The Theory of Karma

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] 4. DESTRUCTIVE (UPAGHATAKA) KARMA [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] According to the law of Karma the potential energy of the Reproductive Karma could be nullified by a mere powerful opposing Karma of the past, which, seeking an opportunity, may quite unexpectedly operate, just as a powerful counteractive force can obstruct the path of a flying arrow and bring it down to the ground. Such an action is called Destructive (upaghataka) Karma, which is more effective than the previous two in that it is not only obstructive but also destroys the whole force. This Destructive Karma also may be either good or bad.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] As an instance of operation of all the four, the case of Devadatta, who attempted to kill the Buddha and who caused a schism in the Sangha (disciples of the Buddha) may be cited. His good Reproductive Karma brought him birth in a royal family. His continued comfort and prosperity were due to the action of the Supportive Karma. The Counteractive or Obstructive Karma came into operation when he was subject to much humiliation as a result of his being excommunicated from the Sangha. Finally the Destructive Karma brought his life to a miserable end. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] (B) There is another classification of Karma, according to the priority of effect: [/FONT]

1. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] WEIGHTY (GARUKA) KARMA. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] This is either weighty or serious – may be either good or bad. It produces its results in this life or in the next for certain. If good, it is purely mental as in the case of Jhana (ecstasy or absorption). Otherwise it is verbal or bodily. On the Immoral side, there are five immediate effective heinous crimes (pancanantariya karma): Matricide, Patricide, and the murder of an Arahant, the wounding of a Buddha and the creation of a schism in the Sangha. Permanent Scepticism (Niyata Micchaditthi) is also termed one of the Weighty (garuka) Karmas.[/FONT]
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   [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] If, for instance, any person were to develop the jhana (ecstasy or absorption) and later were to commit one of these heinous crimes, his good Karma would be obliterated by the powerful evil Karma. His subsequent birth would be conditioned by the evil Karma in spite of his having gained the jhana earlier. Devadatta lost his psychic power and was born in an evil state, because he wounded the Buddha and caused a schism in the Sangha.[/FONT]
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   [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] King Ajatasattu would have attained the first stage of Sainthood (Sotapanna) if he had not committed patricide. In this case the powerful evil Karma acted as an obstacle to his gaining Sainthood. [/FONT]

 

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2. PROXIMATE (ASANNA) KARMA OR DEATH-PROXIMATE KARMA

[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] This is that which one does or remembers immediately before the moment of dying. Owing to the great part it plays in determining the future birth, much importance is attained to this deathbed (asanna) Karma in almost all Buddhist countries. The customs of reminding the dying man of good deeds and making him do good acts on his deathbed still prevails in Buddhist countries.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Sometimes a bad person may die happily and receive a good birth if he remembers or does a good act at the last moment. A story runs that a certain executioner who casually happened to give some alms to the Venerable Sariputta remembered this good act at the dying moment and was born in a state of bliss. This does not mean that although he enjoys a good birth he will be exempt from the effects of the evil deeds which he accumulated during his lifetime. They will have there due effect as occasions arise.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] At times a good person may die unhappy by suddenly remembering an evil act of his or by harbouring some unpleasant thought, perchance compelled by unfavourable circumstances. In the scriptures, Queen Mallika, the consort of King Kosala, remembering a lie she had uttered, suffered for about seven days in a state of misery when she lied to her husband to cover some misbehaviour.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] These are exceptional cases. Such reverse changes of birth account for the birth of virtuous children to vicious parents and of vicious children to virtuous parents. As a result of the last thought moment being conditioned by the general conduct of the person. [/FONT]

 

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]3.HABITUAL (ACCINA) KARMA

[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] It is that which on habitually performs and recollects and for which one has a great liking. Habits whether good or bad becomes ones second nature, tending to form the character of a person. At unguarded moments one often lapses into one’s habitual mental mindset. In the same way, at the death-moment, unless influenced by other circumstances, one usually recalls to mind one’s habitual deeds.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Cunda, a butcher, who was living in the vicinity of the Buddha’s monastery, died yelling like an animal because he was earning his living by slaughtering pigs.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] King Dutthagamini of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) was in the habit of giving alms to the Bhikkhus (monks) before he took his own meals. It was his habitual Karma that gladdened him at the dying moment and gave him birth in the Tusita heaven. [/FONT]

