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.

Folio image in Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper.
On Cultivating Wisdom

Cuddling up to the Dharma

A great task, a big love. An incarcerated person describes the power of intention in…

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Golden statue of Vajrasattva.
On Meditation

Purifying negative karma

Using the retreat experience to purify the root delusions of pride and attachment.

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Lay person giving alms to monk.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Letting go of “me,” “I,” and...

We value good karma more than money and possessions. Accumulating mental and emotional wealth.

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Burmese nuns walking in formation.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Simplicity

Considering desired long-term results and what actions to perform now to attain them. The qualities…

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Ven. Chogkyi listening to Ven. Chodron give a Dharma talk.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Essentials of monastic life

The heart of ordination is to guide our mind away from negative actions and to…

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Thai practitioner kneeling with palms together.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Importance of precepts

Keeping precepts protects us from negative actions and spurs us to develop wisdom rather than…

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Painting of the Buddha's first sermon and five disciples.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Precepts and their background

Benefits of taking precepts, seeing the teacher as the Buddha, and etiquette between lay practitioners,…

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A prison inmate looks through the window of a cell and the other inmate squatting in a corner, his hands covering his head.
Prison Dharma

Seeking liberation while in prison

Lama Zopa Rinpoche comments on the karmic connection those who work with incarcerated people must…

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Man sitting outside in grass, meditating.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

Practice and our mind

A person in prison contemplates his vow to benefit all sentient beings.

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Buddha statue on a pedestal outdoors with a small ceramic white dove in front of him.
37 Practices of Bodhisattvas

Stages of the path to enlightenment

Lamrim topics and thought transformation practices within the 37 practices of bodhisattvas.

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Buddha statue on a pedestal outdoors with a small ceramic white dove in front of him.
37 Practices of Bodhisattvas

Wisdom fear of samsara

A teaching on the reality of cyclic existence and possibility for liberation. Reflecting on our…

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