The word karma is everywhere from newscasts to sitcoms to Taylor Swift songs. We all hear it, and maybe even use it, in everyday speech. But do we really know what it means? Karma is a simple concept, but it’s nuanced and subtle. In this presentation, based on his new book, Karmic Relief, Berkshires author Philip Goldberg explains what karma is—and, crucially, what it’s not. We’ll also delve into the practical implications of karma, if it is indeed a real thing in the first place. Hence, the book’s subtitle: Harnessing the Laws of Cause and Effect for a Joyful, Meaningful Life. Kirkus Review called the book “an intriguing deep dive into karma that many readers should find enlightening.” And Publisher’s Weekly says it’s “a thought-provoking exploration of karma and what it means to live according to its logic…. [A] perceptive assessment of an oft-misunderstood spiritual concept.”
Philip Goldberg has been studying the world’s spiritual wisdom for more than fifty years, as a practitioner, teacher, and author. His many previous books include American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation, How Indian Spirituality Changed the West, named one of the top ten religion books of 2020 by the American Library Association, a biography titled The Life of Yogananda and Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times. He has lectured and taught at venues throughout North America and India and conducted online courses for numerous platforms. He hosts the podcast “Spirit Matters with Philip Goldberg” and writes the Substack column “Practical Spirituality.” He lives with his wife, doctor of natural medicine, Lori Deutsch, in Great Barrington.

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