Is Karma a system of cosmic punishment?

Understanding Karma as Self-Authorship\n\nWhen things go wrong, we often sigh and blame "bad karma," feeling like victims of a cosmic court system. This view breeds fatalism and guilt. However, original dharmic texts describe Karma in a completely different light.\n\n### The Law of Action\nThe word *Karma* translates directly to "action" or "deed." It represents a natural law of cause and effect, much like Newton's third law of motion. Every choice you make creates a mental impression (*Samskara*). These impressions group together to form your habits, tendencies, and desires (*Vasanas*), which ultimately dictate your future decisions.\n\n### The Freedom to Choose\nRather than punishing you, the law of karma states that you are in control. If your current state is the result of past choices, it logically follows that your future state will be the result of your present choices. You are not a helpless victim; you are the author of your destiny.