Kamma
~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~
‘Kamma’ means intentional action.
Deliberately treading on an ant is bad kamma. Unintentionally doing so is not. Deliberately telling a lie is bad kamma. Saying something untrue, believing it to be true is not.
Deliberately dwelling upon plans to inflict suffering on somebody is bad kamma. Experiencing a cruel thought arise and pass away in the mind is not.
Heedlessness is a grey area. Consider someone who drives their car after drinking alcohol and hits a dog. It is true that they do not create the bad kamma of deliberately killing another living being. They do however, make the bad kamma of deciding to drive while not in full command of their faculties, and thus recklessly endangering self and others.
The Buddha taught that the essence of kamma is intention. The more we cultivate a moment-by-moment awareness of intention the more we are able to avoid bad kamma and make good kamma. The more good kamma we make the lighter and brighter our mind becomes.
When the mind has been sufficiently nourished by good kamma, it will have the maturity needed to fully comprehend the nature of the person we assume is creating that kamma. It is here that the path to liberation reveals itself.
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"Food for the Heart", a series of Dhamma teachings handwritten weekly is posted on the Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives page with Ajahn's kind permission.
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For other teachings by Ven. Ajahn Jayasāro, please visit the Panyaprateep Foundation website.
