Karma: What It Is, What It Isn't, Why It Matters

by Traleg Kyabgon

A master of Tibetan Buddhism cuts through prevalent misconceptions around karma and rebirth to get to the root cause of our suffering—and how we can end it
 
The Buddha’s teaching on karma (literally, “action”) is nothing other than his compassionate explanation of the way things 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 found in popular culture, especially oversimplifications that make it seem like something not to be taken seriously. Karma is not simple, as Traleg Kyabgon shows, and it’s to be taken very seriously indeed.
 
In this book, Kyabgon 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.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Philosophy, Religion, Audiobook, Psychology

160 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2015

About the author

Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche (1955–2012) was the ninth incarnation of the Traleg tulku line, a line of high lamas in the Kagyu lineage of Vajrayana. He was a pioneer in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to Australia.

Traleg Rinpoche was born in 1955 in Kham (Eastern Tibet), and two years later was recognized by HH 16th Gyalwa Karmapa as the ninth incarnation of the Traleg Tulkus and enthroned as the Abbot of the Thrangu monastery. He was taken to safety in India during the 1959 Chinese Communists invasion of Tibet. There he was given a traditional tulku education, supplemented by five years of schooling at Sanskrit University in Varanasi, India. He lived and studied for several years at Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, the main seat in exile of the Kagyu Lineage. He died on July 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia.

In 1980 Rinpoche transmitted the Dharma in Australia where he established Kagyu E-vam Buddhist Institute in Melbourne. He relinquished his monastic vows, became a lay teacher and married. He earned a Masters degree in Comparative Philosophy from La Trobe University. In 1989, he taught extensively at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, visiting the North American affiliates of HH Gyalwa Karmapa. In 2004 he established the Evam Institute in New York in Chatham, NY. He also taught extensively in the Karma Thegsum Choling network of the Karmapa's centers and at Shambhala Buddhist centers. His wife, Felicity Lodro, is also an active dharma teacher.

Reviews

[St Fu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to give a ratings when your karma is on the line. Rate it too high and you attract those who won't find it helpful. Too low and it may dissuade those who should read it from doing so. Luckily intent is important. I'm trying. I went with the middle way of 3 stars.

The takeaways for me are:
1) Don't avoid good karma just because your goal is no karma.
2) You need your bad thoughts to have something to turn away from.
3) Being in the world isn't to be avoided.

In particular, number 3 says not to think too mystically about things. Better to stay with how things present themselves instead of getting caught up in trying to transcend. Especially because it's just ego to be "more spiritual than thou."

[C. Varn · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 karma with its development in Hinduism and, in the second half of the book, contrasts and compares with Christian doctrines as well. 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. An excellent book.

[Benno Readsabit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent enough. I get that it's for "western audiences" or whatever, but damn the number of books that are dumbed down to the point of being unhelpful, all for the sake of appealing to North Americans is honestly more disheartening than anything at this point. Had to read it for a class, would not necessarily recommend.

[Stephanie Barko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the February 2021 selection of Austin Spiritual Book Group.

[Analouise · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful, deeply considered discussion of karma and related teachings. Highly recommended.

[Kevin McAvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book discusses much more than karma.
Worth reading twice as some of the statements are so wise they are worth memorizing.
I will see if the author wrote anything else.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in the concept of karma even before I married a devout Buddhist. But since then, I have become even more curious about it. I wanted to find out more about karma than simply what is said and thought in mainstream American culture. As it turns out, karma is a very complex idea that is not easily understood. The author tries to explain it from a historical perspective, and eventually he turns to the Buddhist perspective, both from the Buddha's own teachings but also how things have developed in Buddhist cultures. I am still not clear about exactly what karma is, although I have a better understanding after reading the book. The author is most successful in arguing that following karma is a much more persuasive idea for why people should act in positive ways rather than negative. He argues, and I agree, that teaching right from wrong without there being any connection to whether behaving in a right way is beneficial is not helpful. The way it works with karma is that acting justly comes back to us in real and tangible ways and is thus in our best interest. He makes a lot of sense.

I wish there had been more examples given for different circumstances we find ourselves in our self-centered age. Overall it was a good book for learning more about karma. Having said that, I think I will continue reading other sources on karma.

[E.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of attending a 2 1/2 day teaching by Traleg Rinpoche maybe a year or so before his death. At that time, he presented a number of teachings from his then "upcoming" book on Karma. I must say that it was the one of the best teachings on Buddhism I ever attended. In addition, Traleg Rinpoche was a very engaging individual. He mixed a lot of humor into his teachings. The teaching was illuminating and actually fun. For whatever reason, I forgot about his then upcoming book and just recently happened to bump into it.

IMHO, this is one of the best books on Buddhism that I have ever read. I find the wording that he uses communicates clarifies and simplifies very complex concepts in a very down-to-earth way. Still, this is not an easy read, requiring several rereads to get the ideas to sink in. However, every time I reread it, I find a new gem of thought.

I am no expert, but this has to be one of the best and most important books on Buddhism written in this modern age.

[Jampa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this little gem. Rinpoche's explanations are clear and precise. He packs a wallop in a very short text. I was amazed at his brilliant explanation of the Yogacara philosophy in 6 pages! Other complicated and extensive subjects were equally handled in very succinct and informative manner. Of course one can do more exploration and extensive studying, but for a wider audience it was perfect. I also recommend reading his brilliant text on Mahamudra: Mind at Ease.

