A Karma Lesson.

 A Karma Lesson.

1. WHAT IS KAMMA? 

"Intention, I tell you, is kamma.”

(“Cetanāhaṃ, bhikkhave, kammaṃ vadāmi.”)

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an06/an06.063.than.html

2. WHAT IS THE DIVERSITY OF KAMMA?

1. Kamma to be experienced in hell.

2. Kamma to be experienced in the realm of common animals.

3. Kamma to be experienced in the realm of the hungry shades.

4. Kamma to be experienced in the human world.

5. Kamma to be experienced in the world of the devas.

This is called the diversity in kamma.

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an06/an06.063.than.html

3. KAMMA, CAUSE OF KAMMA, DIVERSITY OF KAMMA, RESULTS OF KAMMA AND THE CESSATION OF KAMMA SHOULD BE KNOWN

"'Kamma should be known. The cause by which kamma comes into play should be known. The diversity in kamma should be known. The result of kamma should be known. The cessation of kamma should be known. The path of practice for the cessation of kamma should be known.' 

Thus it has been said. In reference to what was it said?

"Intention, I tell you, is kamma. Intending, one does kamma by way of body, speech, & intellect.

"And what is the cause by which kamma comes into play? Contact is the cause by which kamma comes into play.

"And what is the diversity in kamma? There is kamma to be experienced in hell, kamma to be experienced in the realm of common animals, kamma to be experienced in the realm of the hungry shades, kamma to be experienced in the human world, kamma to be experienced in the world of the devas. This is called the diversity in kamma.

"And what is the result of kamma? The result of kamma is of three sorts, I tell you: that which arises right here & now, that which arises later [in this lifetime], and that which arises following that. This is called the result of kamma.

"And what is the cessation of kamma? From the cessation of contact is the cessation of kamma; and just this noble eightfold path — right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration — is the path of practice leading to the cessation of kamma.

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an06/an06.063.than.html

4. POSSIBLE CAUSES OF INEQUALITY OF RESULTS OF KAMMA

In Cula-kammavibhanga Sutta Buddha talks about possible causes inequality we see among human beings.

Buddha said in this sutta: "Human beings are owners of kammas, heirs of kammas, they have kammas as their progenitor, kammas as their kin, kammas as their homing-place. It is kammas that differentiate beings according to inferiority and superiority."

There are seven groups, each group is divided into two sets depending negative or positive result from unwholesome and wholesome kamma respectively (A brief summary of kamma and its results)

The seven groups:

Group 1

1. Killer of living beings...Short-lived wherever he is reborn.

2. Abandoned the killing of living beings...Long-lived wherever he is reborn.

Group 2

1. Harms beings... He is sickly wherever he is reborn.

2. Do not ham living beings (compassion)...He is healthy wherever he is reborn.

Group 3.

1. Anger...He is ugly wherever he is reborn.

2. Not angry (loving-kindness)...He is beautiful wherever he is reborn.

Group 4.

1. Envious...Not influential wherever he is reborn.

2. Not envious... He is influential wherever he is reborn.

Group 5.

1. Not a giver of food, drinks etc., to monks or brahmans (stingy)...He is poor wherever he is reborn.

2. A giver of food, drinks etc., to monks or brahmans (generous)...He is rich wherever he is reborn.

Group 6.

1. Obdurate or haughty (disrespect)...He is low-born (low cast/class/society) wherever he is reborn.

2. Not obdurate or haughty (pays respect)...He is high-born (high cast/class/society) wherever he is reborn.

Group 7.

1. Not asking questions (Non-inquiring mind) about what is wholesome, what is unwholesome, What is blamable, what is blameless What should be cultivated, etc.,...He will be stupid wherever he is reborn

2. Asking questions (Inquiring mind) about what is wholesome, what is unwholesome, What is blamable, what is blameless What should be cultivated, etc.,...He will be wise wherever he is reborn