1. in Hinduism, a concept signifying (a) a mental or physical action, (b) the consequence of a mental or physical action, (c) the sum of all consequences of the actions of a person in this or some previous life, and (d) the chain of cause and effect in the world of morality.

2. in Buddhism, the universal law of cause and effect. The effect of an action, which can be of the body, speech, or mind, is not primarily determined by the act itself but by the intention of the actor. When a deed cannot be done but the intention to do it exists, this still produces an effect. [Sanskrit, literally: “deed”] —karmic adj.