Karma is, perhaps, one of the best-known and, ironically, the most misunderstood concepts of Buddhism. While it is often misconceived that Karma implies receiving a comeuppance for a certain action that has affected someone’s life negatively, the notion is, in fact, much more nuanced. Being defined both as the righteous deeds of an individual and the outcome of the individual’s actions, Karma implies taking the right path in one’s decision-making and choosing the option that represents the least selfish or, preferably, the most altruistic choice (Molloy, 2020). Due to the opportunity for personal and spiritual growth that it provides, the concept of Karma needs to be embraced and followed when defining personal values and seeking realization through self-fulfillment.
Since Karma allows one to improve the understanding of himself and the world around, as well as reconcile with the latter and leave in peace, it was chosen as the main focus of this discussion. The idea of Karma is often misrepresented, yet in its essence, it is a fairly simple and accessible notion of a continuous personal improvement (Paramananda, 2014). The notion of Karma as the philosophical stance implying that one is defined by one’s actions and choices is quite inspiring since it offers a substantial amount of agency to an individual in terms of choosing one’s own life path.
Moreover, adhering to the principles of Karma will allow me to become a better nurse since they guide toward nonmaleficence and the focus on patients’ needs. Namely, suggesting “the way to god through Work,” the specified belief inclines a nurse to focus on a patient’s well-being while also engaging in professional and personal growth to improve Karma (“Week 2 lesson: The many paths of Hinduism,” n.d., para. 9). Therefore, the principles of Karma may lead to patients’ beneficence in a nursing setting.
References
Molloy, M. (2020). Experiencing the world’s religions (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Paramananda, S. (2014). The Upanishads. Web.
Week 2 lesson: The many paths of Hinduism. (n.d.). Chamberlain University. Web.