Karma: What the Buddha taught his son

Ven. Thanissaro (trans.) edited by Ashley Wells, Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly

Prince Siddhartha's son, Rahula, age 7, became a novice and later, at 20, a fully ordained monk who attained full enlightenment as the Buddha and teachers instructed him on the practice (Tylerkingphotography/flickr.com).

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Ven. Rahula, the Buddha, and Ven. Ananda

"What do you think, Rahula [the Buddha's son, who at 7-years-old was the youngest wandering ascetic admitted to the monastic order], What is a mirror for?"

 

"For reflection, sir."

 

"In the same way, Rahula, bodily acts, verbal acts, and mental acts [the three expressions of karma or "action"] are to be done with repeated reflection.

 

"Whenever you want to perform a bodily act, you should reflect on it: 'This bodily act I want to perform, would it lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, to the affliction of both? Is it an unskillful bodily act with unwelcome consequences and distressing results?'

"If, on reflection, you know that it would lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to the affliction of both that would be an unskillful bodily act with painful consequences and painful results, then any bodily act of that sort is absolutely unfit for you to do.

"But if on reflection you know that it would not cause affliction... it would be a skillful bodily action with happy consequences, happy results, then any bodily act of that sort is fit for you to do.

 

"While you are performing a bodily act, you should reflect on it: 'This bodily act I am doing -- is it leading to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to the affliction both? Is it an unskillful bodily act, with painful consequences, painful results?' If, on reflection, you know that it is leading to self-affliction, to affliction of others, or both... you should give it up. But if on reflection you know that it is not... you may continue with it.

 

"Having performed a bodily act, you should reflect on it... If, on reflection, you know that it led to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to affliction of both, it was an unskillful bodily act with painful consequences, painful results, then you should confess it, reveal it, lay it open to the Teacher or to a knowledgeable companion in the holy life. Having confessed it... you should exercise restraint in the future.

"But if on reflection you know that it did not lead to affliction... it was a skillful bodily action with happy consequences, happy results, then you should stay mentally refreshed and joyful, training day and night in skillful mental qualities.

 

(Similarly with verbal and mental acts, except for the last paragraph under mental acts:)

 

"Having performed a mental act, you should reflect on it... If, on reflection, you know that it led to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to the affliction of both, it was an unskillful mental act with painful consequences, painful results, then you should feel distressed, ashamed, and disgusted with it. Feeling distressed... you should exercise restraint in the future.

"But if on reflection you know that it did not lead to affliction... it was a skillful mental action with happy consequences, happy results, then you should stay mentally refreshed and joyful, training day and night in skillful mental qualities.

 

"Rahula, all those Brahmins and wandering ascetics in the course of the past who purified their bodily acts, verbal acts, and mental acts did it through repeated reflection on their bodily acts, verbal acts, and mental acts in just this way.
 

"All those Brahmins and wandering ascetics in the course of the future who will purify their bodily acts, verbal acts, and mental acts, will do it through repeated reflection on their bodily acts, verbal acts, and mental acts in just this way.
 

"All those Brahmins and wandering ascetics at present who purify their bodily acts, verbal acts, and mental acts do it through repeated reflection on their bodily acts, verbal acts, and mental acts in just this way.

 

"Thus, Rahula, you should train yourself: 'I will purify my bodily acts through repeated reflection. I will purify my verbal acts through repeated reflection. I will purify my mental acts through repeated reflection.' That's how you should train yourself." — MN 61