Karma: Finding Freedom in This Moment

by Dzigar Kongtrül III, Pema Chödrön

Two Master Teachers Illuminate the Mysteries of Karma



Of the many Eastern wisdom teachings to have found their way westward, the notion of karma may be the most misunderstood--and most transformative. American-born teacher Pema Ch�dr�n is renowned for making the wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism accessible, practical, and relevant for Westerners from all walks of life. But to bring us an understanding of the fundamental concept of karma, Ani Pema called on one of her own guides. On Karma, she is joined by Dzigar Kongtr�l Rinpoche to present a two-part teaching session on this challenging subject.

What is karma? Is it superstition? Do you have to believe in reincarnation to understand it? How do I get rid of bad karma? In a dialogue both illuminating and provocative, Pema and Kongtr�l Rinpoche address the most common questions of Western students, discussing karma on the level of the individual, relationships, and the community and world at large. Session two then brings us an inspirational dharma talk with Dzigar Kongtr�l Rinpoche, exploring the roots of positive and negative karma, how your good heart will shape this life and the next, service versus self-attachment, and much more.

A mature view of karma empowers us to steer our lives through conscious choice rather than conditioned behaviors. Karma gives us a guiding light for living life at the level of cause, not effect, with responsibility and compassion.

Course Objectives:

Discuss karma on the level of the individual, relationships, and the community and world at large
- Examine the most common questions of Western students on the subject of karma such as, What is karma? Is it superstition? Do you have to believe in reincarnation to understand it? and, How do I get rid of 'bad' karma?
- Define Karma through exploring the roots of positive and negative karma, how your good heart will shape this life and the next, service versus self-attachment, and much more
- Recognize how a mature view of karma empowers us to steer our lives through conscious choice rather than conditioned behaviors
- Discuss how Karma gives us a guiding light for living life at the level of cause, not effect, with responsibility and compassion

Genres: Buddhism

3 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

The 3rd Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, also known as Jigme Namgyel, (Tibetan: འཛི་སྒར་ཀོང་སྤྲུལ་འཇིགས་མེད་རྣམ་རྒྱལ་, Wylie: 'dzi sgar kong sprul 'jigs med rnam rgyal, where "Rinpoche" is an honorific and not a surname) is a Tibetan Buddhist Lama of the Nyingma school, and is held to be one of the principle incarnations of Jamgön Kongtrül Lodrö Thayé, and the third such in a line traced through Dzigar Kongtrul Lodrö Rabpel.

Reviews

[Iulia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advanced considerations on karma, I liked the interview structure of the first part and the personal examples in the second part. I enjoyed hearing the voices of the two authors, as I listened to the audiobook, since it made the ideas more authentic and relatable.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dzigar Kongtrul's talks--not really a book. Good inspiration for patience practice, serving others and working with uncomfortable patterns, aversion.

[Marla · Rating 2 out of 5]

This recording kind of lost me half way through. Dzigar Kongtrul quite clearly stated that those who did not believe in rebirth had much more trouble dying, attachment issues, difficulty showing compassion etc. To say Pema Chodron tried to steer him in every direction to restate his answer is an understatement. She must have said "but don't you think..." 5 times. She gave him examples of atheists dying without fear. Rinpoche was sticking to his answer. Then Part 2 started (without Pema) and it was clear he was trying to undo what he said in Part 1. His restating his opinion came out very much "sorry/not sorry." According to Rinpoche, Buddhists have always believed in reincarnation and this nontheistic Buddhism is a new thing. Maybe. IDK. He's without a doubt a very learned man. His argument sounded very much like someone saying "there are no atheists in a foxhole." I don't believe it. Compassion, ease of death, non-attachment... is not only for believers.

The beauty of Buddhism for me has been it's belief of no theism. It doesn't require you to believe in a god or rebirth. It doesn't require you to believe it's stories of gods and demons to be factual. It never says "these stories are gospel". If you do believe, fine...if no, that's OK too. There are atheist Buddhists, Catholic Buddhists, Jewish Buddhists, whatever. It interferes with no other belief system. I've heard arguments that say it's more psychotherapy than a religion. Maybe. The Buddha encouraged everyone to ask questions and decide for themselves. If something needed to be changed, then change it (as Buddha himself did when asked about why females were left out of being monastics, he allowed them in). For me, this aligns itself with science beautifully. Examine something and if it no longer serves well the world we live in, then adjustments are called for.

I had a hard time listening to Rinpoche after his bombshell statement. I finished, because I know he is a beloved mentor of Pema Chodron. But I had to fight to keep in mind, this is one man's opinion. Mainly because Dzigar Kontrul was so adamant in his way being correct.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehending through the whole.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not at all what I expected, and I'm probably going to have to listen to this a couple more times to really understand it.