karma

Teachings related to the law of karma and its effects, or how intentional actions of body, speech, and mind affect our circumstances and experiences. The law of karma and its effects explains how present experience is the product of past actions and how present actions affect future experience. Posts include teachings on the types and characteristics of karma and how to use an understanding of karma in daily life.

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View all posts in Venerable Thubten Chodron's teaching archive.

Medicine Buddha thangka surrounded by light and flower offerings.
Medicine Buddha Winter Retreat 2007-08

Sharing challenges of practice

Questions from retreatants on dealing with distraction and habitual reactions. Working with dreams in a…

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An Afghan girl's face full of emotion, using her sunburnt hand to cover her mouth.
Essence of Refined Gold

Fortitude of enduring suffering

Continuing with the explanation of the practice of non-retaliation, and the second type of fortitude…

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The words: fortitude in a grey and a bit green background.
Essence of Refined Gold

Meaning and benefits of fortitude

The types of beings to help and what help should we offer to them. Understanding…

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Closeup of Wat Pho's Reclining Buddha.
Essence of Refined Gold

Three kinds of ethical conduct

Discussion of the characteristics of far-reaching ethical conduct: abandoning destructive actions, engaging in constructive actions,…

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Open Heart, Clear Mind

The determination to be free

Understanding the meaning of renunciation, what we are wishing to be free from, the effects…

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Medicine Buddha thangka surrounded by light and flower offerings.
Medicine Buddha Winter Retreat 2007-08

Retreat discussion

A question-and-answer session covering topics including the mindstream, the buzz of being angry, the Medicine…

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The sangha poses with Rinpoche. Ven. Semkye, Ven. Chodron, Kensur Wangdak Rinpoche, Ven. Tsenla (translator), Ven. Tharpa.
Teachings by Khensur Wangdak Rinpoche

Precious human life

Making one's perfect human rebirth meaningful through the practice of bodhicitta. Accumulation of karma and…

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Medicine Buddha thangka surrounded by light and flower offerings.
Medicine Buddha Winter Retreat 2007-08

Sadhana visualization

Clarifying process of purification, a discussion on karma, and connecting with the Medicine Buddha through…

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Buddha's face painted on canvas.
Essence of Refined Gold

Creating the causes for bodhicitta in future rebirths

Four harmful factors that must be avoided and four beneficial factors to engage in to…

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Open Heart, Clear Mind

Buddha nature and precious human life

Seeing our potential and the conducive circumstances we have to actualize it.

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Buddha's face painted on canvas.
Essence of Refined Gold

The seven-point cause-and-effect practice

Practices that develop the bodhicitta aspiration to attain buddhahood in order to benefit all sentient…

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Open Heart, Clear Mind

The four noble truths

A look at the unsatisfactory nature of cyclic existence and how to practice the noble…

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