Saturday, March 19, 2011

E-Dhamma Course

Intermediate Paper 2 : Lessons & Values from the Doctrine of Kamma

MODULE 4


Lesson 2 – Lesson of Conditionality (1)


The second lesson from the Doctrine of Kamma is not about creation but condition. Let us begin by understanding the world around us.



There is one school of thought that believes that there are causes but there is no consequence or effect. Whatever we do now will not produce a result later.

Another school believes that there is an effect but there is no cause. Whatever you are now is predestined. If you are fated to be born poor, you can’t change it and you have to live with it.  You are the creation of God and you have to live the life of total submission and complacency. They believe in the effect of what they are now but they don’t believe in the cause of the effort they have done.

Another school believes that there is no cause and there is no effect. Life is like a random happening and event.  Don’t ask the question why. They explain contradicting event as it happens, just like the flower dying off with no past, no future, no action and no reaction.

Then there is this externalist view with the belief that whatever we do now will materialize in the future and it will be eternal.  In other words, because of some wrong we do now, then we will be sent to hell forever without any salvation as the gate is closed.  There are only two dimensions, here and the hereafter.  And if you are good, you will be in paradise forever.

In the Buddha’s teaching, everything has a cause and can produce an effect. We are constantly being interactive in the dimension of cause and effect. A cause can be inside and the effect can be inside e.g. we think of something nice and we feel happy about it. The cause can be outside and the effect outside. The cause can also be inside and the effect outside or the cause outside and the effect inside e.g. someone shouted at us and we get very upset.

If everything has a cause and effect, then in one simple word, everything has a condition.

As the Cause so is the Effect

Whenever we set a cause, by way of thought, speech or deed the effect will manifest.

Tree grows on apple seeds will only bears apple fruits and not oranges.  If we were to put our hand on a live electrical wire, whether you are a Buddhist, a Christian or a Muslim you will get a shock.

“According to the seed that is sown, so is the fruit that it will reap.  Doer of good deeds will gather good fruits; doer of evil will reap evil fruits.” 

The law of Kamma provides a great consolation to us, as whatever we do (good deeds) will come to us. When we set a cause, the effect will arise although sometimes we need other supporting causes (which are also a cause) to provide the proper condition for the effect to occur.  We can’t be holding the apple seed in our hand and hope for it to bear fruits.  We need to put it onto the ground, water it, and add fertilizer and so on.

In setting the seed (of spiritual progress) in motion, we cannot be praying, hoping or making vows to attain enlightenment.  We need to do a lot of toiling, cultivating the mind and not asking for the impossible.

Results depend on Condition

As much as our action condition the situation, the situation can also condition the action.

Even as we sow the seed, the effect can only arise when the conditions are there. The reason why the condition is not there is because there are other causes.  Some causes can support another cause to arise while other causes may be disruptive or destructive to other causes.  Some even neutralized them making them ineffective.

Just like baking a cake; depending on the condition that you set the result will be either you get a charred cake or a delicious one.  An evil deed committed does not immediately bear fruit just as milk does not turn sour all at once. But smouldering, the effect follows the fools like the fire covered by ashes - Dhammapada 71.

Condition is beyond our comprehension and beyond our control. Not all apple seeds will become apples.  It depends on the condition for the roots to grow.

Just like the oil lamp. The light can go off due to either the oil has finished or the wick has burned off. Or both the oil and the wick finished at the same time. Sometimes it is due to external factors; a gush of wind blew it off.

Everything is a state of conditioning. And not all the conditioning can reach their state of maturity; they didn’t reach to the full cycle e.g. the thundercloud that doesn’t rain. The condition is not conducive and it was blown away later.

When the condition is right, there is nothing you can do to stop it.  When certain things happen to your life, don’t ask “why me?” Don’t blame the god either.

“Not in the sky, not in the ocean nor in the mountain clefts, is found in this place on earth where abiding, one may escape from the results of one’s cause” Dhammapada 127. There is no escape e.g. Death. Don’t try to run away from it.  When we are able to see the reality, do not be submissive, but try to change as much as we can.  If we can’t, we shall accept it with a sense of understanding.

The results can be due to a Kammic conditions or it can be due to a non-Kammic conditions. Kammic condition means performance based.  Good results may be obtained through hard work but not by praying.

