What Goes Around Comes Around: Understanding the Reality of Kamma

By Lynn Lynn Myat Oo

 

We have all heard the phrase, “What goes around comes around”. Whether spoken as a warning, a comforting reassurance, or a casual observation after wit­nessing poetic justice, this prov­erb captures an ancient truth that spans cultures and gener­ations: Kamma is real.

 

While pop culture often reduces Kamma to a cosmic vending machine – where good deeds instantly buy rewards and bad deeds trigger immediate punishment – the true nature of Kamma is far deeper, more subtle, and profoundly psycho­logical and spiritual.

 

The True Meaning of Kam­ma

 

At its core, the word Kamma originates from Pali, meaning “action” or “deed”. It is not a mystical force or an external judge keeping score of your life. Instead, it is the universal law of cause and effect.

 

Just as physical laws govern the natural world – for every action, there is an equal and op­posite reaction – Kamma oper­ates on human intention, energy, and behaviour. Every thought, word, and action sets a ripple in motion.

 

Intentional Energy: Kamma isn’t just about what you do, but why you do it. Actions rooted in kindness, integrity, and empathy create a positive psychological and social environment. Actions rooted in deceit, malice, and self­ishness create chaos, distrust, and friction.

 

The Ripple Effect: When you treat people with disrespect, you invite hostility. When you build others up, you foster loy­alty and support. In this sense, your external world often re­flects your internal state.

 

Why Kamma Isn’t Instant (The Misconception)

 

One of the reasons people sometimes doubt Kamma is that justice doesn’t always hap­pen immediately. We often see unkind people thrive or hard­working, kind individuals face hardship, leading to the frus­trating question: Does Kamma even work?

 

The truth is, Kamma is not a microwave meal; it doesn’t op­erate on a strict deadline.

 

Cultivating Positive Energy

 

Believing in Kamma shouldn’t make you live in fear of making a mistake; rather, it should empower you to live in­tentionally. Because what goes around truly comes around, you have the power to shape your own destiny through daily choices:

 

1.      Choose Empathy Over Ego: Before reacting out of anger or pride, pause. Ask yourself how your words will impact the other person.

 

2.      Practice Unconditional Kind­ness: Do good things not be­cause you expect a reward, but because of the kind of person it makes you.

 

3.      Take Accountability: If you mess up, own it. Cleaning up your past mistakes stops negative cycles of Kamma (Kammavatta in Pali) from repeating.