Karma vs. Retribution — What's the Difference?

Karma (; Sanskrit: कर्म, IPA: [ˈkɐɽmɐ] (listen); Pali: kamma) means action, work, or deed. The term also refers to the spiritual principle of cause and effect, often descriptively called the principle of karma, wherein intent and actions of an individual (cause) influence the future of that individual (effect): good intent and good deeds contribute to good karma and happier rebirths, while bad intent and bad deeds contribute to bad karma and bad rebirths.The philosophy of karma is closely associated with the idea of rebirth in many schools of Indian religions (particularly Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism), as well as Taoism.

Punishment administered in return for a wrong committed.

(in Hinduism and Buddhism) the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.

(Theology) Punishment or reward distributed in a future life based on performance in this one.

The totality of a person's actions and conduct during successive incarnations, regarded as causally influencing that person's destiny.

Punishment inflicted in the spirit of moral outrage or personal vengeance.

The law or principle through which such influence is believed to operate.

The act of retributing; repayment.

Fate or destiny resulting from one's previous actions

That which is given in repayment or compensation; return suitable to the merits or deserts of, as an action; commonly, condign punishment for evil or wrong.

(Informal) A distinctive aura, atmosphere, or feeling

Specifically, reward and punishment, as distributed at the general judgment.

The sum total of a person's actions, which determine the person's next incarnation in samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth.

A justly deserved penalty

A force or law of nature which causes one to reap what one sows; destiny; fate.

The act of correcting for your wrongdoing

(uncommon) A distinctive feeling, aura, or atmosphere.

The act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life;

(internet) A score assigned to a user or post on some discussion forums, indicating popularity or perceived value.

One's acts considered as fixing one's lot in the future existence.

The doctrine of fate as the inflexible result of cause and effect, especially the principle by which a person is rewarded or punished in a subsequent incarnation for deeds in the previous incarnation; the theory of inevitable consequence.

One's destiny; fate.

The supposed non-physical emanations that a person gives off, which may affect other people; vibrations.

(Hinduism and Buddhism) the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation