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
1 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.
2 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
3 Why sometime good deed does not gives rise to good result immediately?
4 Why is it that the same action by two good friends gives rise to different results?
