KARMIC RELIEF

This straightforward guide explains the concept of karma and its real-world applications to help readers move forward with purpose.

While karma is a popular term, many people misunderstand the idea of “cause and effect.” Goldberg touches on the history of karma’s popularization, from the “Hindu Renaissance” in the 18th century to a Taylor Swift title track in 2022. While some “tend to invoke karma only when something bad happens,” it “is not about reward and punishment…We set karmic currents in motion through our thoughts and actions.” Woven into the author’s descriptions of what karma is are the ways in which readers can incorporate its philosophies into everyday life. Serving others, for example, can help move the “karmic scorecard” while a focus on internal actions can ultimately steer one’s decisions in a more spiritually and emotionally fulfilling direction. Goldberg gives the example of someone trying to decide whether or not to do something “ethically or morally wrong” that will help the person in the short run without anyone ever finding out. When considering karma, the individual may realize that this decision would inevitably create negative consequences later on and ultimately decide not to do it. While some points may sound familiar to those even slightly versed in Buddhist philosophy (such as the idea that the individual self and “universal Self” are one), more complicated yogic tenets are included—like a detailed breakdown of the five niyamas (ways to cultivate a positive inner state) and the five yamas (behaviors that people should “refrain from doing”). The book’s smooth, personable narrative clearly explains these complex ideas through plenty of examples and a gradual introduction to a specialized vocabulary. It is an intriguing deep dive into karma that many readers should find enlightening. Goldberg ultimately breathes new life into an often overused concept by breaking down karma’s core principles and applying them to ordinary life.

A valuable and inspiring examination of what karma means and how it can be used.