Karma

The integrated collection of good and evil that a person accumulates during their present and former lives.

Hindus, Buddhists and some others believe that the amount and type of karma will determine a person's state when they are reincarnated in their next life. Similarly, the sum total of one's acts in previous lives determines one's current life. In Sikhism, God may give or withhold Karma, which means reward or punishment.

Although the term normally applies to individuals, there exists group karma, family karma and even national karma. Some New Agers and Neopagans also believe in Karma, but generally restrict its effect to a person's current lifetime.