What is cause and effect? If a person commits theft, for example, in terms of the person’s body, speech, or mind, which one is the cause? The word “karma”, which is now in common usage, has the same meaning as “cause” here. A thief uses his hands to grab something and puts it in a bag. Is this action the cause? When someone thinks, “I’m going to steal this,” is this thought the cause? In the case of stealing, should the action of the hands be construed as the cause, or the thought?