 

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]4. RESERVE OR CUMULATIVE (KATATTA) KARMA

This literally means ‘because done’. All actions that are not included in the aforementioned and those actions soon forgotten belong to this category. This is, as it were the reserve fund of a particular being.[/FONT]

 

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](C) There is another classification of Karma according to the time in which effects are worked out: [/FONT]

1. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Immediately Effective (ditthadhammavedaniya) Karma. [/FONT]
2. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Subsequently Effective (uppapajjavedaniya) Karma. [/FONT]
3. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Indefinitely Effective (aparapariyavedaniya) Karma. [/FONT]
4. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Defunct or Ineffective (ahosi) Karma. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Immediately Effective Karma is that which is experienced in this present life. According to the Abhidhamma one does both good and evil during the javana process (thought-impulsion), which usually lasts for seven thought-moments. The effect of the first thought-moment, being the weakest, one may reap in this life itself. This is called the Immediately Effective Karma.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] If it does not operate in this life, it is called ‘Defunct or Ineffective’ Karma. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] The next weakest is the seventh thought-moment. Its effect one may reap in the subsequence birth. This is called ‘Subsequently Effective’ Karma. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] This, too, is called Defunct or Ineffective Karma if it does not operate in the second birth. The effect of the intermediate thought-moments may take place at any time until one attains Nibbana. This type of Karma is known as ‘Indefinitely Effective’ Karma.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] No one, not even the Buddhas and Arahantas, is exempt from this class of Karma which one may experience in the course of one’s wandering in Samsara. There is no special class of Karma known as Defunct or Ineffective, but when such actions that should produce their effects in this life or in a subsequent life do not operate, they are termed Defunct or Ineffective Karma. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] (D) The last classification of Karma is according to the plane in which the effect takes place, namely: [/FONT]

1. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Evil Actions (akusala kamma) which may ripen in the sentient planes (kammaloka). (Six celestial planes plus one human plane plus four woeful planes = eleven kamaloka planes.) Here are only four woeful kamalokas. [/FONT]
2. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Good Actions (kusala kamma) which may ripen in the sentient planes except for the four woeful planes. [/FONT]
3. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Good Actions (kusala kamma) which may ripen in the Realm of Form (rupa brahamalokas). There are four Arupa Brahma Lokas. [/FONT]

 

Questions on the Theory of Karma

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Question: Do the Karmas of parents determine or affect the Karmas of their children?[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Answer: Physically, the Karma of children is generally determined by the Karma of their parents. Thus, healthy parents usually have healthy offspring, and unhealthy parents have unhealthy children. On the effect or how the Karma of their children is determined: the child’s Karma is a thing apart of itself – it forms the child’s individuality, the sum-total of its merits and demerits accumulated in innumerable past existences. For example, the Karma of the Buddha-to-be, Prince Siddhartha was certainly not influenced by the joint Karma of his parents, King Suddhodana and Queen Maya. The glorious and powerful Karma of our Buddha-to-be transcended the Karma of his parents which jointly were more potent than his own. [/FONT]

 

