Hello Mike,
Bohemian Seeker wrote:Does this mean that we deserve all our bad luck and suffering, as the kamma is a result of our previous thoughts, words and deeds, in this life and in previous ones ?
In addition to David's fine response to your questions, you might wish to consider
how Gotama defined
kamma within his system of Dhamma.
In the
Anguttara Nikaya at 6.63 he stated: "It is volition, monks, that I declare to be
kamma. For having willed, one performs an action by body, speech, or mind."
Now, spend a moment and just contemplate that statement. Contemplate the implications of that statement. Come to know it inside and out. And in that process, relieve your mind of any wrong views about kamma so that it might be at ease.
Anguttara Nikaya 6.63 wrote:(5) "Kamma should be understood; the source and origin of kamma should be understood; the diversity of kamma should be understood; the result of kamma should be understood; the cessation of kamma should be understood; the way leading to the cessation of kamma should be understood." ...
"And what is the source and origin of kamma? Contact is its source and origin. [Contact at the six sense spheres: the eye, ear, nose, tongue, bodily tactile sense objects, and mind or mental phenomena.]
"And what is the diversity of kamma? There is kama to be experienced in hell; there is kamma to be experienced in the realm of afflicted spirits; there is kamma to be experienced in the human world; and there is kamma to be experienced in the deva world. This is called the diversity of kamma.
"And what is the result of kamma? The result of kamma, I say, is threefold: [to be experienced] in this very life, or in the [next] rebirth, or on some subsequent occasion. This is called the result of kamma.
"And what, bhikkhus, is the cessation of kamma? With the cessation of contact there is cessation of kamma.
"This noble eightfold path is the way leading to the cessation of kamma, namely, right view, right thought (intention), right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration."
"When, bhikkhus, a noble disciple thus understands kamma, the source and origin of kamma, the diversity of kamma, the result of kamma, the cessation of kamma, and the way leading to the cessation of kamma, he understands this penetrative spiritual life to be the cessation of kamma.
In peace,
Ian
"The gift of truth exceeds all other gifts" — Dhammapada, v. 354 Craving XXIV
