Karma, the Law of Cause and Effect

"Nothing exists the way it appears, it is all up to our karma"—Padmasambhava

“All actions of body, speech and mind created with an attitude of greed, hatred and ignorance lead to suffering. From all actions created with attitudes of love, compassion and wisdom, only happiness comes.” —Nagarjuna

“The more convinced one becomes of the inner law of cause and effect, the more energy one gets to change and improve oneself and one's life.”—Lama Yeshe

1. THE FOUR OUTLINES OF KARMA:

1. Karma is definite in that virtuous actions lead to happiness and non-virtuous to suffering.

2. Karmic imprints increase; the result is greater than the cause.

3. ⁠One will never experience a karmic result one did not create the cause for.

4. ⁠Karmic causes created are never lost.

The Ten Non-virtuous Actions to be Abandoned and Their Results. Each of the ten non-virtuous actions has four components or factors. For the action to be complete, i.e. to bring the full karmic result, all four components must be present.

These four are:

1. The basis or object of the action

2. The thought: the state of mind of the person performing the action. This has three parts: recognition, motive and delusion

3. ⁠The deed: actually performing the action

4. ⁠The completion of the action

If any of the four factors are missing, the action will not be complete, but will still bring suffering in the future.

The ten non-virtues are divided into three: three non-virtues of body, four of speech and three of mind.

The creators of bad karma are intentionally non virtuous actions:

3 of actions: killing, stealing, improper sexual intercourse

4 of speech: lies-hidden truths, harsh words, gossip, meaningless/non sense talk

3 of mind: covetousness (greedy mind), revenge (malice), wrong understanding/view

The destroyers of bad karma are intentionally virtuous actions:

3 of actions: mercy, generosity, restraint

4 of speech: truthful, kindly, gentle, profitable/constructive talk

3 of mind: eagerness to be generous, helpful, faith in spiritual values

To transmute Karma’s consequences:

• not to do non virtuous actions,

• avoid harm others

• develop generosity and compassion.

DISCIPLINE and NOT BEING FLEXIBLE with small lies, stealing, killing or any non virtuous actions comes as a result of understanding that if done, they lead to HABITS/SAMSKARAS. We must be disciplined out of self and wise love.

Purification of Karma (PURIFY MIND.SPEECH.BODY):

• Remorse/regret as soon as possible. Regret is not guilt!

• Reliance (empathy and compassion, to wish someone to stop suffering, to be free of the causes of suffering and to have Boddhichita mind)

• Resolve; consciously decide to try not to do it again. Being AWARE about not contribuiting or building a new bad habit

• Remedy; positive action to counterpart the wrong action.

2. THREE NON-VIRTUES OF BODY

THE ACTION OF KILLING

1. Basis: a living being other than oneself.

2. Thought

recognition: you recognize unmistakenly the person or being you intend to kill.

motive: you intend to kill.

delusion: you are motivated to kill out of anger, attachment or ignorance.

For example, out of anger, killing an enemy or a being that annoys you; out of attachment, killing an animal for its meat or skin; out of ignorance, killing animals with the belief that they were placed on this earth to be used for food, etc. by humans, or killing an animal as a sacrifice to a worldly god, believing this to be virtuous.

3. Deed: you carry out the killing by some means, eg, weapon, poison, black magic, etc., either directly by yourself or indirectly by ordering someone else to kill.

4. ⁠ Completion: the other person or being dies before you do. (Suicide is a negative action that will bring suffering in the future but is not a complete act because factors 1 and 4 are missing.)

The Results of Killing:

1. Ripened result: rebirth in one of the three lower realms.

2. Results similar to the cause:

• experiences similar to the cause: later, in a human rebirth, you will have a short life, ill health, many troubles, no success in your activities.

• actions similar to the cause: you will have the habitual desire to kill and harm others.

3. Environmental results: taking birth in a place where there is much violence, war, many problems, etc. and where food, drink and medicine have little power.

THE ACTION OF STEALING (taking what is not given)

1. Basis: something of value belonging to another.

2. Thought

• recognition: you recognize unmistakenly the object to be stolen.

• motive: you intend to steal.

• delusion: one of the three poisons. For example, out of anger, stealing something from someone you wish to hurt; out of attachment, stealing something you wish to possess; out of ignorance, stealing or cheating, thinking that it's not wrong.

