Karma

Meanings

Karma is a concept found in many Eastern religions and philosophies, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It means that a person’s actions, whether good or bad, will eventually come back to impact them. Essentially, it’s the idea that actions have consequences.

In a broader sense, karma helps us understand how what we do now can impact our future experiences. It’s often used in everyday conversation to suggest that good deeds lead to positive outcomes, while bad deeds lead to negative outcomes.

In Hinduism, karma is linked to ideas like dharma (duty or righteousness), samsara (the cycle of birth and rebirth), and moksha (liberation from the cycle). The Trimurti consists of Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer), each playing a role in the cosmic cycle that karma affects (Jaini, 1979).

In Buddhism, karma is related to the teachings of the Buddha and is part of the broader cycle of samsara. The goal is to reach nirvana, a state of freedom from suffering and the cycle of rebirth, which is influenced by one’s karma.

In Jainism, karma is seen as a form of matter that binds to the soul, affecting its future lives. The aim is to achieve liberation by purifying the soul of karma (Jaini, 1979).

Karma in social work and development

In social work and development, the idea of karma can be linked to:

• Social justice: Social workers strive to address inequalities and promote fairness, which aligns with the idea that positive actions (such as supporting disadvantaged groups) can lead to beneficial changes in society.
• Empowerment: The idea that actions have consequences supports initiatives that encourage people to take positive steps in their lives and communities, leading to better outcomes for everyone.
• Sustainable development: Making ethical decisions and acting responsibly can be seen as part of karma. Responsible practices aimed at improving communities can lead to long-term benefits and progress.
• Decolonisation: Recognising that actions have consequences is important in decolonisation, where addressing past wrongs and working towards fairness is key. By acknowledging and correcting the impacts of colonialism, societies aim to create positive outcomes and healing (Nabudere, 2008).

Historically, Abrahamic religion from where the Judaism, Christian and Islamic groups originate, spread through colonisation and often attempted to replace local religion and their beliefs, including karma beliefs. This sometimes led to the loss of indigenous practices and knowledge (Mubangizi, 2013).

Karma and huAfrika (African religion)

In some African communities, indigenous or African religion (known as huAfrika in Swahili), including belief systems embedded in Ubuntu, were replaced by Western religions during colonisation but the outcomes were not socially encouraging, for example crime rates increased because Western religion is more liberal and individualistic. When indigenous practices and values were displaced, some communities lost these crucial elements that had previously contributed to social order and cohesion.

HuAfrika emphasises community, justice, and reciprocity, and has human- and environment-centred beliefs that include:

• Among the Living (us, ancestees and future ancestors): Fostering strong community bonds, ensuring justice, and promoting mutual support among current generations (Gade, 2011).
• With the Environment: Acknowledging the importance of living in harmony with nature and ensuring that environmental stewardship is part of community values and practices (Chilisa, 2012).
• With the Dead (our ancestors): Respecting ancestors and recognising their role in guiding and influencing the living (Maqhina, 2015).
• The Future (our offsprings who are future us and future ancestors): Considering the well-being and continuity of future generations and the environment, and acting in ways that will benefit both (Mbiti, 1990).

Like karma, huAfrika believes that a person’s actions, whether good or bad, will eventually come back to impact them because all actions have consequences. This applies to what we do to the environment, how ancestees treat their ancestors.

Overall, while karma refers to the spiritual and ethical consequences of actions, its principles continue to influence various aspects of life and societal development. The impact of colonialism on these beliefs and their attempted replacement with other doctrines have had complex effects on different societies.

References

Chilisa, B. (2012). Indigenous Research Methodologies. SAGE Publications.

Gade, C. B. N. (2011). The Historical Development of the Philosophical Concept of Ubuntu. South African Journal of Philosophy.

Jaini, P. S. (1979). The Jaina Path of Purification. University of California Press.

Maqhina, M. A. (2015). Ubuntu: A Theoretical Review. African Journal of Philosophy.

Mbiti, J. S. (1990). African Religions and Philosophy. Heinemann.

Mubangizi, J. C. (2013). Human Rights in Africa: Domestic, Regional, and International Perspectives. Juta and Company Ltd.

Nabudere, D. W. (2008). Decolonizing the Mind: The Politics of Knowledge Production and the Development of Africa. African Books Collective.