[Russell Paradis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book taught me so much about karma. It really helped me shed the notions of what I thought it was. This book has a clear and very simple way of explaining how a belief in or even just an openness to karma can enrich our lives. The discussion on perspectives of death in Christianity and Buddhism are very beneficial for those of us who will die someday. Haha (just a little Buddhist humor)

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rinpoche Traleg Kyabgon's final completed book. Written in his usual measured, accessible and precise style. A relatively short introductory level book outlining some of the complexities and misconceptions surrounding the central Buddhist idea of Karma.

Like many westerners, I struggle with some aspects of reincarnation, but this teacher gently points the way past this hang up towards a paradoxical balance between continuity of causality, yet discontinuity of 'identity' in reincarnation.

Fascinated as I am with western philosophy, science and mind, Traleg Kyabgon gave his audience permission to inquire and question into all aspects of understanding, while illuminating an eastern approach sweet in the initiation, sweet in the process, and sweet in the completion.

A bit embarrassed to be only giving this book 4 stars.

[Ann T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book to end the year, and I will read it again in the new year.

"Buddhism regards the negative aspect of karma as ensuing from a lack of cultivation. Our behavior is governed by our unthingingness; we act in a distracted state, out of habit, almost unconsciously. By seeing the other side of it and learning to cultivate karma, addressing those habits we need to address, becoming more reflective, karma becomes a liberating conept. When fresh thoughts pop into our mind, they enter a certain present mental condition, and whether they take root and flourish, or dwindle and perish, can be influenced by our cultivation of wholesome thoughts."

Clear, concise, sometimes repetitive (in a GOOD way) explanation of the concept of karma, just like the title says...what it is, what it isn't and why it matters. Excellent.

[Janani Kalpathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heavy and relevant read

This has been a heavy and relevant read. The book provides an easy to understand framework of the concept and workings of karma, death, emptiness, immortality, rebirth from a Buddhist point of view with it's thought-provoking origination from India. Although it's only 144 page long, it could have been condensed to half its size as similar concepts were repeated across chapters.

My takeaway was even though karma literally means action it is the intention with which acts are carried out is actually more important than the action itself. Our thoughts and actions determine our future, and therefore we ourselves are largely responsible for the way our lives unfold.

[Isil Calvelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to read more about Karma after hearing one of my teachers talk about the lack of free will. This book was suggested to me by meditation teacher. I appreciated the writer's approach, sharing the history of the perception and meaning of Karma. There is a lot of emphasis of what Karma is not and that is helpful. There is an explanation of what Karma is and how one can work with Karma practically and why it is important. I still have lots of questions open - which I think will is the case for any important concept to contemplate on but the book answered my question about the will. There is will, there is choice and it is important to make choices. It was an enriching read.

[Renee Legris · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you really want to understand the Buddhist view of karma, read this book. The author very patiently walks you through how it works and what it means, and how you can learn to "cultivate" karma. I was surprised how many things I have misunderstood for a long time. Authentic dharma, but friendly to Westerners.

[Bohdan Pechenyak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps the clearest and most comprehensive treatment of the Buddhist concept and theory of karma, with background history in Hinduism. Written in a precise, clear language that is devoid of jargon and excessive use of foreign terms, which is an advantage to those unfamiliar with Buddhism and other Asian dharmic traditions.

[Learae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I thought the book was a bit wordier than it needed to be, I found it to be interesting. It shed a different light on Karma than I had heard or read in the past. At first I found it hard to reconcile with what I had previously thought, but I later was able to incorporate it into my current belief system. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a broader understanding of karma.

[Jane Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice read. Even more entertaining than my favorite philosophy books. Not esoteric at all as misleadingly pointed out by one of the commenters. Quite the opposite, it's a scientifically solid survey of how the term came to be.

[Alberto Zapata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un buen libro que aclara los términos budistas importantes como el karma, el renacimiento, la muerte y los diferencia bien comparándolas con otras creencias religiosas como el hinduismo o el cristianismo.

[Leah McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all have it. Karma that is. Karma doesn’t accept excuses. Karma doesn’t give a shit about excuses. Karma can come when you least expect it. Karma brings lots of things to one’s life. Karma can be joyful and abundant or sad and terrifying. How will you follow your Karma?

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't find this book particular insightful. Got to about 50% before I had to cut my losses. The topic of Karma is fascinating, the book however feels to dumbed down to inspire meaningful discussion.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setting the record straight…. From the Buddhist perspective. What is karma, and how can we use it to good effect in our lives. “There is no reliance on theology, and yet it encourages a type of thinking and discipline that promotes respect toward others and ourselves.”

[Iryna Parail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book with great insights and practical inspiration for practice. I wouldn't agree with some statements in the chapter with evidences of rebirth and stuff, but totally recommend to give this book a chance. I'll definitely re-read some pages on my way to get the Dharma into my bones.

[James Crouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent treatment of Karma

[Tonya Jakubowski · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's much more information on karma than I was interested in.

[Ash Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers a better understanding into how 'karma' impacts our lives and suggestions on ways to accept things as they are...

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️

[Renetta Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much food for thought :-)

[Fatema · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice..

[Gene Bobker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love TR teachings.