Karma

                                                                     Karma  as defined by The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen ,

                             From Sanskrit, literally > deed < .    Universal law of cause and effect, which according to the Buddhist vies takes effect in the following was :   "The deed (karma) produces a fruit under cirtain circumstances; when it is ripe then it falls upon the one responsible .   For a deed to produce its fruit, it must be morally good or bad and be conditioned by a volitional impulse, which in that it leaves a trace in the psyche of the doer, leads his destiny in the direction determined by the effect of the deed .   Since the time of ripening generally exceeds a lifespan, the effect of actions is necessarily one or more rebirths, which together constitutes the cycle of existence [ Samsara ] . "

        (translation from German edition of A. Bareau 1964)

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