Good Karma: How to Find It and Keep It

by Joan Duncan Oliver

Karma has become a buzzword for fate—a glib way to explain away everyday calamities, disappointments, and triumphs. But, in fact, karma—which means “action” in Sanskrit—involves free will and conscious choice. It’s a fundamental concept in Eastern thought, with an underlying principle similar to the law of cause and effect: everything we say and do has consequences.
Good Karma shows us how to take responsibility for our words and deeds, to listen to what our conscience is telling us, and to behave in a way that won’t undermine our prospects for happiness. It forces us to examine specific actions closely and untangle the right from the wrong. For instance, where would you draw the line on stealing: is it OK to bring home paper and pens from the office but not the bathrobe from a hotel bathroom? How can we find our way through the karmic labyrinth, clear up past mistakes, and start the future clean? The karmic view on decision-making discussed so intriguingly here is one of the trickiest, most essential forms of self-analysis that we can undertake—and one of the most rewarding.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, How To, Self Help, Religion

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Rhoda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm think I'm screwed. I'm going to be a flea in my next life; but if I'm a good flea, maybe after that I'll come back as a spider.

[Dasha · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is rare that I do not enjoy a book at all. I pick what to read fairly carefully, and this time I picked up a book almost on a whim, thinking that it sounds right up my alley. I was very disappointed. The book feels silly sensationalist, and while there are some meaningful quotes, overall it feels... shallow and conflicted. I think karma is a very complex idea, and while it can be summarized fairly easily, this book could have explored different cultural ideas and geographical connections more. The design of the book is also off-putting. Sometimes I like that bright, friendly layout. But because the book dealt with a somewhat serious topic, it did not seem fitting. It is set up as a conversation (between whom? not sure), with questions and answers about karma. While that same format has been used quite successfully in some ancient yoga scripts (for example), here it did not "grab me". The way some of the questions were formulated was repetitive, unnecessary, and sometimes even verging on offensive. Overall, I do not recommend this book.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quit my job, then I finished reading this in two nights, from beginning to end. Pretty motivational; it introduced me to the concept of mindfulness and made me realize how much I need to work on myself. Definitely worth a reread at a slower pace of two chapters a day in order to really digest the information and incorporate the lessons into my day.

[Jo Layton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reminder that what goes around comes around and we are all connected and should act accordingly.