"The Pali word kamma or the Sanskrit karma literally means 'action', 'doing'. But in the Buddhist theory of karma it has a specific meaning: it means only volitional action, not all action. Nor does it mean the result of karma as many people wrongly and loosely use it. In Buddhist terminology karma never means its effect; its effect is known as the fruit or the result of karma.
The theory of karma should not be confused with so-called moral justice or reward and punishment. The theory of karma is the theory of cause and effect, of action and reaction; it is a natural law, which has nothing to do with the idea of justice or reward and punishment. Every volitional action produces its effects or results. If a good action produces good effects and a bad action bad effects, it is not justice, or reward, or punishment meted out by anybody or any power sitting in judgement on your action, but this is in virtue of its own nature, its own law."
The theory of karma should not be confused with so-called moral justice or reward and punishment. The theory of karma is the theory of cause and effect, of action and reaction; it is a natural law, which has nothing to do with the idea of justice or reward and punishment. Every volitional action produces its effects or results. If a good action produces good effects and a bad action bad effects, it is not justice, or reward, or punishment meted out by anybody or any power sitting in judgement on your action, but this is in virtue of its own nature, its own law."
What the Buddha taught - p.32