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Question: If the Karma of parents do not influence those of their children, how would the fact be explained that parents who suffer from certain virulent diseases are apt to transmit these evils to their offsprings?[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Answer: Where a child inherit such a disease it is due to the force of the parents’ characteristics because of the force of the latter’s Utu (conditions favourable to germination). Take, for example, two seeds from a sapling; plant one in inferior, dry soil; and the other in rich, moist soil. The result is that the first seed will sprout into a sickly sapling and soon show symptoms of disease and decay; while the other seed will thrive and flourish and grow up to be a tall and healthy tree.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] It will be observed that the pair of seeds taken from the same stock grows up differently according to the soil into which they are put. A child’s past Karma may be compared to the seed: the physical disposition of the mother to the soil; and that of the father to the moisture, which fertilised the soil. Roughly speaking, to illustrate our subject, we will say that, representing the sapling’s germination, growth, and existence as a unit, the seed is responsible for one-tenth of them, the soil for six-tenths, and the moisture for the remainder, three-tenths. Thus, although the power of germination exists potentially in the seed (the child), its growth is powerfully determined and quickened by the soil (the mother) and the moisture (the father).[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Therefore, even as the conditions of the soil and moisture must be taken as largely responsible factors in the growth and condition of the tree. So must the influences of the parents (or progenitors, as in the case of the animal world) be taken into account in respect to the conception and growth of their offspring.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] The parents’ share in the Karma determining the physical factors of their issue is as follows: If they are human beings, then their offspring will be a human being. If they are cattle then their issue must be of their species. If the human being is Chinese, then their offspring must be of their race. Thus, the offspring are invariably of the same genera and species, etc., as those of the progenitors. It will be seen from the above that, although a child’s Karma is very powerful in itself, if cannot remain wholly uninfluenced by those of it parents. It is apt to inherit the physical characteristic of its parents. Yet, it may occur that the child’s Karma, being superlatively powerful, the influence of the parent’s joint Karma cannot overshadow it. Of course, it need hardly be pointed out that the evil influences of parents can also be counteracted by the application of medical science.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] All beings born of sexual cohabitation are the resultant effects of three forces: [/FONT]

1. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] The old Karma of past existence; [/FONT]
2. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] The seminal fluid of the mother, and [/FONT]
3. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] The seminal fluid of the father. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] The physical dispositions of the parents may, or may not, be equal in force. One may counteract the other to a lesser or greater extent. The child’s Karma and physical characteristics, such as race, colour, etc., will be the produce of the three forces. [/FONT]

 

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Question: On the death of a sentient being, is there a ‘soul’ that wanders about at will?[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Answer: When a sentient being leaves one existence, it is reborn either as a human being, a celestial being, (Deva or Brahama), and inferior animal, or a denizen of one of the regions of hell. The sceptics and the ignorant people held that there are intermediate stages – antrabhava – between these; and that there are being who are neither of the human, the celestial, the Deva or the Brahma worlds nor of any one of the stages of exist recognised in the scriptures – but are in an intermediate stage. Some assert that these transitional stages are possessed of the Five Khandhas (Five Aggregates: they are Matter (rupa); Feeling (vedana); Perception (sanna); 4. Mental-activities (sankhara); and Consciousness (vinnana).[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Some assert that these beings are detached ‘souls’ or spirits with no material encasement, and some again, that they are possessed of the faculty of seeing like Devas, and further, that they have power of changing at will, at short intervals, from one to any of the existence mentioned above. Others again hold the fantastic and erroneous theory that these beings can, and so, fancy themselves to be in other than the existence they are actually in. Thus, to take for example one such of these suppositious beings. He is a poor person – and yet he fancies himself to be rich. He may be in hell – and yet he fancies himself to be in the land of the Devas, and so on. This belief in intermediate stages between existences is false, and is condemned in the Buddhist teachings. A human being in this life who, by his Karma is destined to be a human being in the next, will be reborn as such; one who by his Karma is destined to be a Deva in the next will be appear in the land of the Devas; and one whose future life is to be in Hell, will be found in one of the regions of hell in the next existence.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] The idea of an entity or soul or spirit ‘going’, ‘coming’, ‘changing’ or ‘transmigrating’ from one existence to another is an idea entertained by the ignorance and materialistic, and is certainly not justified by the Dhammas that there is no such thing as ‘going’, 'coming’, ‘changing’, etc., as between existences. The conception, which is in accordance with the Dhamma, may perhaps be illustrated by the picture thrown out by a cinema projector, or the sound of emitted by the gramophone, and their relation to the film or the sound-box and records respectively. For example, a human being dies and is reborn in the land of Devas. Though these two existences are different, yet the link or continuity between the two at death is unbroken in point of time. The same is true in the case of a man whose further existence is to be in hell. The distance between Hell and the abode of man appears to be great. Yet, in point of time, the continuity of ‘passage’ from the one existence to the other is unbroken, and no intervening matter or space can interrupt the trend of a man’s Karma from the world of human beings to the regions of Hell. The ‘passage’ from one existence to another is instantaneous, and the transition is infinitely quicker than the blink of an eyelid or a lightening-flash.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Karma determines the realm of rebirth and the state of existence in that realm of all transient being (in the cycle of existences, which have to be traversed till the attainment, at last, of Nibbana).[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] The results of Karma are manifold, and may be effected in many ways. Religious offerings (dana) may obtain for a man the privilege of rebirth as a human being, or as a deva, in one of the six deva worlds according to the degree of the merit of the deeds performed, and so with the observance of religious duties (sila). The jhanas or states of absorption, are found in the Brahma world or Brahmalokas up to the summit, the twentieth Brahma world: And so with bad deeds, the perpetrators of which are to be found , grade by grade, down to the lowest depths of Hell. Thus are Karma, past, present and future were, are, and will ever be the sum total of our deeds, good, indifferent or bad. As was seen from the foregoing, our Karma determines the changes of our existences.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] "Evil spirits" are, therefore, not beings in an intermediate or transitional stages of existence, but are really very inferior beings, and they belong to one of the following five realms of existence:[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] 1. World of Men: 2. The Lowest plane of deva-world; 3. The region of hell; 4. Animals below men, and 5. Petas (ghosts).[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Number 2 and 5 are very near the world of human beings. As their condition is unhappy, and they are popularly considered evil spirits. It is not true that all who die in this world are reborn as evil spirits; nor is it true that beings who die sudden or violent deaths are apt to be reborn in the lowest plane of the world of devas. [/FONT]

