“Alas! Saṃsāra is born from karma. From karma, happiness and unhappiness are made. Whenever conditions are gathered, they make karma, And karma makes happiness and unhappiness again.”
—LORD BUDDHA
There are many ways to understand the meaning of karma from different points of view within Buddhism. To synthesize some of these in a simple way, according to the point of view of the vehicle of cause, karma is the activity of cause and result. Within this vehicle, there are various explanations for the basis of karma. The Vaiśeṣika point of view teaches that karma originates in subjective consciousness; the Sutranta point of view teaches that karma originates in ordinary continuous mind; the Yogācāra point of view teaches that karma originates in the basis of all phenomena; and the Mādhyamika point of view teaches that karma originates in interdependent circumstances. In the context of practice, all points of view within the vehicle of cause teach that there is a basis for enlightenment, a path that leads to enlightenment, and a result of enlightenment.
~ Thinley Norbu, White Sail: Karma
Continue the conversation with Stefan Graves and
Rinchen Palbar (Josh Hayes)
NGONDRO & DHARMA
Monday, September 28th at 6pm pacific
It’s free and open to everyone.
Read along, listen in, reflect, or simply join the conversation
— at your own pace. This week we explore “Karma”.
Join the conversation on Zoom!
ABOUT NGONDRO & DHARMA
Ngondro & Dharma began in January 2026 in response to requests from sangha members for a space to come together, explore Dharma, and share in conversation. Ngondro & Dharma was conceived and originally hosted by Stefan Graves. Today, it is hosted by Stefan and Rinchen Palbar (Josh Hayes), who continue to nurture this informal and engaging exchange.
Held biweekly on Zoom, Ngondro & Dharma offers an opportunity to explore Dharma teachings and consider how they relate to Ngondro practice and to our everyday lives.
Rather than a formal teaching or class, the gatherings are centered around conversation. Participants are invited to listen, ask questions, share reflections, or simply enjoy being part of the discussion. There is no expectation to have completed the reading beforehand.
In Stefan’s words, the spirit of the gathering is:
“Come as you are — read, listen, discover, and share.”
Since its beginning, Ngondro & Dharma has continued to grow, with an increasing number of sangha members joining the biweekly conversations. The growing participation reflects the value of having an informal space to explore Dharma together, ask questions, listen, and share.
Free and open to everyone, Ngondro & Dharma offers a relaxed way to stay connected with Dharma, practice, and sangha — and to continue the conversation.
📸 Sandra scales