3. Deed: whatever means you use to steal, e.g. taking the object secretly, not paying taxes or fees you owe, misusing donations, etc.; or getting someone to steal for you.

4. Completion: when you think; now this object is mine.

The Results of Stealing:

1. Ripened result: rebirth in one of the three lower realms.

2. Results similar to the cause

• experiences similar to the cause: lack of wealth, possessions and resources; your things will be stolen or lost.

• actions similar to the cause: you will have an instinctive tendency to steal.

3. Environmental results: taking birth in a barren place, where crops do not grow or are destroyed and there are shortages of food, and bitter frosts, hail, etc., and business ventures fail.

THE ACTION OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

1. Basis: for lay people, the basis is an improper partner (e.g. someone else's partner, your parent or sibling, a child, someone who doesn't consent, or someone who has taken vows of celibacy). For ordained people, any kind of sexual activity is sexual misconduct. (Some Lam-rim books also mention improper parts of the body, improper times, and improper places).

2. Thought:

• recognition: you must have unmistaken recognition of the object of your misconduct.

• motive: you intend to engage in an improper sexual act.

• delusion: one of the three poisons. For example, out of anger one might rape the wife of an enemy; out of attachment, engaging in sexual misconduct with someone other than one's spouse or with someone who's already married; out of ignorance, committing adultery thinking that it's cool, or engaging in sexual misconduct thinking that it leads to enlightenment.

3. Deed: the two organs come into contact.

4. Completion: you experience the pleasure of orgasm.

The Results of Sexual Misconduct:

1. Ripened result: rebirth in a lower realm.

2. Results similar to the cause

• experiences similar to the cause: you will be unable to keep relationships with, and will quickly separate from, your spouse, family, friends, students, employees, etc.

• actions similar to the cause: having the tendency to be unfaithful

3. Environmental results: having to live in a muddy or dirty place.

3. FOUR NON-VIRTUES OF SPEECH

LYING

(There are many objects of lying, but most are included in eight: denying something you have seen, heard, experienced with your other senses, or known; or falsely claiming to have seen, heard, experienced with your senses, or known, something which you have not.)

1. Basis: another person who can understand you and who can speak

2. Thought

• recognition: you must know that what you are saying is untrue.

• motive: you intend to lie and deceive someone.

• delusion: one of the three poisons. For example, out of anger, lying to hurt someone or destroy their reputation; out of attachment, lying to get something you want; out of ignorance, not thinking there's anything wrong with lying.

3. Deed: conveying the lie by some means, e.g. speaking, writing, making a gesture with your hand or eyes, facial expression, remaining silent, etc.

4. Completion: the other person understands and believes your lie.

The Results of Lying:

1. Ripened result: rebirth in a lower realm.

2. Results similar to the cause

• experiences similar to the cause: others do not believe you, even when you tell the truth

• actions similar to the cause: having the tendency to lie and deceive others

3. Environmental results: having to live amongst people who cheat, and you can't find anyone you can trust.

DIVISIVE SPEECH (slander)

1. Basis: two or more people, who have a good or bad relationship.

2. Thought

• recognition: you must have unmistaken recognition of the parties involved and their relationship/ feelings for each other.

• motive: you intend to cause division or disunity.

• delusion: one of the three poisons. For example, out of anger, creating hostility and disharmony among people you dislike; out of attachment, trying to cause a rift between a husband and wife in order to obtain one of them for oneself; or out of ignorance, causing disharmony, believing that it's healthy, or causing disunity among followers of a religion you disagree with, believing this to be positive.

3. Deed: you undertake either to cause disunity among friends, or to prevent reconciliation among enemies, by saying something, which is either true or false.

4. Completion: the other parties understand and believe what you say, and, as a consequence, become hostile towards each other.

The Result of Divisive Speech:

1. Ripened result: rebirth in a lower realm.

2. Results similar to the cause

• experiences similar to the cause: being lonely, having few friends, followers or employees; having difficulty developing good relationships.

• actions similar to the cause: having the tendency to cause disunity

3. Environmental results: having to live in a rugged, uneven, inhospitable environment where communication is difficult.

HARSH OR INSULTING WORDS

1. Basis: another person whose feelings could be hurt (we can express insulting words to a non-human being or to an inanimate object, but the action is complete only when there's a being who understands and is hurt by our words).

2. Thought

• recognition: you must correctly identify the person you intend to insult.

