In an attempt to clarify the doctrine and view that whatever a person experiences is the result of what was done in the past, the following discourse describes all eight causes of experiences that are either pleasant, unpleasant or neither-painful-nor-pleasant. Although the Buddha does declare outright that past action can certainly be one such cause, there are also specific experiences that may have nothing directly to do with it - such as disorders and imbalances in the body, climate, assault and careless behavior. Bhikkhu Bodhi notes, however, that while these other specific experiences may be exempt, in a sense, from the direct waves of fruit of past action, the Buddha does not deny the possibility that the illnesses themselves, which are the proximate cause of these certain discomforts, are the result. As he puts it, "Thus kamma can still be the indirect cause for the painful feeling directly induced by the first seven causes." Though, this does imply some sense of a reprieve; responsibility; a place where there is choice; clearance perhaps, from that complete lack of control implied in this wrongly held view that the past dictates all feelings.
A fascinating sutta on many fronts, as it seems to be within this little bubble (of personal responsibility where results of the past cannot necessarily pervade fully) that presents the opportunity for development towards freedom from suffering. We touched on this a few weeks ago in our study of AN 3.61 (a sutta that BB notes is a good companion to this, along with MN 101), where it is made clear that holding a wrong view such as the one being investigated in this week's selection will directly block the opportunity for progress.
As I read it, if all feelings are vipaka (result of [past] action) then freedom from suffering would not be possible. What does everyone else think? A broad question, no doubt, but please respond on the basis of this sutta (or one that directly relates).
Enjoy.
Saṁyutta Nikāya
Sīvakasutta (Sīvaka) SN 36.21 (PTS 4.230–4.231)
Translated by Ven. Bodhi
- On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rajagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary. Then the wanderer Moḷiyasīvaka approached the Blessed One and exchanged greetings with him. When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side and said to the Blessed One:
“Master Gotama, there are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: ‘Whatever a person experiences, whether it be pleasant or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, all that is caused by what was done in the past.’ What does Master Gotama say about this?”
“Some feelings, Sīvaka, arise here originating from bile disorders: that some feelings arise here originating from bile disorders one can know for oneself, and that is considered to be true in the world. Now when those ascetics and brahmins hold such a doctrine and view as this, ‘Whatever a person experiences, whether it be pleasant or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, all that is caused by what was done in the past,’ they overshoot what one knows by oneself and they overshoot what is considered to be true in the world. Therefore I say that this is wrong on the part of those ascetics and brahmins.
“Some feelings, Sīvaka, arise here originating from phlegm disorders … originating from wind disorders … originating from an imbalance of the three … produced by change of climate … produced by careless behaviour … caused by assault … produced as the result of kamma: that some feelings arise here produced as the result of kamma one can know for oneself, and that is considered to be true in the world. Now when those ascetics and brahmins hold such a doctrine and view as this, ‘Whatever a person experiences, whether it be pleasant or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, all that is caused by what was done in the past,’ they overshoot what one knows by oneself and they overshoot what is considered to be true in the world. Therefore I say that this is wrong on the part of those ascetics and brahmins.”
When this was said, the wanderer Moḷiyasīvaka said to the Blessed One: “Magnificent, Master Gotama! Magnificent, Master Gotama!… From today let Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”
Bile, phlegm, and also wind,
Imbalance and climate too,
Carelessness and assault,
With kamma result as the eighth.