Karma vs. Retribution — What's the Difference?

The ongoing cycle of actions and consequences.

Punishment imposed by law for crimes committed.

The negative effects resulting from harmful actions.

Punishment believed to be inflicted by a higher power.

The shared karma of a group or community.

Reactions by individuals or society in response to perceived wrongs.

Immediate effects of one's actions observed directly.

An individual’s act of revenge against someone who has wronged them.

The sum of a person's actions and their ethical consequences.

The formal punishment handed down by the courts.

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

Retribution serves to maintain justice and social order by punishing wrongdoing and deterring potential offenders.

Karma is a spiritual belief in cause and effect that influences future experiences, while retribution is a punitive response aimed at correcting or avenging wrongdoing.

Karma affects life by ensuring that actions, good or bad, return to the individual with corresponding consequences.

While retribution is often associated with legal penalties, it can also manifest through personal or social actions outside the legal framework.

Retribution raises ethical questions about fairness, proportionality, and the potential perpetuation of cycles of violence.

Retribution is often justified by the need to restore moral balance and ensure that justice is seen to be done.

Yes, in many belief systems, karma can be influenced by current actions; good deeds can mitigate the effects of past negative actions.

In belief systems that accept reincarnation, karma from one’s past lives affects their present life and can continue to do so in future reincarnations.

Negative karma can lead to hardships, challenges, or negative life events as a result of one's past actions.

Yes, actions taken in the present can positively or negatively affect one's future karma.

Belief in karma is specific to certain religions and philosophical systems and is not universally accepted.

The ethics of retribution can be contentious, depending on views about justice, punishment, and morality.

Cultural perceptions of karma vary, but it is generally seen as a guiding principle that encourages ethical behavior.

The effectiveness of retribution as a deterrent is debated, with some arguing it prevents future crimes and others suggesting it has limited impact.

Throughout history, retribution has been evident in legal codes like Hammurabi’s Code, which prescribed "an eye for an eye" as a form of justice.