 

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Question: Is there such a thing as a human being who is reborn and who is able to speak accurately of his or her past existence?[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Answer: Certainly, this is not an uncommon occurrence, and is in accordance with the tenets of Buddhism in respect to Karma.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] The following (who form, an overwhelming majority of human beings) are generally unable to remember there past existences when reborn as human beings: Children who die young. Those who die old and senile. Those who are addicted to the drug or drink habit. Those whose mothers, during their conception, have been sickly or have had to toil laboriously, or have been reckless or imprudent during pregnancy. The children in the womb, being stunned and started, lose all knowledge of their past existence. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] The following are possessed of a knowledge of their past existences, viz: Those who are not reborn (in the human world) but proceed to the world of the devas, of Brahmas, or to the regions of Hell, remember their past existences.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Those who die suddenly deaths from accidents, while in sound health, may also be possessed of this faculty in the next existence, provided that their mothers, in whose womb they are conceived, are healthy. Again, those who live steady, meritorious lives and who in their past existences have striven to attain, often attain it.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Lastly the Buddha, the Arahantas and Ariyas attain this gift which is known as pubbenivasa abhnna (Supernatural Power remembering previous existences). [/FONT]

 

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Question: Which are the five Abhinna? Are they attainable only by the Buddha?[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Answer: The five Abhinna (Supernatural Powers): Pali - abhi, excellent, nana, wisdom) are:[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Iddhividha = Creative power;
Dibbasola = Divine Ear;
Cetopariya nana = Knowledge of others’ thoughts;
Pubbenivasanussati = Knowledge of one’s past existence;
Dibbacakkhu = The Divine eye.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] The Abhinna are attainable not only by the Buddha, but also by Arantas and Ariyas, by ordinary mortals who practise according to the Scriptures (as was the case with hermits etc, who flourished before the time of the Buddha and who were able to fly through the air and traverse different worlds).[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] In the Buddhist Scriptures, we find, clearly shown, the means of attaining the five Abhinna. And even nowadays, if these means are carefully and perseveringly pursued, it would be possible to attain these. That we do not see any person endowed with the five Abhinna today is due to the lack of strenuous physical and mental exertion towards their attainment. [/FONT]

