S Y L L A B U S

NOTE: You may also view and download the syllabus by clicking HERE.

TALK 1

Square One: The Buddha’s Presentation of Karma presented by Traleg Khandro

Foundational principles of karma as the working basis of Buddhism and the point of departure for practice.  Action, deeds, cause and effect/causes and conditions. Popular misunderstandings of karma. Free will and determinism. Individual and collective karma. Karma as interdependence and the elasticity of karma. Karma and selflessness.

Reading:  TKR Karma, Chapters 1 & 2; CTR Karma, Chapter 1

Additional Resources: Traleg Khandro’s Notes

TALK 2

Chaos, Ignorance, and Confusion: The Birth of Karma presented by Clarke Warren

Fundamental, luminous awareness spins off center and creates our world of karma and habitual imprisonment. Conceptual thoughts and emotions are the agents of karma. In order to engage karma as a path, it is vitally necessary to see both the basic source of karma and our particular karmic predicament honestly, as they are. 

Reading:  CTR Karma, Chapters 2,3,4,7

Additional Resources:

1)  Link to Chogyam Trungpa Digital Library, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche “Karma and Rebirth: The Twelve Nidanas”:

https://cti.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3467/collection_resources/161724/file/293573

2)  Chart of the Twelve Nidanas

3) Image of the Wheel of Life

TALK 3

Living the Good Life—or Not presented by Hazel Bercholz.

Causes and consequences of karma—both good and bad.  Beyond right and wrong. Wholesome, beneficial action as the basis of ethical behavior and values personally and societally.

Reading:  CTR Karma, Chapter 8; TKR Karma, Chapter 8 

Contemplation exercise: In addition to the readings listed in the syllabus, here is an exercise for the week. Throughout your day, notice how what you think or say or do has consequences/reverberates on yourself and those you interact with. 

Additional Resources: None

Ringu Tulku Rinpoche Public Talk:

Karma in Meditation, Daily Life, and the World at Large

TALK 4

No Karma: Cutting to the Chase presented by Elizabeth Namgyal

How meditation, intelligence and contemplation cut through karmic fixation and solidity without aggression and open things up. Prajna and Sunyata. Compassionate energy. Bringing space into the karmic compulsion, and karma into a bigger space. Putting others before self as an antidote to karma.

Reading:  TKR Karma, Chapter 5; CTR Karma, Chapter 11

Additional Resources: Link to Open Question Podcast, “Disruption”: https://www.middlewayinitiative.org/open-question-podcast/episode-603-disruption

TALK 5

Consciousness and the Ground of Being‍ ‍presented by Andy Karr

The Yogacara contribution to the view of karma and how to work with karma in meditation practice and daily life. Working with the basic components and dynamics of experience.

Reading: TKR Karma, Chapter 3; CTR Karma, Chapter 2

Additional Resources: None

TALK 6

Vajrayana: Liberating Karma as the Unceasing Flow of Nownesspresented by John Weber 

The transformation of karma into wisdom in the Vajrayana. Underneath the speed and grasping of karma lies a core of sanity and wisdom. “Grant your blessings so that confusion may dawn as wisdom.”  We will explore liberating karma through the principle systems of the Vajrayana. 

Readings: CTR Karma, Chapters 1, 2, 4, 9; TKR Karma, Chapters 1, 2, 5, 10, Conclusion.

Optional additional reading: As It Is, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Vol. 1, Chapter 6, “Unity of Development and Completion”; Cynicism and Magic, Chögyam Trungpa, Chapter 5, “Karma” and Chapter 9,"The Fourth Moment.”

Contemplative Exercise: Throughout the week, after a flash of mindfulness/awareness occurs, relax into the sense perceptions.  

Additional Resource: Transcription of Talk 6

TALK 7

Making the Choiceless Choice: Karma, Meditation, and the Fourth Momentpresented by Carolyn Gimian

Karma is not an entity. Rather it is the energy or force of relationship and interdependence that creates/generates both ego’s world and the world of enlightened activity. Meditation is a fundamental mechanism that allows us to glimpse the gaps in ego’s habitual response. It is there, in the fourth moment, that we can be without agenda and potentially live, even for an instant, without generating further karmic seeds or consequences.

Readings: CTR Karma, chapters 5, 9 and 10.

Optional Additional Reading: Cynicism and Magic: Chapter 9, “The Fourth Moment.”

Additional Resources:  None

TALK 8

Auspicious Coincidence—The Magic of the Present Moment presented by Bob King

Because no one writes the script of our lives, the future is completely open, and from one point of view things just "pop up" free of karma. What is that point of view?  Bewilderment is the basis of samsara, but is also an expression of wisdom and open space. It is with the energy arising from that open space that we can effectively engage with "work, sex, and money" in our daily life.

Reading: CTR Karma, Chapter 12 and “Coda ~ Karma in Everyday Life: Work, Sex, and Money”  (pg. 147-157)

Contemplative Exercises:

1) Reflect on an auspicious coincidence that has occurred in your life. Consider the multitude of events and conditions that had to have come together for that particular event to occur.

2) During a meditation session, when you are nice and settled, ask yourself "what is it that is aware of my experience.” Don't let thought answer. In fact, don't try and name it, rather try and find it in your direct experience.