How Does Karma Work?

When a feeling comes to our minds to do something, there’s a space before the karmic impulse drives us to act. We don’t immediately act out whatever feeling arises – we did learn to be toilet trained, after all! In the same way, when the feeling to say something hurtful arises, we can choose, “Shall I say it, or not?” We might feel momentary relief at expressing our annoyance by yelling at someone, but being in the habit of yelling at others is an unhappy state of mind.