Karma is an Eastern word that has now entered the Western lexicon. Most people are familiar with the idea yet, paradoxically, few understand it. It is a vast, subtle and all-encompassing concept. It affects us all; it is one of the prime influences on our life s journey. An understanding of Karma can be of benefit to each of us as individuals, and possibly to mankind as a whole. But it must be an understanding based on reason and honesty, not on fear or a desire for comfort."