[Buddha-l] H.H. The Dalai Lama on Stone and Karma

[Vera, Pedro L.]

Hi Richard:
 
>I suspect that this is a very simplified way of affirming the claim in
the Abhidharmakosha that any event that does not actively impede an
effect can be considered a cause of that effect. 
 
Isn't this so broad as to have no explanatory power, and thus not very useful in determining causation?
 
Also, is there a place in Buddhist thinking for concepts such as correlation, or hidden/confounding variables, etc, in the theory of causation/karma/whatever?
 
Finally, from my conversations with some Buddhist friends and readings of Buddhist texts, the notion of karma seems far more specific that the above explanation implies. For example, physical beauty/non-beauty in this life, as a result of "good" or "bad" karma in a previous life. So, is there a "traditional/orthodox" view of causation/karma and then a "popular" one? If so, what are their origins?
 
Regards,
 
Pedro