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Karma is a concept in Hinduism which explains causality, wherein the intent and actions of an individual influence the future of that individual. Good intent and good deed contribute to good karma and future happiness, while bad intent and bad deed contribute to bad karma and future suffering.
Karma is closely associated with the idea of rebirth in some schools of Hinduism, wherein the karma of an individual in the present affects one's future in the current life, as well as the nature and quality of future lives - or, one's saṃsāra. Other schools of Hinduism, the karma theory impacts an individual's current life by shaping his or her future circumstances in current life, while the present circumstances of the individual are explained with reference to his or her intent and actions in the past. Over time, various schools of Hinduism developed many different definitions of karma, some making karma appear quite deterministic, while others make room for free will and moral agency. The results or "fruits" of actions are called karma-phala.
Karma is an important theory of ethics, and is central to the historical free will and destiny debate within various schools of Hinduism. Karma concept can be traced back to the early Upanishads. All living creatures are responsible for their karma, according to Hinduism. The effects of all intents and deeds, engaged in or avoided consciously or unconsciously, actively create circumstances, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the suffering and joy it brings to self and others.