At the centre of all rationality is Karma and its result, Vipaka. This is the law of ‘Cause and Effect’, the Law of the Universe. We mould and change this world by the actions we take. We are forming future circumstances now. At a personal level, it is widely accepted that good actions produce good effects and bad actions produce bad effects due to their own natural law.
There is also a Karmic force or momentum of habit to continue on and do good (or bad) actions – thieves get caught eventually!
The Law of Karma is not a law of reward or punishment or one that establishes so-called “moral justice”. This idea comes from the concept that there is a “supreme being”, a God who sits in judgment, who is a law-giver and who decides on what is right and wrong.
BUDDHIST KAMMA
Hindu Karma should not be confused with Buddhist Kamma.
Buddhist Kamma is the emotional impulse that is behind our words and actions. Our disposition to the external world and how we react to it results in subtle and not so subtle emotions which can lead to various degrees of verbal display and physical action.
This internal emotion is Kamma. When our mind is perfectly calm, there is no Kamma.
Everyone at times experiences strong emotions. In Buddhist practice the recognition, the moderation and control of one’s emotions is considered as good, competent and as such, skillful behavior. Negative human emotions or desires such as jealousy, vindictiveness, carelessness, pride, selfishness, cruelty, predatory sexuality and so on, should be recognized as such, and moderated or eliminated altogether.
It is all a matter of being “skillful” with one’s emotions and/or actions, so suppressing negative emotions or expressing the “right amount” at the “right time and place” and with the ability to assess the consequences – Vipaka.
Buddhism is not about being cold, unemotional and unresponsive, but rather “skillful in the circumstance”.
This is the display of a mature personality and it helps progress along the Noble Path, i.e., good Kamma.
On the other hand, an inappropriate expression of emotion, or an inappropriate action in the wrong place or to the wrong people, would be considered unskillful. All inappropriate displays of strong emotion, (feelings of love or hate*), any outward verbal or physical display, is considered “unskillful behaviour”, i.e., bad Kamma. Note that proud, egocentric people are accustomed to displaying their strong emotions. They use emotion to assert their self importance, but this is a big obstacle to wisdom.
Also note that bad Kamma can mean criminal activity in law. In Buddhism all effects have causes; wrong behaviour is due to a bad mental disposition which of course can be corrected in sane people by explanation, counseling, and other assistance. The fact is that prison is a poor teacher.
Therefore, the behaviour of a person is an expression of his mental disposition, his Kamma.
(* In the ‘west’, the display of emotion is considered good – worthy, honest – satisfy one’s impulses! However, psychoanalyst Freud also considered all emotion as self-centred. In Buddhism, emotion is considered to be harmful and can lead to conflict with others; ‘eros’ and even ‘filial’ love are Kammic, only ‘agape’ love is non-kamma forming !)
VIPAKA
Vipaka is the result of emotion or a display of emotional behaviour. Understanding the consequences of emotion or emotion with action is the mark of wisdom.
THE THIRST TO EXIST – REBIRTH
Buddhists consider that karmic effects, or effects of emotional behavior – Vipaka, can be experienced even in a life after death. The thirst to exist or to continue on, is a tremendous force which shapes lives and even the whole world. This continuity after death is called ‘Re-birth’. It is a ‘Re-birth’ of energy or activity called ‘person’ and not a reincarnation of an entity called ‘soul’.
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MOTTO:
“The Gift of Truth, which Leads to Wisdom,
is the Greatest of All Gifts”
MOTTO:
“Ignorance is the CROWNING Corruption”
– Venerable Piyadassi, Maha Thero.
Article Resubmited by R.O.S