Growing up, my grandmother always told me that I must have done some great things in my last life to be so fortunate in this one. She was of course referring to the Hindu concept of karma, the ethical part of the process of samsara or rebirth. The universal law by which good or bad actions determine the future forms of an individual’s existence. For example, if you lived selfishly and did solely bad actions with no remorse you would be reincarnated in your next life as something less ideal like a rodent. 

Sadly, for many people when they hear the word karma, they immediately think of the popular westernized definition. There’s a universal “brownie point” system where if you do a bad thing like trip someone on the street something bad will immediately come back to you, like getting a parking ticket the next day.

Although American misinterpretation and misuse of traditional cultural values is not uncommon, the westernization of karma has definitely stemmed from pop culture.

Recently, Jojo Siwa, the Dance Mom’s alumni, rebranded and came out with a new viral song titled “Karma.” The song goes on to state how “she’s a bad girl and did some bad things” and she “should’ve known better.” She also mentions how “now the universe is giving me what I deserve” which is a common misconception when it comes to karma. Karma is not the universe trying to get back to you, it’s simply the meaning that the consequences of your actions are long lasting and can follow you into your next lives. 

Previously, Taylor Swift also decided to write a song about karma singing about how her and a personified version of karma were “vibing.” The song was essentially about how karma is wrapped around her finger, stating that it was “a cat sitting in her lap,” “her boyfriend,” “a God,” “an acrobat” and more. 

I understand what she was trying to say, that she has done good things and that’s why she’s done so well. People who have wronged her are definitely getting what they deserve. However, her commercialization of karma, permeated this western idea of “karma points” and undermined the complexity of karma. Instead, it is a long cyclical process that deals with moral ambiguity and its sister concept dharma.

Dharma is the sacred moral code of living, which consists of upholding your values and beliefs. It’s not just “keeping your side of the street clean,” it’s a way of goodness, truth and duty that goes much farther than following the basic ethical standards.

Artists are free to talk about how people or themselves got what they deserved, but they shouldn’t be labeling it as karma. Instead, it is a sacred concept of reincarnation not a system where you can rack up points. It is a spiritual universal law, not a “b**ch” or “your boyfriend.”