Dear Dharma Friends,

I appreciate you spending your precious time to be here. I know you have many responsibilities. Taking the time out of your busy life schedule to read and study the Dharma is a great joy and I have great respect for all of you.

The subject I would like to discuss is "Karma", the formula of "Cause and Effect". We need to look at it generally in our lives. Whether we are Buddhist or not, we all strive and wish for happiness. We want to be free from all types of suffering. One doesn't wish to experience any kind of difficult circumstances or uncomfortable situations. In order to achieve that goal, there are varieties of methods known throughout history. However, from a Buddhist point of view, the only way to achieve that outcome is to understand Karma, or the nature of "Cause and Effect".

Whatever positive or negative situations we face are a result of positive or negative Karma. "Karma" means action or activity. In Tibetan it is "ley". It is all about understanding that when we face difficulties, it doesn't come without reason. There is a cause. Without this knowledge or understanding, it will be difficult to understand why people have poverty, difficult situations or why people have luxury and never experience difficult situations or poverty. The only answer is that each one of us will experience the exact result of accumulation or "Cause".

The reason why we face difficulties is because of our negative intentions. Motivation and intention play a huge role. "Karma" only means activity. It doesn't mean positive or negative. In this case, if the motivation is in our own interest, then naturally the accumulation of Karma we create are all unnecessary or negative. When we talk about "Self Interest", one must use harmful and afflicting emotions to serve that "Self". In this case, in order to satisfy one's self, one would be compelled to engage in the thought of attachment or desire. If we face uncomfortable situations, we use anger as a tool to defend ourselves. As long as we use these afflicting emotions, we do not see the way things really are and we are constantly ignorant. Therefore, the negative activities are done out of the "3 poisons". No matter where or when we touch a situation with these "3 poisons", it destroys any seed of good Karma.

I hope these teachings will be beneficial to you when applied to your daily practice and daily lives. I will continue to build on this topic in the coming weeks. Until then, do your best to apply what you learn for your own benefit and that of all sentient beings.