Let’s study together thru the conversation of the students who really need to know about “Buddhism”

Alan : Porn, you said that in order to

           avoid suffering, we have to refrain

           from unwholesome actions.

           In Buddhism, what actions are

           considered unwholesome ?

Porn : Regarding unwholesome actions,

           there are 3 types of actions:

           body, speech and mind.

           There are :

           - 3 unwholesome actions of body

           - 4 unwholesome actions of speech

           - 3 unwholesome actions of mind

           that must be avoided.

           The 3 unwholesome actions of

           body are:

           1)  killing

           2)  stealing

           3)  sexual misconduct.

           The 4 unwholesome actions of

           speech are:

           1)  lying

           2)  slander

           3)  harsh speech

           4)  gossip

           The 3 unwholesome actions of

           mind are:

           1)  covetousness

           2)  ill will

           3) wrong view

           There are 10 unwholesome 

           actions altogether.

Alan : Did the Buddha state the effect of  

            each unwholesome action ?

Porn : Yes, he did. His statements on the

           effects of both wholesome and

           unwholesome actions can be

           found in many discourses.  And

           the general statement is

           “doing good brings good,

            doing evil brings evil”.            

Alan : I agree with this statement.

           But I saw some people who

           benefited from their

           unwholesome actions.  How does

           Buddhism explain these cases ?

Porn : Well, the effects of actions may be

           evident either in the short term

           or in the long term.  The

           manifestations of the actions of

           kammas are traditionally divided

           into 3 varieties :

           1)  in this very life,

           2)  in the next life,

           3)  only after several lives.

           When kamma manifests its effects

           in this lifetime, we can see its fruit

           within a short time.  But we

           cannot see the long term effects

           of kamma.

Alan : Who can know about them ?

Porn : Only the Buddha or His prominent

           disciples who have highly

           experienced insight meditations

           are able to perceive the long term

           effects of kamma.  Therefore,

           good Buddhists always believe in

           and practice according to what

           the Buddha taught.

Alan : Could you tell me about the fruit

           of taking the life of a living being?

Porn : According to the Scriptures, the

           fruit of killing can take various

           forms such as

           - rebirth in hell,

           - living a shortened life,

           - separation from loved ones,

           - fear

           -  paranoia

           - and so on.

           The weight of kamma is modified

           by these 5 conditions

           1)  persistent and repeated

           2)  done with great intention

           3)  done without sorrow

           4)  done towards persons with

                extraordinary qualities

                such as Buddha and the

                arahants

           5) done towards persons who

               have been of benefit to us

               such as our parents and

               teachers.

Alan : I see. The fruit of killing a man

            would be greater than an animal.

Porn : Yes, of course.  A human-killer will

            undoubtedly be reborn in hell.

            For an animal-killer, if his or her

            kamma is not weighty enough

            to result in rebirth in hell, it will

            result in unhealthy or shortened

            life as a human being.  It is

            noticeable that the effect is

            similar to the cause.

Alan : And what about the fruit of

           stealing and sexual misconduct ?

Porn : Well, stealing is generally

           motivated by greed or desire.

           This action, stated in several

           discourses, will lead to rebirth

           as a hungry ghost.  If it is not

           weighty enough to result in that,

           it will result in poverty as a

           human being.  And the actions

           of sexual misconduct will, at least,

           result in marital distress or an

           unhappy marriage.

Alan : Most people often tell lies.  What

            about the fruit of telling lies ?

Porn : The effects of these unwholesome

            actions are dependent on the

            5 conditions mentioned.

            However, there is a Buddha’s

            saying:  He who declares that

            to have happened which

            happened not, goes to hell.

Alan : Understanding the Law of

            Kamma is quite useful.

Porn : Yes, it encourages us to refrain

            from unwholesome actions and

            try to do wholesome actions.

Thanks & Regards : AJ S. Srisopa (Cr. All Dhamma teachers)

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