Did you know The Buddha’s teaching on law of karma (literally, "action") is nothing other
than his compassionate explanation of the way things are:
our thoughts and actions determine our future, and therefore we ourselves are largely responsible for the way our lives unfold.
Yet this supremely useful teaching is often ignored due to the misconceptions about it that abound in popular culture, especially oversimplifications that make it seem like something not to be taken seriously.
Law of Karma (Pali: Kamma) or Hukum Karma in Indonesian language is not simple, as Traleg Kyabgon shows, and it’s to be taken very seriously indeed. He cuts through the persistent illusions we cling to about karma to show what it really is—the mechanics of why we suffer and how we can make the suffering end.
He explains how a realistic understanding of karma is indispensable to Buddhist practice, how it provides a foundation for a moral life, and how understanding it can have a transformative effect on the way we relate to our thoughts and feelings and to those around us.
Review:
Karma is often a misunderstood topic in Buddhism. This clear explanation from such an eminent teacher as the late Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche, who possessed great knowledge of both dharma and the Western mind-set, will bring profound benefit to us all.
This is a great book in that it messages to explain the complications of an often misunderstood Buddhist doctrine, but Kyabgon goes further and explains the pre-Buddhist developments of the concept and contrasts Buddhist ideas of law of karma with its development in Hinduism and, in the second half of the book, contrasts and compares with Christian doctrines as well.
This is a clear, refreshing and in fact surprising look at what karma really is for Buddhists, clearing the haze of confusion introduced by pop culture as well as the often confusion with the very different understanding of karma in Hinduism. It looks at the origins of karma theory. This short but comprehensive book that is extremely readable, for people new to the subject or old-time practitioners.
This book goes into depth not only on karma, but on death and the difference between reincarnation and rebirth. In general, Traleg Rinpoche speaks to just what most of us wonder about, what happens at death and exactly what attains rebirth. In essence, Traleg Rinpoche has embedded many kernels for deep thought in this text, each one capable of being expanded into an illumination.
Kyabgon makes more references and explains in the concept in a rational way, but does "modernize" the traditional concept in a way that changes it. Kyabgon also shows the various developments and shifts in the meaning of idea of Karma in its development in classical Indian and Tibetan Buddhism without invalidating other Buddhist understandings or denying significant developments and differences. This is an excellent book.
our thoughts and actions determine our future, and therefore we ourselves are largely responsible for the way our lives unfold.
Yet this supremely useful teaching is often ignored due to the misconceptions about it that abound in popular culture, especially oversimplifications that make it seem like something not to be taken seriously.
Law of Karma (Pali: Kamma) or Hukum Karma in Indonesian language is not simple, as Traleg Kyabgon shows, and it’s to be taken very seriously indeed. He cuts through the persistent illusions we cling to about karma to show what it really is—the mechanics of why we suffer and how we can make the suffering end.
He explains how a realistic understanding of karma is indispensable to Buddhist practice, how it provides a foundation for a moral life, and how understanding it can have a transformative effect on the way we relate to our thoughts and feelings and to those around us.
Review:
Karma is often a misunderstood topic in Buddhism. This clear explanation from such an eminent teacher as the late Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche, who possessed great knowledge of both dharma and the Western mind-set, will bring profound benefit to us all.
This is a great book in that it messages to explain the complications of an often misunderstood Buddhist doctrine, but Kyabgon goes further and explains the pre-Buddhist developments of the concept and contrasts Buddhist ideas of law of karma with its development in Hinduism and, in the second half of the book, contrasts and compares with Christian doctrines as well.
This is a clear, refreshing and in fact surprising look at what karma really is for Buddhists, clearing the haze of confusion introduced by pop culture as well as the often confusion with the very different understanding of karma in Hinduism. It looks at the origins of karma theory. This short but comprehensive book that is extremely readable, for people new to the subject or old-time practitioners.
This book goes into depth not only on karma, but on death and the difference between reincarnation and rebirth. In general, Traleg Rinpoche speaks to just what most of us wonder about, what happens at death and exactly what attains rebirth. In essence, Traleg Rinpoche has embedded many kernels for deep thought in this text, each one capable of being expanded into an illumination.
Kyabgon makes more references and explains in the concept in a rational way, but does "modernize" the traditional concept in a way that changes it. Kyabgon also shows the various developments and shifts in the meaning of idea of Karma in its development in classical Indian and Tibetan Buddhism without invalidating other Buddhist understandings or denying significant developments and differences. This is an excellent book.
