IPYC Conference Abstract http://ipi.org.in/texts/nsip/nsip-abstracts/kuldeepkumar.

html

INDIAN PSYCHOLOGY INSTITUTE

home | themes | authors | research | integral yoga | by the way | events | inspirations | links

Faith in the doctrine of karma: effect on psychological well-being and life

satisfaction
Kuldeep Kumar — Jammu

The Doctrine of Karma is a direct outcome of the extension of the age-old and well-established principle “as you sow,
so you reap” to the spiritual sphere. In other words, this doctrine is nothing but the extension of the physical
phenomenon observed in every day experience in nature that every action has a reaction, every effect has a cause and
vice versa. The present study is an effort to delineate its role in the psychological well-being and life satisfaction of an
individual.

The meaning of the word Karma commonly accepted in Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. is activity, work, deed or act. It also
implies sacrifices or yagyas performed as a part of Bhramanic rituals as well as the prescribed formalities like fasting
and other forms of worship called Karma-Kand. According to the karma doctrine the course of life of every living being
here and hereafter is determined by his Karma or his deeds and a pious life leads to comforts, contentment and general
well-being in the present life and rebirth in higher and better forms of existence. Evil actions result in birth in lower
forms of existence in future life and unhappiness or misery in the present existence. Upon study and reflection, many of
us would conclude that the theory of karma does not have relevance even in today world. Basically it implies a strong
cause/effect relationship. And it is the same cause/effect relationship on which the scientific and technological world is
based. The question then is: if the cause and effect relationship is so powerful in the material world we live in, why
should it not be just as powerful in the psychological world? If we accept this line of reasoning the theory of karma will
be easier to accept because it is nothing but a cause/effect psychological phenomenon.

To understand the role of faith in psychological well being and life satisfaction of an individual using matched group
design and two groups were matched on age and socio-economic status. An empirical study was done on two group of
age group 25-35 years: one who has the faith in the doctrine of karma and other who do not have the faith in the doctrine
of karma. These two groups were formed on the basis of response to a questioner developed to assess the faith in the
doctrine of karma. Then psychological well-being and life satisfaction of these two groups was measured. Results
indicated that there was a significant difference in the psychological well-being and life satisfaction of these two groups
with higher scores obtained by those who have faith in the doctrine of karma.

Email the author, Mr. Kuldeep Kumar, at kkmalhotra@yahoo.co.in

This paper was presented at the

National Seminar on
Indian Psychology: Theories and Models,
Bangalore, 26-28 December 2007,
which was organised jointly by SVYASA and the ICPR.

Return to Top

1 of 1 1/30/2009 9:55 PM