Traleg Kyabgon gives clear commentary on how our mental conduct has implications on how we act in the world.

Sometimes a negative emotion is present, a strong intention to do harm is present, and we might even have prepared to undertake the action, but if we do not carry out that act, it will not be a fully karmic act, and will not produce complete negative karmic fruition. In other words, we create negative karma through coordinating body, speech and mind. We need 1) the object of an action to be present, 2) a negative state of mind, 3) the motivation, preparedness or strong intention to do harm, and 4) we have to perform the harmful action. When all four things come together, we create negative karma through body, speech, and mind. Letter to a Friend explores coordinating body, speech, and mind in such a way that produces positive karma and good outcomes. The Buddhist approach to ethical values is not so much moralistic. Our moral and ethical values are part of a moral psychology, what is happening in the mind and what type of attitudes and actions does this activity produce. Our personal psychology is seen as part of our aspirations and orientation. It is not just about conduct.
Letter to a Friend: Nagarjuna's Classic Text, Traleg Rinpoche, Shogam Publications, Paperback, 182 pp, $21.95

Traleg Kyabgon (1955-2012) was the founder of the Kagyu E-Vam Buddhist Institute, which is headquartered in Melbourne, with a major practice center in upstate New York and a practice community in New York City. He taught extensively at universities and Buddhist centers in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia, and is the author of such books as Essence of Buddhism and Karma: What It Is, What It Isn't, Why It Matters.

CONTENTS: Letter to a Friend: Nagarjuna's Classic Text
Foreword by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche IX		xi
Biography of Author		xiii
Acknowledgements		xvii
Editor's Introduction		xviii
Editor's Biography		xxviii
Introduction to Text		1
	Encouragement to Listen to the Teachings
	Focus on the Meaning of the Teachings
	The Importance of Learning
The Main Body of the Text--Pursuing the Virtuous Life		6
	The Six Reminders
	Recollecting the Qualities of the Buddha
	Recollecting the Qualities of the Buddha's Teachings
	Recollecting the Qualities of the Sangha
	Counsel to Remain Steadfast in One's Ones Virtuous Conduct
	Reflecting on Karma
	Recollection of Generosity
	Recollection of Moral Precepts
	The Practice of Taking Moral Precepts
	Practicing the Six Perfections of Mahayana
Remaining Steadfast in Virtue--General Advice For Laypeople practicing Dharma		28
	Filial Piety
	Taking Precepts from Time to Time
	Transforming One's Attitude
	Practicing Heedfulness
	The Practice of Patience
	Preparation for Meditation--Counsel to Laypeople
	Giving up Enmity
	To Practice Correct Conduct of Body, Speech, and Mind
	The Importance of Pleasant Speech
	The Four Forms of Migration
	The Four Categories of Persons
	Refraining From Causing Harm to Others
	Protecting the Mind
	Uprooting the Cause of Excessive Desire
	Mastering the Six Sense Organs
	Abandoning Excessive Desires
The Development of Wisdom		61
	The Nature of Reality
	Meditation on Dependent Origination
	Cultivating the Superior Qualities
	Regarding the Eight Worldly Dharmas Equally
	Consequences of Negative Karma Cannot be Shared
	The Action of Karma
	Acquiring the Wealth of the Holy Ones
	Preserving Inner Wealth
	The Importance of Contentment
	The Importance of Having Few Desires
The Practice of Meditation		76
	Cultivating Tranquility
	Meditation Before Sleep and Upon Waking
	The Four Immeasurables
	Contemplating the Nature of Appearances
	Contemplating Interdependence
	Contemplating Ultimate Reality
The Practice of Shamatha		82
	The Four Levels of Concentration
	Cultivating Virtues
	The Power of Virtues
	The Five Obscurations
	The Five Powers
	The Importance of Humility
Right View		91
	Be Guided by Right View
	The Four Seals
	The Nature of the Self and Aggregates
	The Nature of Conditioned Existence
	Primal Cause Argument
	Theistic Argument
	No Cause Argument
	The Three Fetters
	The Four-Fold Truth
	Encouragement in the Disciplines of Ethics, Wisdom, and Concentration
	Impermanence and the Preciousness of Life
Considering the Excellent Qualities of Nirvana and Practice the Path Resulting in Nirvana		106
	Practice the Path with Urgency
	The Three Higher Trainings
	The Seven Limbs
	The Two Accumulations
	The Importance of Avoiding Speculation
	The Twelve Links of Interdependent Arising
	The Eightfold Path
	The Four Noble Truths
	Disciplining the Mind Toward Virtue
	Maintain Persistence in Applying the Methods
	The Fruition of The Path
Concluding Remarks		127
Notes		130
Bibliography		137
Glossary		138
Index		150