At the beginning of the semester we were told to choose a specific topic on which to write our final paper, the topic I chose was “What roles does Karma play in the Buddhism? Who does it influence and how does it influence them in this life, in the afterlife and in the Hereafter?” I wanted to begin this essay by defining what Karma is. Humphreys states that: “The word Karma, or in its neutral form, Karman (in Pali, Kamma), is a Sanskrit word from the root kri, meaning to do or create. Karma is therefore doing or creating. In the Buddhist tradition, Karma referred to actions guided by intentions that lead to future consequences. These intentions are considered the determining factor in the type of rebirth in samsara and the cycle of rebirth. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayKarma plays an important role in the mind and actions. Dr. Sandvig stated in his lecture that “you can have mental karma just by thinking about it, not only who you are but also your thoughts.” This means that if someone thinks or speaks an evil thought, the pain that is about to occur will follow him. If someone speaks or thinks with purely positive thoughts, happiness will follow him. Actions are another main thing that plays a role in Karma. This semester we have talked about two types of actions that accompany accidental actions and intentional actions. Accidental actions do not give rise to karma, these are just nominal actions that actually have no impact on the level of karma you need to have to have a willful intent to do something beneficial or non-beneficial in the world. Intentional actions affect future life, and ultimately, rebirth, what you consciously put into the world, good or bad, has consequences as it plays out not only in your life but also in the next life. Two other terms we have discussed throughout this semester are wholesome acts and unwholesome acts. Healthy acts are actions that support positive conditions of mind and body for the person and the people who are affected by these actions. Both accidental and intentional actions help to unfold not only in people's lives but also in their next life, which is called rebirth. Intentional action affects life in the future and, ultimately, in rebirth. Good or bad rebirths are not simply rewards or punishments. These are just the resulting effects of one's conscious character which is shaped by a lifetime of good or bad actions that reflects on how one chooses to act and live. Karma and rebirth should not be seen as a reward or punishment system because actions are just actions. Buddhism believes that whatever you put into the world is what you will receive back.