Karma as Causal Chain

Karma is not fate but a causal theory of action. Every action produces consequences shaping future conditions, which shape future actions. The Gita distinguishes: the action itself (karma), intention (kartr), and accumulated results (karmaphala). Karma operates across timescales — immediate consequences, habit formation, and long-term dispositions (samskaras). Buddhism adds that wholesome karma (rooted in generosity, wisdom) differs from unwholesome karma (rooted in greed, hatred). The quality of intention matters more than outward form. Modern application: compound interest on behavior.

When to use it

When evaluating long-term compounding effects of seemingly small decisions. When culture or habits have accumulated and feel impossible to change. When considering not just what to do but with what intention. When you need motivation for consistent positive action despite individual instances seeming insignificant.

How it can help

Karma is the original model of behavioral compound interest. Every decision creates conditions constraining or enabling future decisions. Each meeting, deliverable, and interaction compounds career capital. Entrepreneurs: every early decision about treating employees and customers creates samskaras (organizational habits) that compound. The intention dimension is crucial: actions from genuine goodwill create different dynamics than identical actions from self-interest, because intentions shape relationships and trust.