Non-Kammic condition means something external to us such as the weather, political situation, epidemic etc. No matter how good our Kamma is; it will just collapse to make way for the evil Kamma to arise.  If we were to put a spoonful of salt in a cup and a spoonful of salt into the river Ganges, the taste will be different.

In the Cula-kamma-vibhanga Sutta (MN 135) the shorter disposition of the law of Kamma, a student named Subha, asked, "Master Gotama, what is the reason, what is the condition, why inferiority and superiority are met with among human beings, among mankind?

For one meets with short-lived and long-lived people, sick and healthy people, ugly and handsome people, insignificant and influential people, poor and rich people, lowborn and highborn people, stupid and wise people. What is the reason, what is the condition, why superiority and inferiority are met with among human beings, among mankind?"

“Beings are the owners of their action; heirs of their kammas.  As of their action, they originate from their action and are bound to their action.  Have their action as their refuge; it is their action that distinguishes beings as inferior and superior.

Some men or women kill living beings, are murderous, violent and merciless; on the dissolution of the body after death, he will appear in the state of deprivation and in hell.  But instead if he comes back to the human state, then whenever he is reborn, he is short-lived.

But if they having abandoned the killing of living beings, abstains from killing living beings, lays aside the rod and lays aside the knife, is considerate and merciful and dwells compassionate for the welfare of all living beings; on the dissolution of the body, after death, he reappears in a happy destination, in the heavenly world. But if he comes back to the human state, then whenever he is reborn, he is long-lived.”

“So are they who cause injury, who harms beings with his hands or with clods or with sticks or with knives; if he is not reborn in the state of deprivation, then he is sickly whenever he is reborn.  But if one does not harm… he is born healthy.”

“Those who display anger to living beings, much given to rage; even when little is said, he is furious, angry, ill-disposed, resentful, he shows ill-temper, hate and surliness; if he is not reborn in the state of deprivation, then he is ugly whenever he is reborn.  But if one is not angry… he is born handsome.”

“Those who envious; envies, begrudges and harbors envy about others' gains, honour, veneration, respect, salutations and offerings; if he is not reborn in the state of deprivation, then he is insignificant whenever he is reborn.  But if one is not envious… he is born influential.”

“Those who are not generous, not a giver of food, drinks, clothing, dwelling to monks or brahmins; if he is not reborn in the state of deprivation, then he is poor whenever he is reborn.  But if one is generous… he is born wealthy.”

“Those who obdurate and haughty; who does not pay homage, respect, venerate to those who deserved it and arrogant; if he is not reborn in the state of deprivation, then he is low-born whenever he is reborn.  But if one is acquiescent and humble … he is born high born.”

“Those who does not visit a wise man and make enquiries on what is wholesome what is not… if he is not reborn in the state of deprivation, then he is stupid whenever he is reborn.  But if one seek the truth… he is wise.”


Answers to Module 3

The inequalities in life arise because we are measured by our deeds and most of the time our deeds have different levels of both wholesome and unwholesomeness.
When the values (Right Understanding, Objectivity, gratitude, respect for values, prioritising and moral sensitivity) grow in us, then we know that we have understood the first lesson on the Doctrine of Kamma – Lesson of Deed.

Questions

Why sometime good deed does not gives rise to good result immediately?
Why is it that the same action by two good friends gives rise to different results?

dhamma preaching

Countering Stress and Depression

by Dalai Lama on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 5:25pm


At a fundamental level, as human beings, we are all the same; each one of us aspires to happiness and each one of us does not wish to suffer. This is why, whenever I have the opportunity, I try to draw people's attention to what as members of the human family we have in common and the deeply interconnected nature of our existence and welfare.

Today, there is increasing recognition, as well as a growing body of scientific evidence, that confirms the close connection between our own states of mind and our happiness. On the one hand, many of us live in societies that are very developed materially, yet among us are many people who are not very happy. Just underneath the beautiful surface of affluence there is a kind of mental unrest, leading to frustration, unnecessary quarrels, reliance on drugs or alcohol, and in the worst case, suicide. There is no guarantee that wealth alone can give you the joy or fulfilment that you seek. The same can be said of your friends too. When you are in an intense state of anger or hatred, even a very close friend appears to you as somehow frosty, or cold, distant, and annoying.

