"It's karma." We use the word daily — usually as a synonym for fate, punishment, or cosmic justice. But in yoga's philosophy, karma is something far more nuanced and liberating. Together with its sister concept dharma, it forms a compass for how you live your life.
Karma: Action, not fate
Karma comes from the Sanskrit root "kri" — to do, to act. Karma is literally action and the consequences of action. It's not a cosmic judge punishing you for past mistakes. It's a natural principle: every action creates a reaction that shapes your future.
There are three types of karma:
- Sanchita karma: The accumulated sum of all actions from all previous lives. Your karmic "store".
- Prarabdha karma: The portion of sanchita that has "ripened" and manifests in this life. The circumstances you're born into.
- Kriyamana karma: The karma you create right now through your actions, thoughts, and intentions. This is where your freedom lies.
The central point is: you cannot change prarabdha (what's already in motion), but you can change kriyamana — your actions from here. This is yoga's most liberating insight: you are not a victim of your karma. You are its creator.
Dharma: Your unique path
Dharma is one of the richest words in Sanskrit — it can mean law, duty, righteousness, truth, and life purpose. In yoga's context, it's about your unique role and your unique contribution to the world.
Dharma operates on two levels:
- Svadharma: Your personal dharma — what you're here to do. What gives your life meaning and direction.
- Sanatana dharma: The universal dharma — the eternal principles of righteousness, truth, and order that apply to everyone.
"It is better to follow your own dharma imperfectly than to follow another's dharma perfectly." — Bhagavad Gita 3.35
Karma and dharma in everyday life
These are not abstract concepts. They are practical tools:
- Career choices: Are you following dharma — what gives meaning — or following security and social expectation? The karma principle says: actions in accordance with dharma create positive karma.
- Relationships: Do your actions in relationships create positive or negative karma? Are you authentic (dharma) or playing a role?
- Yoga practice: Why do you practise? For ego (negative karma) or for growth (positive karma)? The intention behind the action is decisive.
- Decisions: When you stand at a crossroads, ask: "What would my dharma choose?" — the answer that feels right, not the one that feels easy.
Nishkama karma: Action without attachment
The Bhagavad Gita introduces a revolutionary concept: nishkama karma — action without attachment to the result. You do your best, you act with integrity, you follow your dharma — and then you let go of the result. Not because the result doesn't matter, but because attachment to the result creates suffering.
Explore further
Yoga's philosophy is inexhaustible. Our yoga teacher training dives into the Bhagavad Gita, karma yoga, and the dharma concept as part of the philosophy curriculum. Or continue reading about yogic wisdom in our journal.
