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Karmic Opacity and Ethical Formation in a Tibetan Pilgrim's Diary


Abstract ABSTRACT How do abstract doctrinal ideas become visible and meaningful in the lives of religious practitioners? This article approaches this question by examining the diary of the Tibetan pilgrim Khatag Zamyak ( kha stag 'dzam yag ) (1896–1961) to explore how he engages with the idea of karma. Scholars of Buddhism often define karma as a law of cause and effect that is fundamental to Buddhist ethics, but this third‐person approach to understanding karma can lead scholars to overlook what it feels like to live in a world structured by karma. This article explores how Khatag Zamyak confronts the fact that he does not know his own karma and how he undertakes specific practices to be able to see and tell stories about his own karma. It further argues that Khatag Zamyak's process of engaging with karma is integral to his formation as an ethical subject.
Authors Catherine Hartmann University of WyomingORCID
Journal Info Wiley | Journal of Religious Ethics , vol: 51 , iss: 3 , pages: 496 - 516
Publication Date 5/25/2023
ISSN 0384-9694
TypeKeyword Image article
Open Access bronze Bronze Access
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/jore.12435
KeywordsKeyword Image Tibetan Buddhism (Score: 0.467983)