Modern and Traditional Understandings of Karma

Abstract

Traditional Buddhist views of karma as a cosmic force that makes the universe fair have little credibility in contemporary philosophy. However, a naturalized account of karma, understanding it as a psychological process, could easily turn out to be true. If we read between the lines of Śāntideva’s classic Training Anthology, there is reason to believe that some of his sources already had such a psychological view in mind. A modernized account of karma would have important implications for the theoretical structure of Buddhist ethics, the prospects for a Buddhist political philosophy, and the practice of Engaged Buddhism in contemporary society.