TEACHINGS BY VEN. THICH CHUC THANH

Several Observations about Karma

Teaching at services in Virginia Beach, Chuc Thanh shared these observations about karma.  In December 2015 he said: “What do we take from this life? Karma.”  In April, 2016, he said “When alive, we can go in any direction we chose.  When we die, there is only one direction-karmic force direction.” Later in 2016 he said that “Our karma is our good friend, our best friend. It will never walk away from us.”

As you reflect on these comments, what is Chuc Thanh saying to us about how we live our lives?  Who is responsible for the direction we take in this life?  In this life, do we influence the direction for the next life?  Are we “on duty” 24/7 with respect to the karmic results of our thoughts, words and actions? 

One of the definitions of karma is that it is “volitional thoughts, words and actions.”  How would you apply this definition to your daily life activities with respect to Chuc Thanh’s observations about karma?

(Venerable Thich Chuc Thanh is the Dharma Master at Dong Hung Temple. These quotations were collected from 2015 through 2018 as he taught in Virginia Beach, VA and Southern Shores, NC.  The quotation titles and commentary are by Mark Palamara.)