WHAT IT IS K A R M A WHAT IT ISN'T WHY IT MATTERS • • • Traleg Kyabgon Foreword by His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa KARMA K A R M A WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT ISN’T, WHY IT MATTERS Traleg Kyabgon SHAMBHALA Boston & London 2015 Shambhala Publications, Inc. Horticultural Hall 300 Massachusetts Avenue Boston, Massachusetts 02115 www.shambhala.com © 2015 by Traleg Kyabgon All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition Printed in the United States of America ©This edition is printed on acid-free paper that meets the American National Standards Institute Z39.48 Standard. OThis book is printed on 30% postconsumer recycled paper. For more information please visit www.shambhala.com. Distributed in the United States by Penguin Random House LLC and in Canada by Random House of Canada Ltd Designed by K. E. White Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kyabgon, Traleg, 1955- Karma: what it is, what it isn’t, why it matters / Traleg Kyabgon. pages cm. isbn 978-1-59030-888-2 (paperback) 1. Karma. I. Title. BL2015.K3K93 2015 202.2—dc23 2014042484 CONTENTS Foreword by Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the Seventeenth Karmapa vii Introduction 1 1. The Origins of the Concept of Karma 13 2. The Buddhas View of Karma 27 3. The Yogacara Schools Contribution to Karmic Theory 59 4. The Bardo Teachings on Death, Intermediate State, and Rebirth 65 5. No Karma—Emptiness and the Two Truths 73 6. Meaning in Life and the Fear of Death 85 7. Immortality, Reincarnation, and Rebirth 97 8. Karmic Theory as a Possible Foundation for Ethics 105 9. The Empirical Aspects of Karmic Theory and Rebirth 121 10. Working with Karma 135 Conclusion 145 Notes 151 Bibliography 153 Index 155 THE KARMAPA FOREWORD Of the many Tibetan Dharma teachers who have settled in the West, Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche was one of the few who pos­ sessed an extensive training in traditional Buddhist philos­ ophy combined with knowledge of Western philosophy and psychology and the study of comparative religion. During his many years working with Westerners, he developed a deep un­ derstanding of Western culture. Able to communicate in fluent English, he was well aware of the misappropriation of Buddhist terms in popular culture and was always concerned to main­ tain the essence and purity of Buddhism through his Dharma teachings. In this, Rinpoches last book, his thorough examination of karma and related topics, such as emptiness, the nature of the self, death, and rebirth, will be of great benefit as an authorita­ tive countermeasure to common misunderstandings of Bud­ dhist teachings. He clearly explains how the process of karma is not mechanistic but dynamic; it operates within a complex web that interconnects and affects all things within the universe, both animate and inanimate. I believe that fully understanding this is of particular importance in the twenty-first century, when the actions of individuals, groups, and nations have far-ranging impacts on the lives and well-being of other sentient beings. VIII . FOREWORD Indeed, our planet itself now faces possible destruction at the hands of human beings. It is very important that we understand the intricate, multifaceted relationship between cause and effect. What we do as individuals in daily life will affect not just us but other people, the world at large, and even the universe. At the individual level, this book provides helpful advice and practical suggestions for Buddhist practitioners, emphasizing how a correct understanding of karma can open up opportuni­ ties for transformation and help us make our lives meaningful. It is my hope that this final flourishing of Rinpoches scholar­ ship and Dharma teaching will be of benefit to all his students, to Buddhists of all traditions, and to those who wish to explore what Buddhism teaches. Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the Seventeenth Karmapa Gyuto Monastery, Dharamsala, India August 4, 2014