 

Nature of Karma

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] In the working of Karma there are maleficent and beneficent forces and conditions to counteract and support this self-operating law. Birth (gati) time or condition (kala) substratum of rebirth or showing attachment to rebirth (upadhi) and effort (payoga) act as such powerful aids and hindrances to the fruition of Karma.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Though we are neither the absolutely the servants nor the masters of our Karma, it is evident from these counteractive and supportive factors that the fruition of Karma is influenced to some extent by external circumstances, surroundings, personality, individual striving, and so forth.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] It is this doctrine of Karma that gives consolation, hope, reliance and moral courage to a Buddhist. When the unexpected happens, and he meets with difficulties, failures, and misfortune, the Buddhist realises that he is reaping what he has sown, and he is wiping off a past debt. Instead of resigning himself, leaving everything to Karma, he makes a strenuous effort to pull the weeds and sow useful seeds in their place, for the future is in his own hands.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] He who believes in Karma does not condemn even the most corrupt, for they, too, have their chance to reform themselves at any moment. Though bound to suffer in woeful states, they have hope of attaining eternal Peace. By their own doings they have created their own Hells, and by their own doings they can create their own Heavens, too.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] A Buddhist who is fully convinced of the law of Karma does not pray to another to be saved but confidently relies on him for his own emancipation. Instead of making any self-surrender, or calling on any supernatural agency, he relies on his own will power, and works incessantly for the well-being and happiness of all. This belief in Karma validates his effort and kindles his enthusiasm, because it teaches individual responsibility.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] To the ordinary Buddhist, Karma serves as a deterrent, while to an intellectual, it serves as in incentive to do good. He or she becomes kind, tolerant, and considerate. This law of Karma explains the problem of suffering, the mastery of so-called fate and predestination of other religions and about all the inequality of mankind.[/FONT]

 

A sermon on​

ศัพท์

This Present Life Is So Important​

For The Well-Being of The Future​

delivered by​

His Holiness​

Somdech Phra Nyanasamvara​

The Supreme Patriarch of Thai Sangha​

The sermon was delivered by His Holiness Phra Nyanasamvara​

The Supreme Patriarch on New Year’s Day A.D. 2005 or B.E. 2548​

Translated by S.Nopporn​

1 : This present life is so miniscule in scope and so small

Lives of all kinds whether humans or animals do not exist only in the present existence, but they also have past and future ones.

This short life means that the present existence is a bit brief and so miniscule.

Life , of course, is subject to ageing . The present existence of each individual does not exceed one hundred years in terms of the average age. It is a very short period when compared with the past uncountable existences and those in the future.

When the sages or learned persons utter that this present life is so unfocused , they are comparing it with past and future uncountable existences . Those people of incomplete understanding can not be delivered from suffering.


http://www.nkgen.com/3001.htm#2.%20Life%20and%20Performed%20Kamma

 

2. Life and Performed Kamma



Present existence of all kinds before becoming humans or animals used to be something else. This is not separate from kamma, whether it be past or present , good or bad, before or after. Kamma can not occur at the same time. It can not be put in perfect order and is limitless. The effect of past kamma is incalculable and even exceeds the present existence.

All good and bad deeds give effects . Though the effects may not occur at the same time chronologically , the outcome will definitely happen due to the cause. Whatever the outcome, each of them will occur to be experienced.

 

3. Kamma that has been done gives result exact to its cause

Where there is cause, there is effect. Person who does the kamma will definitely receive its outcome . When the person is happy, whether he or she is that person, it can be realized that good deed will give effect. That person is enjoying the effects of its cause.

The ordinary person may not realize this, but it should be understood that the good cause of happiness is the outcome good effect. Good result does not arise from bad cause.

When an individual is suffering misery whether it may be ourself or other person , it is definite that unwholesome cause produces bad effects.

Though an ordinary person may not realize this , he or she should understand that cause of suffering is due to unwholesome action . Unwholesome effects are due to bad causes, never from good ones