Could someone explain to me the concept of Karma?

So far, I interpreted it to be, basically, when you do good things good things happen to you...I'm sure there's a LOT more to it than that...ANy help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

i think thats pretty much it, 'cept when you do bad things bad things happen to you.

but there is probably some long scientific explanation of the energies involved somewhere..

its just that if you do bad shit in a negative mind frame, that builds up negative karma, that can ripen and come back to get you at any time. the opposite happens with good karma. it has more to do with the set of your mind than the actual actions.

bad karma, once it ripens causes suffering and good karma causes happiness (only fleeting though).

there are 'loopholes' to escape negative karma ripening, you can purify it, which involves regreting what youve done, commtiting to never doing it again, saying mantras and something else which ive forgotten at the moment. but its basically a sincere regret for what youve done.

it is tied in with reincarnation and karma can take many lives to ripen, and determines the level of your rebirth.

[This message has been edited by RAOVQ (edited 04-10-2002).]

I think Karma is a better replacement for hell.
Ive always said that there aint a hell, and with karma there doesnt need to be coz you get punished during your life (or your next life)
I think your soul travels through body to body until it has gained perfect wisdom and then it goes into heavan.

Karma is the law of cause and effect.