7 popular beliefs about karma, put to the test

Let’s be honest : karma is one of those words we all use without really knowing what we’re talking about. I’ve heard people drop it casually in cafés in Camden Market, usually right after a “well, that’s karma for you !” said with a half-smile. But what do we actually mean ? And more important : which of the big ideas we repeat all the time really stand up to scrutiny ?
Before we dive in, I stumbled the other day on https://option-binaire-avis-fr while checking how people mix spirituality and decision-making (yes, even trading), and it reminded me just how much we love turning invisible forces into life explanations. Funny how humans work, right ?

So, let’s go through the seven most common beliefs about karma and see which ones make sense, which ones are oversimplified… and which ones honestly fall apart the moment you look at them for more than 10 seconds.

1. “Karma punishes bad people.”

This one is everywhere. I’ve probably believed it at some point too – usually after someone cut me off in traffic on the M25. But in traditional Indian philosophies, karma isn’t a cosmic boomerang out for revenge. It’s more like a chain of causes and consequences that shape your inner world first, not an immediate punishment delivered by the universe’s HR department.
Does that make it less satisfying ? Maybe. But definitely more coherent.

2. “Karma works instantly.”

I wish ! Seriously, who hasn’t thought “okay, where’s the karma ?” after watching someone behave terribly and still land a promotion ?
In reality, classic texts describe karma as unfolding over long periods – sometimes lifetimes. Whether you believe in reincarnation or not, the core idea is : what you sow affects you, but not always on your timeline. Frustrating, yes. But if karma worked instantly, the world would look very, very different.

3. “Everything that happens to you is karma.”

That one is… dangerous. It suggests that every accident, illness or heartbreak is your fault from some past life or forgotten misdeed. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sit right with me.
Many spiritual traditions make a clear distinction between karma and plain old randomness, or structural injustice, or human cruelty. Blaming everything on karma makes life weirdly simple – and wrongly guilt-inducing.

4. “Good deeds guarantee a good life.”

If only ! I once met a Buddhist monk in Chiang Mai who laughed when I told him people in Europe often think karma works like a points system. “Not a supermarket card,” he said with a grin.
Doing good can shape your character, your relationships, your ability to act wisely – but expecting “rewards” is missing the point entirely. Karma is about transformation, not transactions.

5. “Karma is the same in all religions.”

Nope. Not even close. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism – each tradition has its own take. Even inside one religion, interpretations vary wildly. Some focus on intention, others on action, others on liberation from the cycle entirely.
So when someone says “karma means X,” a tiny alarm bell should ring. The concept is richer, older and more diverse than our modern pop-culture version.

6. “Karma means you should never get angry.”

I’ve heard this so many times… as if karma were a spiritual policing system forcing you to stay calm even when things are genuinely unfair. But traditional teachings don’t say “don’t get angry.” They say “don’t let anger own you.”
There’s a difference. A big one. Feeling emotions doesn’t generate bad karma – acting destructively without awareness does. That’s way more human and realistic.

7. “Karma is about judging others.”

Honestly, this belief is the big misunderstanding. Karma wasn’t designed to give us a moral scoreboard for everyone else’s life choices. It’s supposed to be a tool for self-reflection. A mirror, not a telescope.
Next time you catch yourself saying “that’s their karma,” maybe flip the question : what am I projecting here ? Annoying exercise, I know, but surprisingly revealing.

So, what’s left of karma after all this ?

A lot, actually – but something more subtle than the quick, Westernised version we’ve inherited. Karma isn’t a cosmic punishment system or a vending machine that spits out rewards. It’s a framework for understanding how our choices shape who we become, how we relate to others, and how we navigate the world.
And honestly, when you strip away the clichés, that version feels deeper, calmer, almost comforting.
What about you – which belief about karma have you carried for years without really questioning it ?