Karma and the ten nonvirtuous actions
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Young Adults Explore Buddhism 2026 
Jun 17, 2026 Part of a series of talks given during Sravasti Abbey's annual Exploring Buddhism for Young Adults program in the summer of 2026.
- The Buddha described the laws of karma he did not create them
- Karmic seeds and cooperative conditions lead to our experience of happiness and suffering
- We’re responsible for the creation of our own karma
- The joy of overcoming our resistance to giving
- The characteristics of karma
- The ten nonvirtuous actions
- Killing
- Taking what is not freely given
- Sexual misconduct
- Lying
- Divisive speech
- Harsh speech
- Idle talk
- Covetousness
- Malice
- Wrong views
- The ten virtuous actions
- The benefit of taking precepts
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.
