"According to the power of merit and karma"

The Teachings of Ajahn Suchart. 

27 June 2025

"According to the power of merit and karma"

Question: How does the mind know which body it will enter?

Phra Ajarn: It is according to the law of karma. It is automatic. If the mind still has desires, the mind will search according to the power of merit and karma. If there is pregnancy somewhere, it will go there. If it cannot find a human body, it must first get the body of a dog, cat, bird, or fish, depending on the power of merit and karma. 

If the power of merit is high, it will get a human body. 

If the power of karma is high, it will get the body of an animal, a ghost, or a hell being.

Question: Heaven and hell do not exist.

Phra Ajarn: It is a state of the mind. If it is hot as fire, suffering, cannot eat, cannot sleep, it is hell. But it will last longer than when living, which is hot for a day or two and then disappears because there are other things to cover it up. But if there is no body or other factors to cover it up, it will be hot until it is exhausted and the germs that defilements and desires produce are gone. 

When it disappears, new karma will be produced. If it is good, it will be cool and comfortable. If it is greed, it will be a ghost, hungry all the time, wanting to eat and want all the time. If it is good, it will be happy with the images, sounds, smells, and tastes that are bright and delightful, like having a good dream, like being in heaven. Heaven is a state of mind where goodness and virtue are produced in the mind and then run out. When it runs out, it will be replenished in the human realm. 

As a human, we can accumulate merit and karma again. 

Doing evil deeds will accumulate evil deeds in the mind. Doing good deeds will accumulate heaven. If there is no Buddha to teach us, we will alternately commit evil deeds. When someone displeases us, we will get angry. When someone pleases us, we will be happy. We will continue to cycle like this until the Buddha comes to teach us to empty our minds. 

Thinking bad thoughts will accumulate evil deeds. 

Thinking good thoughts will accumulate good deeds. It is better to let go of all thoughts. Think but do not cling to them or attach them. Let them be just actions. Do not be attached to emotions. 

Do whatever you want but do not be emotional. Then you will not become a realm. 

Do whatever you have a duty to do. Do whatever you have a job to do but do not cling to it. When you are done, let it go.

Phra Ajahn Suchart Aphichato

Wat Yan Sangwararam, Chonburi

Encouragement 44, Chapter 392

Date 22 December 2008