The Buddha's Words on Kamma - DharmaFlower.Net

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Majjhima Nikaya 41<strong>The</strong> Brahmins of Sela(Saleyyaka Sutta)Introduction<strong>The</strong> Brahmins of this discourse, intelligent people, asked a questionabout the causality of rebirth -- why is one reborn in the states ofdeprivation (the hells, animals, and ghosts) while others make it to theheaven worlds?<strong>The</strong> Buddha then analyzes what kind of kamma will take one to a lowrebirth. You see any of your own actions here? <strong>The</strong>n you know what todo about it, for if one makes any of these ten courses of unwholesomekamma strong in oneself, a result can be expected at least "on thedissolution of the body, after death," if not in this life.<strong>The</strong> ten courses of wholesome kamma follow. <strong>The</strong>y should bestrengthened in oneself, repeated frequently so that they becomehabitual. If one recognizes any of one's own actions among them, thenjust guard against the conceit: "I am good."<strong>The</strong> last part of the Sutta deals with the aspirations which one mayhave for rebirth at the time of death. Of course, one's previously madekamma must be such that it will support such aspirations. A misermight aspire to riches but his kamma will give him poverty. If a personhas kept the Uposatha and generally all the precepts and beengenerous and truthful as well, this is the passport to heavenly birth(from the gods of the Four Kings up to the gods that Wield Power overothers' Creations). Beyond this, it is necessary also to be proficient injhana and one will gain rebirth among the Brahmas (from theDivinity's Retinue to the Very Fruitful gods) according to proficiency inthis. For the next five Brahma-planes, the state of non-returning isrequired, while for the last four one must have gained the formlessattainments. Finally, one may aspire to no rebirth: to Arahantship,but of course the aspiration alone is not sufficient -- practice andsufficient insight-wisdom are needed.1. Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One waswandering in the Kosalan country with a large Sangha of Bhikkhus,and eventually he arrived at a Kosalan Brahmin village called Sala.2. <strong>The</strong> Brahmin householders of Sala heard: "A monk called Gotama,it seems, a son of the Sakyans who went forth from a Sakyan clan,has been wandering in the Kosalan country with a large Sangha ofBhikkhus and has come to Sala. Now a good report of Master Gotamahas been spread to this effect: 'That Blessed One is such since he isArahant and Fully Enlightened, perfect in true knowledge and25
conduct, sublime, knower of worlds, incomparable teacher of men tobe tamed, teacher of gods and humans, enlightened, blessed. Hedescribes this world with its gods, its Maras, and its (Brahma)Divinities, this generation with its monks and Brahmins, with itskings and its people, which he has himself realized through directknowledge. He teaches a Dhamma that is good in the beginning, goodin the middle and good in the end with (the right) meaning andphrasing, he affirms a holy life that is utterly perfect and pure.' Now itis good to see such Arahants."3. <strong>The</strong> Brahmin householders of Sala went to the Blessed One; andsome paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down at one side; someexchanged greetings with him, and when the courteous and amiabletalk was finished, sat down at one side; some raised hands palmstogether in salutation to the Blessed One and sat down at one side;some pronounced their name and clan in the Blessed One's presenceand sat down at one side; some kept silence and sat down at one side.4. When they were seated, they said to the Blessed One: "MasterGotama, what is the reason, what is the condition, why some beingshere, on the dissolution of the body, after death, reappear in states ofdeprivation, in an unhappy destination, in perdition, even in hell; andwhat is the reason, what is the condition, why some beings here, onthe dissolution of the body, after death, reappear in a happydestination, even in the heavenly world?"5. "Householders, it is by reason of conduct not in accordance withthe Dhamma, by reason of unrighteous conduct, that beings here onthe dissolution of the body, after death, reappear in states ofdeprivation, in an unhappy destination, in perdition, even in hell. It isby reason of conduct in accordance with the Dhamma, by reason ofrighteous conduct, that some beings here on the dissolution of thebody, after death, reappear in a happy destination, even in theheavenly world."6. "We do not understand the detailed meaning of this utterance ofMaster Gotama's spoken in brief without expounding the detailedmeaning. It would be good if Master Gotama taught us the Dhammaso that we might understand the detailed meaning of Master Gotama'sutterance spoken in brief without expounding the detailed meaning.""<strong>The</strong>n, householders, listen and heed well what I shall say.""Yes, venerable sir," they replied. <strong>The</strong> Blessed One said this:7. "Householders, there are three kinds of bodily conduct not inaccordance with the Dhamma, unrighteous conduct. <strong>The</strong>re are fourkinds of verbal conduct not in accordance with the Dhamma,unrighteous conduct. <strong>The</strong>re are three kinds of mental conduct not inaccordance with the Dhamma, unrighteous conduct.26
Page 6 and 7: Majjhima Nikaya 57The</stro
Page 8 and 9: this: 'By this virtue or duty or as
Page 10 and 11: 16. "I go to Master Gotama for refu
Page 12 and 13: might understand the detailed meani
Page 14 and 15: Brahmins. Due to having performed a
Page 16 and 17: Majjhima Nikaya 136The</str
Page 18 and 19: When this was said, the venerable U
Page 20 and 21: and felt; insisting on that alone,
Page 22 and 23: "When he says: 'It seems that one w
Page 24 and 25: had right view, he will feel the re
Page 28 and 29: 8. "And how are there three kinds o
Page 31 and 32: 19. ...of the gods of the Realm of
Page 33: The Dharma Protect

The Buddha's Words on Kamma - DharmaFlower.Net

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?