Law of Karma Explained - by Swami Chidananda

COURSE

Law of Karma Explained

With Swami Chidananda

The Law of Karma is a fundamental concept in many spiritual traditions. It is often defined as the principle of cause and effect, in which every action we take has consequences that ripple through our lives and the lives of others. This course provides an introduction to the Law of Karma, including its origins and practical implications for our daily lives. By the end of the course, you will have gained a deeper understanding of why the Law of Karma exists, how we create karma, the relationship between karma and material desires, and how we can ultimately avoid creating future entanglements. This course is open to students of all levels and backgrounds, and it is perfect for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the philosophy of karma and how it can be applied to daily life.

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Meet your Teacher

Swami Chidananda
New York, NY, USA

Swami Chidananda is a spiritual educator and monk initiated in the Hari Bhakta Lineage, holding the distinguished title of Swami. With guidance from his teacher, Paramahamsa Swami Vishwananda, and the study of scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Swami has gained a deep understanding of the science of Yoga and has devoted his life to helping others on their inner journey. Before entering the spiritual path, he had a successful career as an investment banker and entrepreneur. Now, he uses his experiences to convey the ancient Yoga Systems in a relatable and accessible way for those seeking to reconcile Western and Eastern philosophies.

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3 Days

1.6k students

4.9 stars

16 min / day

Awakening

English

Lesson 1

Origins of Karma Philosophy

In this introductory lesson, we will be exploring the origins of Karma, which can be traced back to Sanatana Dharma, also known as modern-day Hinduism. Sanatana Dharma, meaning ‘the path towards eternal truth,’ is rooted in the teachings of the Vedas, scriptures that were Divinely revealed to sages of ancient times. The Vedas are studied under Vedanta, which comprises three main philosophical traditions. This course will focus on understanding karma from the Vishishta Advaita tradition, influenced not only by the Vedas but also the Bhagavad Gita and the devotional path of Bhakti Yoga. For a deeper understanding of the principles of the Vedas, would recommend taking the ‘Origins of Yoga’ workshop.

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Lesson 2

How & Why Karma is Created

In this lesson, we will explore the three timeless principles: Narayana (divine being), individual Atmas (souls), and Prakriti (the material creation), as well as the process of each Atma’s incarnation into the material world. We will also delve into the impact of Maya (illusory energy) on the Atma and how the ego can distort our decision-making abilities by leading us to falsely believe that material desires can bring us eternal joy (ananda). Indulging in material desires results in the creation of energetic knots (karma) within the subtle body of the Atma, which must be balanced in future lives. As long as the Atma is burdened with karma, it will remain trapped in the cycle of birth and death, unable to attain liberation.

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Lesson 3

Rising Beyond the Three Aspects of Karma

In this final lesson, we will examine the three types of Karma: Sanchita Karma, Prarabdha Karma, and Kriya Manas Karma. Sanchita Karma refers to the accumulation of karma from past lives, compared to a thick layer of dust that obstructs our realization of our True Self. Prarabdha Karma, on the other hand, is the karma that we must work through in our current life. Kriya Manas Karma arises when we perform actions from the ego-driven space, which generates further karma in this life. We will also discuss how the Atma remains bound in the cycle of birth and death and how to attain liberation from karmic entanglement by carrying out one's Dharma (duty) without being influenced by the ego and without attachment to the outcomes of one's actions. Instead, we should offer everything as a service to the Divine.

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4.9 (108)

Recent Reviews

Prakash

October 7, 2025

Great spiritual insights. Thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you.

Sudeep

July 23, 2025

After going through the course I realised that my own conception of Karma totally in accurate. I now have a much better understanding of Karma. Thank you very much. 🙏

Francesca

June 14, 2025

I will listen again so I can ensure my understanding and awareness of the basic concepts related to karma . I truly look forward to your next course on dharma and living in awareness of the divine

Yagika

April 30, 2025

I feel so blessed, I had been trying to read Bhagwad Gita, but my basics weren’t in the place. With this course everything all of a sudden has started making sense

Corina

June 16, 2024

Thank you🙏

Sarah

May 7, 2024

Very informative and helped me understand this topic a lot more!

Geetu

October 11, 2023

Excellent course

vjh

October 5, 2023

Thank you. Clear explaination and helpful.

Mystic

September 15, 2023

I now have an even better understanding of Karma. Thank you so much 🙏✨🌹

Cherlynne

August 31, 2023

Complex but eye opening

Olivia

August 30, 2023

Sometimes you just know you are in the right place to learn. This is the place . Thank you for your teaching you are a blessing 🌺

Eido

August 29, 2023

Thank you very much I love listening to your courses . It’s a very deep subject and I find it fascinating. I would let everything sinks in, and I would probably listen to it again. Keep going the good work Much appreciated, ido🙏🏼

Ernie

August 27, 2023

Fantastic insight

Tay

August 22, 2023

Fantastic course!

Maria

August 21, 2023

I loved the way it was explained, simple and easy, as the whole concept it is quite complicated. Thank you to bring it up in this way!

Rebecca

August 21, 2023

Beautiful 🙏🏽 Namaste

Charmaine

August 20, 2023

Interesting and enlightening, thank you for the clarity on this subject.

Alkman

July 22, 2023

A very good introduction to the meaning of karma. Thank you.

Stacey

July 10, 2023

Thank you for this brief and thorough overview.

Gopi

July 2, 2023

Great use of analogy and metaphors to explain karma

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