karmic debt

English

Etymology

karmic +‎ debt. First use appears c. 1888.

Noun

karmic debt (countable and uncountable, plural karmic debts)

1. (New Age, mysticism, metaphysics, spirituality) The accumulation of negative energy resulting from misdeeds in one's past.
   • 1888, W.Q. Judge (publisher), The Path - Volume 2, page 93:

     and be in turn at some future moment compelled to give up its stolen habitation by the expiration of the Karmic debt of the real and exiled man, who could then return.

   • 1896, Jerome A. Anderson, Karma - A Study of the Law of Cause and Effect in Relation to Rebirth Or Reincarnation, Post-mortem States of Consciousness, Cycles, Vicarious Atonement, Fate, Predestination, Free Will, Forgiveness, Animals, Suicides, Etc, page 82:

     that the karmic debt, if it be in his favor, will be settled just as accurately and completely as it would have been if the balance had been against him.

   • 1911, O.E. Library League, The O.E. Library Critic - Volumes 1-2:

     by just saying that you are sorry, and has wisely determined to settle his karmic debt at once, instead of having to pay it with compound interest at some future time

   • 1926, Ida Mingle, Science of Love with Key to Immortality, page 955:

     In this way the karmic debt is paid and the ego is opened to receive the influx of the Divine powers that make for a higher state of being.

   • 1948, Florence Scovel Shinn, The Secret Door To Success, page 12:

     Then you pay some Karmic debt; the price for having violated spiritual law.

   • 1953, Byzant John Manoogian, Adventures with the Inner Voice, page 61:

     They are never happy now, because their Karma is, at this time, putting them through suffering for past debts; but sometimes, when their Karmic debt is fully paid, then as a result of cause and effect, they will enjoy perfect bliss-Karma will do all things for them.

   • 1966, Charan Singh (Satguru), The Master Answers - To Audiences in America, page 479:

     There seems to be an aversion to eating in people's houses, or if I talk to somebody, is there a personal karmic debt by the soul?"

   • 1971, Joseph J. Weed, Wisdom of the Mystic Masters, page 15:

     ... there is still a karmic result and a karmic debt to be paid (or received) as long as the individual retains a self-conscious focus.

   • 1982, Keiji Nishitani, Religion and Nothingness, page 259:

     ... a field where the infinite drive called "covetousness" is cast off and karmic debt has been paid off.

   • 1999, Susan Whitfield, Life Along the Silk Road, page 171:

     He finds her and together they pray for seven days and seven nights, after which she is again transformed into a woman and thereafter allowed into heaven, her karmic debt now repaid in full.

   • 2004, Kay Lagerquist, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Numerology, page 153:

     Of course, just being aware that you have a karmic debt will help you see a path for changing your life and changing your ways.

See also

• karma
• duskarma
• instant karma