Karma has become a household word in the modern world, where it is
associated with the belief in rebirth determined by one’s deeds
in earlier lives. This belief was and is widespread in the Indian
subcontinent as is the word “karma” itself. In lucid and
accessible prose, this book presents karma in its historical,
cultural, and religious context. Initially, karma manifested itself
in a number of religious movements?most notably Jainism and
Buddhism?and was subsequently absorbed into Brahmanism in spite of
opposition until the end of the first millennium C.E. Philosophers
of all three traditions were confronted with the challenge of
explaining by what process rebirth and karmic retribution take
place. Some took the drastic step of accepting the participation of
a supreme god who acted as a cosmic accountant, others of opting
for radical idealism. The doctrine of karma was confronted with
alternative explanations of human destiny, among them the belief in
the transfer of merit. It also had to accommodate itself to
devotional movements that exerted a major influence on Indian
religions. The book concludes with some general reflections on the
significance of rebirth and karmic retribution, drawing attention
to similarities between early Christian and Indian ascetical
practices and philosophical notions that in India draw their
inspiration from the doctrine of karma.
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