The idea that actions (causes) lead to corresponding results (effects); from Buddhist thought—good deeds bring good results and bad deeds bring bad results (karma/poetic justice).
彼は長年の不正が明るみに出て、因果応報だと言われた。
His long-term misconduct was exposed, and people said it was karma/just deserts.
因果応報を信じる人は、自分の行いがいつか返ってくると考える。
People who believe in karma think that their actions will come back to them someday.
映画では悪者が最後に罰を受ける因果応報のテーマが描かれた。
The film portrayed the theme of poetic justice in which the villain is punished in the end.