• motive: you intend to speak insulting words.

• delusion: one of the three poisons. For example, out of anger, insulting someone you dislike; out of attachment, speaking in a harsh or rude way to be accepted by a gang, or insulting the husband out of desire for his wife; out of ignorance, using abusive or rude language thinking that it's cool to do so, or not realizing the hurtful effect of our words, or thinking there's nothing wrong with hurting others' feelings.

3. Deed: with a negative intention, you speak words pointing out faults, etc. in the other person, whether true or not, in a harmful manner; or you get someone else to speak such words on your behalf.

4. Completion: the other person understands and is hurt.

The Results of Harsh or Insulting Words:

1. Ripened result: rebirth in a lower realm.

2. Results similar to the cause

• experiences similar to the cause: others will abuse you, and even when you speak pleasantly, they will interpret it negatively.

• actions similar to the cause: having the tendency to be critical and hurtful.

3. Environmental results: having to live in a place where there are many tree stumps, brambles, nettles, sharp rocks and thorns.

IDLE GOSSIP

1. Basis: something meaningless or insignificant (which you treat as important it's not necessary that another being hears our words).

2. Thought

• recognition: you believe that what you wish to say is important or meaningful, although it is not.

• motive: you intend to express such words.

• delusion: one of the three poisons. For example, out of anger, chattering idly in order to disturb someone you dislike who is trying to meditate or do something virtuous; out of attachment, indulging in gossip or frivolous talk about things you are attached to, or to spend time with someone you're attached to, out of ignorance, thinking there's nothing wrong with spending time idly gossiping.

3. Deed: speaking without purpose, or getting someone else to do it for you.

4. Completion: actually expressing the words.

The Results of Idle Gossip:

1. Ripened result: rebirth in a lower realm.

2. Results similar to the cause

• experiences similar to the cause: others will not take your speech seriously or listen to what you have to say.

• actions similar to the cause: having the tendency to talk continuously and fill any quiet moment with the sound of your voice.

3. Environmental results: having to live in a place where crops do not grow properly, rain falls at the wrong time and activities are not successful.

4. THREE NON-VIRTUES OF MIND

COVETOUSNESS

1. Basis: another person's property, possessions (includes merchandise in a shop), qualities, etc.

2. Thought

• recognition: you correctly identify the object you covet.

• ⁠motive: you wish to make the object your own.

• delusion: one of the three poisons. For example, out of anger, wanting to buy something before someone you dislike has a chance to buy it, or wanting to deprive your enemy of his cherished possessions; out of attachment, wanting to possess many things, thinking that they will bring happiness; out of ignorance, wanting to buy many things thinking that it's good for oneself or for the economy, or as a habit or obsession.

3. Deed: the wish to possess the object becomes stronger.

4. ⁠Completion: deciding to find a way to make the object your own. (Note: the motive, deed, and completion are all part of one train of thought.)

The Results of Covetousness:

1. Ripened result: rebirth in a lower realm.

2. Results similar to the cause

experiences similar to the cause: you will be unable to achieve your aims and get what you want.

actions similar to the cause: being continuously dissatisfied and grasping; your attachment increases.

3. Environmental results: having to live in a place where the crops are poor and material resources are easily destroyed or lost.

HARMFUL INTENT (malice, ill will)

1. Basis: another being who would be hurt if you acted out your harmful thoughts.

2. Thought

• recognition: you correctly identify the being you wish to harm.

• ⁠motive: you wish to give harm to this being.

• ⁠delusion: one of the three poisons. For example, out of anger, wishing to harm someone who has harmed you or who you dislike; out of attachment, wanting to kill your father to get your inheritance, or to harm someone to get his possessions; out of ignorance, wishing to harm others because of thinking that violence is good, or that you can do whatever you like.

3. Deed: putting more effort into the wish to give harm, so that it grows stronger.

4. Completion: you decide to act out your wish and do something harmful.

The Results of Harmful Intent:

1. Ripened result: rebirth in a lower realm.

2. Results similar to the cause

• experiences similar to the cause: you will be a person who easily becomes frightened and panicky.

• ⁠actions similar to the cause: having the tendency to hurt others; your anger and hatred increase.

