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Intention, karmic paths and afflictions

56 The Foundation of Buddhist Practice

Part of an ongoing series of teachings (retreat and Friday) based on the book The Foundation of Buddhist Practice, second volume in “The Library of Wisdom and Compassion” series by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron.

  • Three mental non-virtues are strong forms of afflictions
  • Seven physical and verbal destructive actions are intentions
  • Karma and afflictions are mutually exclusive
  • Two meanings of karmic path
  • Difference between karma and seed of an action
  • Asking others to do destructive actions, we also create karma
  • Motivation for an action plays an important role
  • Having mindfulness and introspective awareness to watch our intentions
  • What kind of future we want to create for ourselves?

The Foundation of Buddhist Practice 56: Intention, Karmic Paths and Afflictions (download)

Contemplation points

  1. Bring to mind a positive experience where you encouraged others to do a positive action. Also reflect upon a circumstance where you asked somebody to do a negative action. What were the different results in each instance in your own mind?
  2. Have you been in a situation that brought you significant suffering later on due to attachment or anger in your mind? How can you counteract/prevent such outcomes in the future?
Venerable Thubten Chodron

Venerable Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala, India, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. Read her full bio.