Dhr. Seven, Ashley Wells, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly translation based on Ajahn Thanissaro translation Vipaka Sutta (AN 8.40)
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| (safeerbandali/flickr.com) |
The
least negative results from the taking of life is that, if and when one
again is reborn among humans, this karma will result in a shortened
life span.
"Taking
what is not given -- indulged in, practiced, and developed -- leads to
perdition, and/or to rebirth in the animal realm, to the realm of
hungry ghosts. The least negative results from taking what is not given
is that, if and when one is again reborn among humans, this karma will
result in the loss of wealth.
"Illicit sexual conduct
-- indulged in, practiced, and developed -- leads to perdition, and/or
to rebirth in the animal realm, the realm of hungry ghosts. The least
negative results from illicit sexual conduct is that, if and when one is
again reborn among humans, this karma will result in rivalry and
revenge.
"False
speech [perjury, divisive speech, harsh speech, idle speech] --
indulged in, practiced, and developed -- leads to perdition, and/or
rebirth in the animal realm, the realm of hungry ghosts. The least
negative results from false speech are that, if and when one is again
reborn among humans, this karma will result in being falsely accused.
"Divisive speech -- indulged in, practiced, and developed -- leads to perdition, and/or rebirth in the animal realm, the realm of hungry ghosts. The least negative results
from speaking falsely is that, if and when one is again reborn among
humans, this karma will result in the breaking of one's friendships.
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| Mystery of rebirth (androgynylist.com) |
"Frivolous
speech (idle chatter) -- indulged in, practiced, and developed -- leads
to perdition, and/or to rebirth in the animal realm, to the realm of
hungry ghosts. The least negative results from frivolous speech are
that, if and when one is again reborn among humans, it leads to words
not worth taking to heart.
"Taking
intoxicants (drinking liquor) -- indulged in, practiced, and developed
-- leads to perdition, and/or rebirth in the animal realm, the realm
of hungry ghosts. The least negative results from taking intoxicants
are that, if and when one is again reborn as a human, it leads to
derangement."
*Karma, my Karma
WISDOM QUARTERLY COMMENTARY
One should not err in thinking
that such a "course of conduct" is immediately exhausted simply by
rebirth in an unfortunate realm or by a great deal of suffering from
spending thousands of years in that realm. The effects of a single
action are redounding. Karma does not mean "cause and effect," the
Newtonian law. It is almost nothing like that. It is like pushing over a
domino or dropping a stone in a still pond. The results and fruits (vipaka and phala) of the action (karma) can be known in general, but the full working out is incomprehensible.
Even though Christians say, "God works in mysterious ways," it would be
much appropriate to say that of impersonal karma, our own actions
leading to their own results which then serve as the causes and
conditions of further volitions. Nor is it appropriate to think that
"intention" (cetana) means what we intend to happen. It simply means the motivation behind
a purposeful act of mind, tongue, or body -- which colors that action
and determines the result. All harmful, unprofitable, unbeneficial,
unwholesome acts stem from only three roots; the same may be said for
all helpful, profitable, beneficial, wholesome acts. Liking, disliking,
and ignorance are the unwholesome roots; the names of the categories are
more ominous: greed, hatred, delusion. And we blindly consider
ourselves innocent of those extremes not realizing that they are simply
the titles of three categories of action: craving, aversion, and
wrong view. Everything good stems from three other very general
categories: nongreed, nonhatred, and nondelusion. One need not "believe"
in karma for it to be true. The unintended results, good and bad, will
nevertheless come. Yet, doing good because one believes in karma is more
beneficial than simply doing good, perhaps because the good action is
accompanied by right view to that extent. The results are not likely to
be seen for quite some time, so some degree of confidence is necessary
to keep doing good. If one acts with the expectation that one will see
an immediate result in line with that action, one is likely to be sorely
disappointed and may fall under the wrong view that there is no
result-of-action, no vipaka, no fruition, no benefit, no consequence, nothing to reap, no reason to further sow.
*Karma, my Karma
WISDOM QUARTERLY COMMENTARY
- See also AN 4.111, as an example of harsh training.
- School of Natural Healing, learning use of HERBS with Dr. Christopher ("Something's Happening," July 24, 2013, KPFK.org Archives, 12:00-1:00 am)
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