Good Karma: How to Create the Causes of Happiness and Avoid the Causes of Suffering

by Thubten Chodron

Training the mind in the habit of happiness--enlightening commentary on a classic Tibetan Buddhist teaching poem by a popular modern teaching nun.


     Lojong, or "mind-training" is a practice that has gained astonishing popularly in recent years--because it works in transforming hearts and minds. Here is a presentation of lojong teachings that predates the "slogan" practice with which people have become so familiar through the books of Pema Chödrön and others, and that is every bit as powerful for imbuing the mind with intelligence and the heart with compassion. It is Thubten Chodron's commentary on a Tibetan poem with the imposing title "Wheel of Sharp Weapons." It is, as the title of this book indicates, an explanation of how karma works in our lives. But in explaining how to create good karma and avoid the negative effects of bad karma, it shows us how to live our lives with kindness and honesty--which makes things better not only for ourselves, but also for everyone else in the world.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction

253 pages, Paperback

First published August 9, 2016

About the author

Born in 1950, Venerable Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron (Ch: 圖丹.卻淮) grew up near Los Angeles. She graduated with a B.A. in History from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1971. After travelling through Europe, North Africa and Asia for one and a half years, she received a teaching credential and went to the University of Southern California to do post-graduate work in Education while working as a teacher in the Los Angeles City School System.

In 1975, she attended a meditation course given by Ven. Lama Yeshe and Ven. Zopa Rinpoche, and subsequently went to their monastery in Nepal to continue to study and practice Buddha's teachings. In 1977, she received the sramanerika (novice) ordination, and in 1986, received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan.

She studied and practiced Buddhism of the Tibetan tradition for many years in India and Nepal under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tsenzhap Serkong Rinpoche, Zopa Rinpoche and other Tibetan masters for many years. She directed the spiritual program at Lama Tzong Khapa Institute in Italy for nearly two years, studied three years at Dorje Pamo Monastery in France, and was resident teacher at Amitabha Buddhist Center in Singapore. For ten years she was resident teacher at Dharma Friendship Founation in Seattle, where she continues to be spiritual advisor.

Ven. Chodron was a co-organizer of Life as a Western Buddhist Nun, and took part in the conferences of Western Buddhist teachers with H.H. the Dalai Lama in 1993 and 1994. She was present during the Jewish delegation's visit to Dharamsala, India, in 1990, which was the basis for Rodger Kamenetz' The Jew in the Lotus, and attended the Second Gethsemani Encounter in 2002. She is keen on interreligious dialogue. She has also been present at several of the Mind-Life Conferences in which H. H. the Dalai Lama dialogues with Western scientists.

Ven. Chodron travels worldwide to teach the Dharma: North America, Latin America, Israel, Singapore, Malaysia, and former communist countries.. Seeing the importance and necessity of a monastery for Westerners training in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, she founded Sravasti Abbey and is currently involved in developing it.

Ven. Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well-known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A commentary the "Wheel of Sharp Weapons." It is an explanation of how karma works in our lives. The book goes verse by verse through the poem giving exhaustive examples and detail about how to live to end samsara (the cycle of rebirth) and make life better for all sentient beings. A great book for deep contemplation and meditation.

[David Ciam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The secret of the universe in plain english

Amazing simple explanation for common people. Will read this again and again. Worthed every dollars spent. Easy to understand for a very difficult topics. Thumbs up :)

[Leah McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trust your instincts. Listen to the Universe. God is love and will do you right if you haven’t fucked up too bad.

[Angie Haller · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF early on for me

[David Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I did not like this book at all. As someone who does not believe in reincarnation (or the need to invoke superstitious beliefs in order to live the Buddhist path), I found this emphasis tiresome. What was I, however, expecting? This is a book on karma, after all.

With the attitude that no truly informative book on karma if going to discount the idea of past and future lives, I trudged on. I'm glad I did as there is much worth reading in this book even for those (like myself) who can't help but internally sigh when reading about "supernormal" powers, hell realms, etc.

[Ben Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes a pretty literal view of karma: things that happen to you in this life are a result of your actions in a past life. If, like me, you're not into reincarnation, you might find it a bit simplistic, despite the useful moral lessons.