The Concept of Kamma in Buddhism: A New Perspective

Summary

This study reconsiders the Buddhist doctrine of kamma (karma) by bringing together textual analysis and philosophical reflection. Beginning with an overview of kamma in early Pāli sources, the author outlines how the Buddha presented intentional action as the key determinant of future experience and emphasized moral cultivation over fatalistic determinism. The paper surveys passages from the Majjhima, Saṃyutta and Aṅguttara Nikāyas to illustrate the nuanced ways in which kamma operates: physical, verbal and mental acts carry karmic seeds, yet the fruition of those seeds depends on supporting conditions and can be transformed through mindfulness and wisdom. The author then examines how later Buddhist exegetes, including the Abhidhamma scholars and commentators like Buddhaghosa, systematized kamma as one of twenty‑four conditional relations, integrating it into a comprehensive cosmology. Drawing on contemporary scholarship, the article challenges simplistic interpretations of kamma as retributive justice. It argues that Buddhist thinkers viewed kamma as empowering ethical agency: individuals can shape their destinies by cultivating wholesome intentions, and the doctrine underscores the interdependence of actions and circumstances. The final section explores how modern interpreters have adapted kamma to address questions of social justice, environmental ethics and existential meaning. By offering a fresh perspective that balances doctrinal analysis with philosophical insight, the article contributes to ongoing conversations about the relevance of kamma in a globalized world.