Karma

Just as the ideas of physical action (force or motion) and space-time are pivotal to describing the mechanics of physical objects, the idea of volitional action is pivotal to describing the mechanics of non-physical objects.

Volitional action means mental action, but not just any action, such as thinking or feeling. It is a mental action that has an ethical quality of wholesomeness (good) or unwholesomeness (bad).

All mental phenomena involve volition, the universal mental element that is ethically neutral. When volition combines with wholesome or unwholesome mental elements, it gives rise to either unwholesome mental action or wholesome mental action: the two types of volitional action. Thus, a volitional action is always ethical. Here, ethical does not mean moral, but having the mental quality of being good or bad.
Water is colorless. When you add blue or red color to it, it becomes blue or red water. Volition is like water and volitional action is like blue or red water.

As volitional actions occur they accumulate and form volitional patterns due to grasping or clinging by a person’s mind. These are known as volitional formations. For example, non-greedy actions done over a period of time give rise to a formation of generosity. Non-hateful actions done over a period of time give rise to a formation of love and kindness.
Karma is a popular Eastern term primarily used in regard to volitional action, but also in regard to volitional formations. Many people wrongly assume that there is an individual soul that generates karma. Many also misunderstand karma as a storehouse of things or deeds possessed or owned by an individual soul. Contrary to these beliefs, you don’t carry around good or bad karmas (volitional formations) in your spiritual suitcase. Karma is simply a volitional (mental) phenomenon that underlies the mechanics of soul.

For more information, visit www.soulresearchinstitute.org