3. Environmental results: having to live in a violent place where there is war and contagious diseases.

WRONG VIEWS

1. Basis: something that exists or is true, e.g. the law of cause and effect, the four noble truths, etc.

2. Thought

• recognition: you believe that your denial of the object is correct (i.e. you do not recognize that what you are denying is in fact true).

• ⁠motive: you wish to deny something that exists.

• ⁠delusion: one of the three poisons. For example, out of anger, because of hating someone who holds a correct view, you deny what he/she says and assert the opposite; out of attachment, asserting some wrong view in order to get something you desire, or to impress or gain favor from someone in a powerful position; out of ignorance, not understanding what is true and correct.

3. Deed: thinking about carrying out the repudiation (repudio) of the object by, for example, telling others what you think.

4. Completion: definitely deciding to deny the object.

The Results of Wrong Views:

1. Ripened result: rebirth in a lower realm.

2. Results similar to the cause

• experiences similar to the cause: being ignorant of correct views, and finding it difficult to develop realizations and correct understanding.

• actions similar to the cause: having the tendency to draw wrong conclusions again and again; your ignorance will increase.

3. Environmental results: having to live in a place where there are shortages of water and other resources such as food, and there are no precious things such as treasures, works of art, scriptures or spiritual guides.

5. Which karmic imprints ripen first?

The karma that is the heaviest will ripen first. If two karmas are of equal weight, whichever was created nearest to the time of death will be the first to ripen. If that is also the same, whichever karma is more habitual will ripen first. If that is also the same, whichever karma was created first will ripen first.

6. The Ten Virtuous Actions to be Adopted:

Of Body:

1. Saving and protecting the lives of others (to value and cherish life).

2. Generously giving what one can to help others.

3. Cultivating trust and honesty in one's relationships by respecting others' feelings.

Of Speech:

4. Speaking the truth.

5. Uniting people; encouraging virtue by speaking about others' good qualities.

6. Talking in a pleasant manner with soft, gentle and loving words.

7. Speaking about meaningful things.

Of Mind:

8. Having a loving attitude and rejoicing in others' happiness.

9. Generating a compassionate attitude towards all living beings.

10. Cultivating wisdom and a realistic attitude to life.

7. Meditate like this to purify karma mind-speech-body:

• Start by first going through the ten virtuous actions and recognize how much you have managed to accomplish in this life, or tried to accomplish. Put yourself on the back a bit and rejoice in yourself and make a determination to increase such initiatives. Also acknowledge your own capacity for love, compassion and kindness.

• Then, contemplate each of the ten non-virtuous actions. Pick a few that you recognize are more common in your life. Maybe killing, lying and gossip as an example, and meditate on these in particular. Think back in your life to instances when these negative actions were committed, and try to understand what your motive was, why did you engage in these actions, what benefit did you expect? Which one of the three poisonous minds was the driving force behind? Attempt to understand the whole evolution of motive - action - result, and generate a feeling of regret.

• When we check our previous actions and we realize how many mistakes we have made, when we remember all the actions we did out of ignorance, without knowing karma, then we feel kind of embarrassed: “Oh, I have made such a mistake at such a time.” To feel embarrassed like this is just natural; but, actually, to discover each of the previous negative actions is something to rejoice about, that our mind is capable of recognizing and understanding karma. It means that our mind has developed Dharma-wisdom.

• Repeat loudly: What I have been thinking before as the cause of happiness was a completely wrong idea, not having a perfect understanding of what is the right cause of happiness. Since I now have received Dharma-wisdom I always have the chance, if I wish, to stop creating the cause of suffering and I also have the chance to create the cause of happiness. Think, "how fortunate I am. This is the root of all happiness and peace, also ultimate happiness. It makes me so free."

• Remembering past negative actions with Dharma-wisdom is the door to one's happiness. It makes you seek a method. What to do now? The answer to that question is purification and creating merits. Without realizing one's own delusion and karma there is no energy to make purification, one does not seek the method to be free from it. E.g. the more one recognizes that one's house is dirty, the more one has the chance to make it clean, and live in a healthy environment. Trying to believe that one has no delusion and one did not create negative karma does not benefit, it only produces more confusion in the mind, not solutions to life problems.

• End the session with a visualization of Guru Buddha, contemplate the Ten Virtuous Actions to be Adopted and practice purification of all negativities created since beginningless time, while reciting the mantra: OM MUNI MUNI MAHAMUNAYE SOHA

May this article elevate your soul.

Namaste

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