to treat others as we’d like to be treated.

An associated concept is the idea of karmic debt, which is described as the accumulated burden of “negative” past actions that one must atone for or balance out. The idea of reincarnation brings forth the idea that some of these “negative” past actions may have occurred in an earlier life, and part of our job in this life is to make amends. This notion of karmic debt leads to beliefs that suggest we are bound by our past until we make the conscious effort to transform or transcend the energy we’ve previously created.

In the 21^st century, as people become more “enlightened”, we are beginning to ask important questions about karma:

1. Is karma real?
2. Is karmic debt real?
3. Is there any way to “escape” karma?
4. What is the real point of continuously cycling back in many different incarnations?

In this episode of Life Mastery TV, we’re going to examine some of these questions in detail. To help me with this deep and powerful conversation, I’ve invited back my good friend and colleague, Laina Orlando. As a student and teacher of A Course in Miracles, Laina has an amazing grasp of all these concepts, and she will help us understand it all—and maybe even provide a pathway to clear karma in the process. Here’s some of what we plan to discuss:

The Birth of Karma

Where does karma come from? What qualities does it have? Can it be avoided or changed? We’ll examine these questions and more in detail, and create a clear picture of the nature of karma.

Karma VS Fate

Karma is all about the idea of cause and effect, which implies that we have power to determine the kinds of outcomes we wish to produce in the world. Fate, on the other hand, maintains that our destiny has been predetermined by a higher power, and that we only have limited influence over the trajectory of our lives.

Self-Awareness and Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness can help you recognize patterns of behavior that may generate negative karma. By cultivating awareness, you can make more intentional choices that promote positive outcomes.

Compassion and Forgiveness

Acts of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness are powerful tools for healing or even dissolving negative karma. Helping others, showing empathy, and forgiving those who have wronged you (and more importantly, forgiving yourself) can offset past harmful actions. Forgiveness helps release emotional baggage and breaks cycles of resentment, which can free both you and others from the hold of karmic debt.

Spiritual Practices

Many spiritual traditions suggest practices like meditation, prayer, chanting, or rituals as ways to cleanse or balance karma. Meditation helps calm the mind and allows for deep introspection, which can foster inner transformation. Reciting mantras or performing rituals of gratitude and repentance can help generate positive energy and neutralize karmic imbalance. Serving others selflessly also helps to balance one’s actions and contribute to the greater good, thereby clearing negative karma.

As you deepen your understanding of karma, you can implement the practices of awareness, acceptance, compassion, and forgiveness in order to offset or balance its influence in your life. Ultimately, clearing karma involves an ongoing process of living with greater integrity, thereby aligning yourself with positive and conscious action in the present moment.