The Buddha's Teachings on Kamma and Vipaka

[cooran]

Hello all,

I’ve always found Mahasi Sayadaw’s presentation of the Buddha's Teachings on Kamma and Vipaka to be very helpful,

The Theory of Karma ¬ Mahasi Sayadaw
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/karma.htm

with metta
Chris

[Ben]

Thanks Chris!

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

I observed no mention of dependent origination in this piece... does anyone know whether kamma is ever associated with dependent origination in the Mahavihara tradition?

Metta,
Retro.

[cooran]

Hello Retrofuturist,

This might be of assistance:

From Understanding the Law of Kamma in Good, Evil and Beyond - Kamma in the Buddha's Teaching by P. A. Payutto
Translated by Bruce Evans

Kamma as conditioning factor
Expanding our perspective, we find kamma as a component within the whole life process, being the agent which fashions the direction of life. This is kamma in its sense of "sankhara,"[b] as it appears in the Wheel of Dependent Origination[c],where it is described as "the agent which fashions the mind." This refers to the factors or qualities of the mind which, with intention at the lead, shape the mind into good, evil or neutral states, which in turn fashion the thought process and its effects through body and speech. In this context, kamma could be defined simply as volitional impulses. Even in this definition we still take intention as the essence, and that is why we sometimes see the word sankhara translated simply as intention.
http://www.buddhanet.net/cmdsg/kamma1.htm#Expanding

with metta
Chris

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Chris,

Thanks for that.

Since sankhara is dependent upon avijja, I guess that explains why the Abhidhamma describes the 'actions' of an arahant as being rooted in the kiriya (functional) citta, devoid of kammic potency.

Metta,
Retro.

[piotr]

Hi retrofuturist,

I observed no mention of dependent origination in this piece...

You seem to skim over this text too fast:

What is the cause of Karma?
Ignorance (avijja), or not knowing things as they truly are, is the chief cause of Karma. Dependent on ignorance arise activities (avijja paccaya samkhara) states the Buddha in the Paticca Samuppada (Dependent Origination).

— Mahāsi Sayādaw, The Theory of Karma

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Piotr,

Indeed it seems I did! Nice find - thank you.



Metta,
Retro.