The Sanskrit word karma has entered the lexicon of the western world, and even appears in most dictionaries. But sometimes it is misunderstood to be synonymous with "fate," as if we have no control over our karma - someone's car breaks down and they think, "I have bad karma." Someone wins the lotto and we think they have "good" karma.

The word karma itself means "action" or "deed" The real philosophy of karma is, in essence, the law of cause and effect. It isn't about luck; it is about our actions, our mental habits, and the motivations that drive us. Karma is a word to describe our interaction with the properties of this world. Everything you choose to do or not do has karmic repercussions. This idea is reassuring because through practice you come to realize that you are in control, that you can change your karma.

Buddhists and Hindus both believe in karma: they believe that some karma is accumulated due to our actions in a past life. The families we are born into, our individual physical being, the relationships we have with people, are all a result of past-life karmic connections. With a consciousness that is so full of potential, we have a precious opportunity now, in this life, to refine our karma. This is what separates us from other sentient beings that cannot make choices. Approaching the world with this way of thinking is immensely empowering and can bring great benefit to yourself and others.

Every day is filled with opportunities to balance your karma. If you are trying to rectify a specific action that you committed during this lifetime, there are four steps that can help the process:

1. Believe that you can grow and mature - believe you can purify your karma

2. Regret that you have done something negative

3. Resolve not to repeat this negative activity

4. Do something to actively make retribution.

Helping others and living virtuously is favorable for your karma, but you can also aid in healing your karma simply by adjusting your intention. Making a concerted effort to rejoice in the happiness of others, even your worst nemesis, is a very powerful antidote for jealousy and anger. At the same time, do not cling to your good karma. For example, if something good happens to you, take a moment to dedicate this happiness to others.