Philosophical Implications of the Doctrine of Karma

Abstract

IT WOULD BE NO exaggeration to say that the one concept which distinguishes Indian philosophy from European philosophy is the concept of karma (karman). In its essence, it is nothing but the application of the law of cause and effect in the moral sphere. If every good deed had its own reward and every evil deed its own punishment, there would be no difficulty in accepting the doctrine of karma as a universal law in the sphere of morality. Unfortunately, however, it is a part of common human experience that a good man often suffers in spite of his goodness and an evil man prospers, and the evil in him is overlooked in the glare of his wealth and power. This apparent falsification of the moral law has led to the idea that what we call a human