Karma: Myth, Wishful Thinking or Aspiration?
The concept of karma, rooted in ancient Indian philosophies like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, is often understood as a cosmic law of cause and effect. It suggests that every action—good or evil—generates consequences that return to the doer, either in this life or the next. Karma is presented as a moral balancing act, ensuring justice where human systems fail. Yet, when we examine history and the present, the idea of karma as a reliable mechanism for justice begins to unravel. Instead, it appears more as an aspiration—a human desire for fairness—than a tangible reality. This article explores the key concepts of karma, contrasts them with the prosperity of nations and individuals responsible for great evils, and questions whether karma truly exists or merely serves as a comforting myth.
The Core of Karma
Karma, derived from the Sanskrit word for “action,” operates on the premise that actions carry moral weight. In Hinduism, karma is tied to the cycle of reincarnation (samsara), where one’s deeds determine future births and experiences. Buddhism reframes karma as intentional actions influencing mental states and future outcomes, emphasizing personal liberation over cosmic retribution. Jainism takes an even stricter view, seeing karma as a material substance that clings to the soul, necessitating extreme non-violence to purify it. Across these traditions, karma promises a moral universe: the wicked will suffer, and the virtuous will prosper, if not now, then eventually.
This idea resonates deeply because it addresses a universal human need for justice. In a world where evil often goes unpunished, karma offers hope that no one escapes accountability. But does this hold up when we look at the world? History and current affairs suggest otherwise, as nations and individuals responsible for profound atrocities have often thrived, seemingly untouched by karmic consequences.
Nations That Defy Karmic Justice
The Slave Trade and Colonial Powers
The transatlantic slave trade, spanning the 16th to 19th centuries, was one of humanity’s greatest moral failings. European nations like Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands forcibly transported millions of Africans to the Americas under horrific conditions. Estimates suggest 12–15 million people were enslaved, with millions dying during the Middle Passage. The wealth generated from this trade—through sugar, cotton, and other commodities—fueled the Industrial Revolution and laid the foundation for modern capitalism.
If karma were a reliable force, we might expect these nations to have faced catastrophic decline. Instead, they remain among the world’s most prosperous. Britain, once the epicenter of the slave trade, boasts a GDP of $3.2 trillion (2024 IMF estimates) and a high standard of living. France, with its colonial empire built on exploitation, enjoys similar economic strength. The Netherlands, a key player in the trade, has a per capita GDP of over $60,000, one of the highest globally. Where is the karmic reckoning for centuries of dehumanization?
Germany and the Nazi Past
Germany’s Nazi regime (1933–1945) orchestrated the Holocaust, killing six million Jews alongside millions of Romani, disabled people, and others. The scale of this genocide remains unmatched in modern history. Post-World War II, one might expect Germany to have been permanently crippled by its actions if karma were to hold sway. Yet, Germany rebuilt itself into an economic powerhouse. By 2025, it will have the world’s fourth-largest economy ($4.5 trillion GDP) and lead in innovation, manufacturing, and quality of life. Its citizens enjoy robust social welfare and global influence. The idea that Germany’s prosperity reflects a karmic debt unpaid challenges the notion of cosmic justice.
Japan’s Atrocities and Economic Rise
Japan’s imperial era (1931–1945) saw brutal atrocities, including the Rape of Nanking (1937), where 200,000–300,000 Chinese civilians were killed, and countless women were subjected to sexual violence. Japan’s Unit 731 conducted horrific human experiments, and its occupation of Korea and other regions left deep scars. If karma were at work, Japan might have faced enduring consequences. Instead, it emerged as an economic juggernaut. By the 1980s, Japan was the world’s second-largest economy, and today it remains a leader in technology and culture, with a GDP of $4.1 trillion. Its past sins seem to have no bearing on its present success.
The United States: Slavery and Superpower Status
The United States built on 400 years of slavery (1619–1865), profited immensely from the forced labor of millions of Africans. Slavery underpinned the nation’s early economy, particularly through cotton, which accounted for over half of U.S. exports by 1860. Beyond slavery, the U.S. committed atrocities against Native Americans, including forced removals like the Trail of Tears, and later engaged in controversial wars and interventions. If karma were real, the U.S. might face a decline for these wrongs. Instead, it is the world’s wealthiest and most powerful nation, with a GDP of $25.5 trillion and unmatched military and cultural influence. The absence of karmic consequences is stark.
Individuals Who Evade Karma
Nations are not alone in defying karma; individuals do too. Historical figures like colonial governors, slave traders, and war criminals often lived comfortable lives. For instance, Cecil Rhodes, whose exploitation of African resources enriched Britain, died wealthy and celebrated in his time. Modern examples include corrupt leaders and corporate executives who amass fortunes through unethical means yet face no apparent cosmic punishment. Even when legal consequences arise, as with some financial fraudsters, many retain their wealth and status. The idea that karma catches up with individuals seems more like wishful thinking than reality.
Why Karma Feels Like a Myth
The prosperity of nations and individuals responsible for great evils suggests karma is not an active force. Several reasons explain this disconnect:
- Human-Centric Bias: Karma reflects a human desire for justice, not an objective universal law. We project our moral frameworks onto the cosmos, assuming they share our sense of fairness. Nature, however, is indifferent to human suffering or virtue.
- Complex Causality: History is shaped by countless factors—geography, resources, technology—not a singular moral ledger. Nations like the U.S. or Germany prospered due to industrial capacity, strategic alliances, and innovation, not because they were morally superior or inferior.
- Timeframe Mismatch: Karma’s promise of justice across lifetimes is untestable in a single observable life. This makes it a convenient explanation for injustice but lacks empirical grounding. When prosperous nations show no signs of decline centuries after their wrongs, karma’s relevance fades.
- Collective vs. Individual Karma: Some traditions distinguish between individual and collective karma, but this complicates accountability. If a nation prospers despite its past, does collective karma simply not apply? The concept becomes vague and inconsistent.
Karma as Aspiration
If karma is not a reality, why does it persist? Because it embodies an aspiration for a just world. The belief in karma inspires ethical behavior, encouraging people to act with compassion in hopes of a better future. It also provides solace to those wronged, offering hope that justice, however delayed, will prevail. In this sense, karma is less a myth to be debunked and more a moral framework to strive for.
Yet, relying on karma to deliver justice risks passivity. If we wait for cosmic forces to punish the wicked, we may neglect human efforts to hold wrongdoers accountable. The absence of karmic consequences for nations like Britain, Germany, Japan, or the U.S. underscores the need for active justice—through reparations, truth commissions, or international law—rather than hoping for divine retribution.
Karma, as a concept, promises a moral universe where actions meet their just consequences. But the prosperity of nations and individuals responsible for humanity’s darkest chapters—slavery, genocide, colonialism—challenges this idea. From the economic might of former slave-trading powers to the resilience of Germany, Japan, and the U.S., history shows no clear evidence of karmic justice. Instead, karma appears as a human aspiration, a longing for fairness in a world that often rewards the unjust. While this belief can inspire ethical living, it should not replace the pursuit of tangible justice. The question “Where is karma?” has no satisfying answer, but it urges us to create the justice we seek rather than wait for the cosmos to deliver it.