However, as human beings we are gifted with this wonderful human intelligence. Besides that, all human beings have the capacity to be very determined and to direct that strong sense of determination in whatever direction they like. So long as we remember that we have this marvellous gift of human intelligence and a capacity to develop determination and use it in positive ways, we will preserve our underlying mental health. Realizing we have this great human potential gives us a fundamental strength. This recognition can act as a mechanism that enables us to deal with any difficulty, no matter what situation we are facing, without losing hope or sinking into feelings of low self-esteem.

I write this as someone who lost his freedom at the age of 16, then lost his country at the age of 24. Consequently, I have lived in exile for more than 50 years during which we Tibetans have dedicated ourselves to keeping the Tibetan identity alive and preserving our culture and values. On most days the news from Tibet is heartbreaking, and yet none of these challenges gives grounds for giving up. One of the approaches that I personally find useful is to cultivate the thought: If the situation or problem is such that it can be remedied, then there is no need to worry about it. In other words, if there is a solution or a way out of the difficulty, you do not need to be overwhelmed by it. The appropriate action is to seek its solution. Then it is clearly more sensible to spend your energy focussing on the solution rather than worrying about the problem. Alternatively, if there is no solution, no possibility of resolution, then there is also no point in being worried about it, because you cannot do anything about it anyway. In that case, the sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be for you. This formula, of course, implies directly confronting the problem and taking a realistic view. Otherwise you will be unable to find out whether or not there is a resolution to the problem

Taking a realistic view and cultivating a proper motivation can also shield you against feelings of fear and anxiety. If you develop a pure and sincere motivation, if you are motivated by a wish to help on the basis of kindness, compassion, and respect, then you can carry on any kind of work, in any field, and function more effectively with less fear or worry, not being afraid of what others think or whether you ultimately will be successful in reaching your goal. Even if you fail to achieve your goal, you can feel good about having made the effort. But with a bad motivation, people can praise you or you can achieve goals, but you still will not be happy.

Again, we may sometimes feel that our whole lives are unsatisfactory, we feel on the point of being overwhelmed by the difficulties that confront us. This happens to us all in varying degrees from time to time. When this occurs, it is vital that we make every effort to find a way of lifting our spirits. We can do this by recollecting our good fortune. We may, for example, be loved by someone; we may have certain talents; we may have received a good education; we may have our basic needs provided for - food to eat, clothes to wear, somewhere to live - we may have performed certain altruistic deeds in the past. We must take into consideration even the slightest positive aspect of our lives. For if we fail to find some way of uplifting ourselves, there is every danger of sinking further into our sense of powerlessness. This can lead us to believe that we have no capacity for doing good whatsoever. Thus we create the conditions of despair itself.

As a Buddhist monk I have learned that what principally upsets our inner peace is what we call disturbing emotions.  All those thoughts, emotions, and mental events which reflect a negative or uncompassionate state of mind inevitably undermine our experience of inner peace. All our negative thoughts and emotions - such as hatred, anger, pride, lust, greed, envy, and so on - are considered to be sources of difficulty, to be disturbing. Negative thoughts and emotions are what obstruct our most basic aspiration - to be happy and to avoid suffering. When we act under their influence, we become oblivious to the impact our actions have on others: they are thus the cause of our destructive behaviour both toward others and to ourselves. Murder, scandal, and deceit all have their origin in disturbing emotions.

This inevitably gives rise to the question - can we train the mind? There are many methods by which to do this. Among these, in the Buddhist tradition, is a special instruction called mind training, which focuses on cultivating concern for others and turning adversity to advantage. It is this pattern of thought, transforming problems into happiness that has enabled the Tibetan people to maintain their dignity and spirit in the face of great difficulties. Indeed I have found this advice of great practical benefit in my own life.

A great Tibetan teacher of mind training once remarked that one of the mind’s most marvellous qualities is that it can be transformed. I have no doubt that those who attempt to transform their minds, overcome their disturbing emotions and achieve a sense of inner peace, will, over a period of time, notice a change in their mental attitudes and responses to people and events. Their minds will become more disciplined and positive. And I am sure they will find their own sense of happiness grow as they contribute to the greater happiness of others. I offer my prayers that everyone who makes this their goal will be blessed with success.


The Dalai Lama

December 31, 2010

Published in the Hindustan Times, India, on January 3rd, 2011