At one point early in the novel, Lakshmi is thinking about karma. Do you believe in karma? Why or why not?

At one point early in the novel, Lakshmi is thinking about karma. Do you believe in karma? Why or why not?

I do believe in karma, not just the “eye for an eye” kind. I believe in karma as an overriding principle. It wasn’t that Lakshmi got rewarded for working so hard and being good, but rather she ended up finding exactly what she needed and who she was. That was the best reward.

I agree that Karma is not "an eye for an eye" but rather what you give out to the universe, you get back. I am a firm believer in putting positive energy into the universe to receive the same back. Lakshmi saw her role as one of penance because of running away from her husband and leaving her mother-in-law. So eventually her karma was "paid off" and the good karma she put into the world returned to her.

I do believe in Karma. I truly think that what goes around, come around. Though we never meet her mother in law, I am sure she would have been proud of the life Lakshmi created for herself carrying on the potions and cures she learned from her. I think Lakshmi did what she had to do to survive. Taking in her troubled sister was her way of paying back her parents. Finding a new life in Shimla with Dr Jay was hopefully the opportunity for love and happiness she desired and had worked so hard for.

These are great comments - the idea of karma always being a "bad" thing, like the eye for an eye approach, can be misleading. Karma is also about the good things that we put out into the world, through helping others, etc. I firmly believe that genuine positive energy and the desire to make the world a better place results in more positive energy for not just yourself, but others as well.

I believe that a person’s behavior, actions and attitude influence future outcomes. I believe the consequences of our actions come back to affect us either favorably or unfavorably. We reap what we sow.

I think that the universe reflects the intentions and attitudes of what we do--both positive and negative.

I do believe in karma but more in the Christian sense. We are meant to do good, treat others fairly and not judge. I don't necessarily believe that if I do something bad I will be punished nor do I believe if I do something good I will be rewarded. I just believe karma makes we want to do good.

It is interesting to consider the idea of karma. When a person, by her actions, makes another person's life more joyful, I do believe there may be a domino effect and that goodness moves along. I don't believe there is a magical or mystical aura attached to karma. It seems to offer a push to do the right thing. People who are harming, negative people do often experience similar behavior given back to them as a natural human response.

Yes, I believe in Karma in that you need to treat others as how you would want others to treat you and to do with a degree of humility as you never know when you might find yourself in a situation where you need the respect of others and for them to show humility and empathy towards you.

I believe in Karma. All actions have reactions/consequences. I believe that the good you send out in the world
comes back to you as well as the bad.

These comments are so refreshing for me to read! Most of the time when the word karma is used- -it is followed by "is a b - - - h", implying that is IS an eye for an eye kind of thing. And I never really thought any more about it than to disagree because a lot of people I know who have NOT put positive out there are not suffering any consequences that I can see. lol

How powerful your comments are in helping me to change my mindset and looking at the concept in a completely different way!. Karma isn't about anyone but me. And it is a good thing! It is about my behavior, no one else's. I am responsible for being mindful of what I say, what I do, and how I treat others. While there is no guarantee that I will reap rewards and praise for all the wonderful I do (haha), I can close my eyes at night and sleep easily knowing I have done no harm during the day. And the behavior of anyone else is NONE of my business!

Karma just became more for me than a bumper sticker (or meme). Thanks BookBrowse Community! Namaste.

Acstrine, I love what you said. It’s why I read and why I love being in book groups especially this one. When another person shares a different perspective, whether in a book group or a character in a book, it expands me. It’s so wonderful to have an understanding of some aspect of life and than boom, someone says something and you think differently. Thank you for sharing this.

I do not believe in Karma, but when a bad thing happens to a bad person, one wants to believe it is karma. The opposite is also true, when bad things happen to a good person, it is not generally believed to be karma.

Yes, I believe in karma. I believe it's not only what you do and do not do for others but how you think. Positive thoughts will create positive events and vice versa! You attract whatever you spend time thinking about. It's not just one thought it's your way of historically thinking.

I do think that how we behave towards others has an effect on how others treat us. It doesn’t always seem that good people get good karma but overall, I think it’s true.

I do believe in karma...I feel like if you are constantly doing something to hurt other people, or cause pain or shame to someone, that it will catch up to you in the end. What you sow you reap...if you are good, then you will have goodness come back to you. Maybe not right away, but I feel like in the end, if you can look yourself in the eye in a mirror, that is a blessing for your life.

I do believe in Karma and that the energy you put forth, both bad or good, will come back to you as reward or punishment. I have lived long enough to have seen how effectively Karma does it's work, which is does very well.