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Everything is connected. The karma the energy. We have to be mindful all the time, follow the right path. Really not so easy as it requires a lot of practices, with no luxury hiding in cave for meditation, rather opposite to find every moment and present as the way out. Shanti Doug, inspired, huge thanks.
when a practicioner attains right view, i.e. seeing that grasping at the five aggregates creates existence and suffering, he avoids any deed that is rooted in greed, hate and delusion. He basically sees where the danger lies and stops planting seeds of new existence with his actions. Although a streamenterer does not necessarily do a great job at this. He might just relax surrounded by the danger but knowing the escape from it at the same time.
5:40 I think right view here refers to "right view with effluents, siding with merit, resulting in acquisitions" from MN 117 (Thanissaro translation) and not the noble right view. "Siding with merit" matches "bright results".
Andrew Olendzski - "Karma includes (1) the decision to do something (2) the action carrying it out (3) what we make thereby, or the result of the action... (1) Intention is the leading edge of karma, (2) directing the activities of body, speech, and mind to act in ways that (3) accumulate, at its trailing edge, karmic formations or dispositions... Our character, our personality, our very self, is viewed in Buddhist thought as a gallery of ossified karmic relics, the accumulated residue of earlier dynamic processes of intention and action." The phrase "gallery of ossified karmic relics" is probably my favorite way of thinking about the self.
Thanks Doug 😊 let the 'unskillful' comments pass by... like the minority thats usually noisy. Your content is extremely helpful and beneficial for me and I'm sure also people in similar life circumstances. 💛
Another enlightening video, Doug :). Thank you, as always, for your patient scrupulousness. The world will always need an accessible infrastructure of practical wisdom - and, at least a few of us, the kind of philosophy that enlivens and enriches a life well-contemplated.
Thanks Doug for another insightful talk on a very popular topic. The Karma is a pre-Buddhist upanishadic concept " good deeds lead to good results and bad deeds lead to bad results". The lord Buddha further improved upon this and the Buddhist practice is mostly about challenging the karmic determinism. In spite of the actions committed earlier - How can this moment lead to freedom, wisdom, wholesome liberation? This is the Buddhist contribution to karma. Also the 4th category - understanding the subtle nuances of karma and doing action with a self less spirit or anatta and not getting restricted by the duality of Good - Bad kamma, rather experiencing the transcendence. Thanks again for the wise reflections. May all beings be wise, kind, happy & free.
Moreover, Subhuti, when bodhisattvas give a gift, they should not be attached to a thing. When they give a gift, they should not be attached to anything at all. They should not be attached to a sight when they give a gift. Nor should they be attached to a sound, a smell, a taste, a touch, or a dharma when they give a gift. Thus, Subhuti, fearless bodhisattvas should give a gift without being attached to the perception of an object.
Thank you for this video! Going to be observed tomorrow by my supervisor as I work with a student. This video on kamma was a much-needed dose of motivation and advice I needed to succeed tomorrow.
Thank you Doug. I had a thought about the last section of the video where you describe the Buddhas' position on non-dark/non-light Karma. Particularly how actions made with these sort of self dissolving intentions do not have the effect of generating good Karma to provide a better future result if one is born again. My initial thought about this was the it seems to be a pretty high risk/high reward choice to follow the spiritual path. I had assume many practicioners were at least somewhat motivated by getting a better future result. But then I thought, since most people presumably have neutral Karma, it's kind of a no risk/high reward situation. Either way your commentary has added depth to my understanding of why people practice, thanks again.
The Lady who lives downstairs from me has a dog . Cute little girl dog called Maya . Sometimes she goes mad barking , waking me up . I love it . Makes me giggle . Sweet heart .
This teaching is both bright and dark. Thank you for your explanation of a much misunderstood concept. I am a Kadampa and therefore my understanding is slightly different. My life experiences as an alcoholic flavour my perception of the sutras. And even though I would not explain Karma to a general audience so in depth, I trust your wisdom and accept the kindness with which it is given. Om mani padme hum.
This reminds me of an article I once read on the web that there was a blind monk who was trampling ants to death on the path he was walking and the Buddha said to the sangha that the monk won't suffer negative karma because he was not intentionally killing the ants
Interesting that the Buddha teached this kind of karmic action, it reminds me on the teachings from the Bhagavad Gita which state that one should act without being attached to the fruits of the action and without being attached to any bad results if they would occur.
Hi Doug, First off, I would like to thank you as always for the terrific presentation of the material as I recently read about it and liked your interpretation of the 4 kinds of Khamma. I would like to request a presentation regarding "kanhadhamma - dark dhamma" found in the Anguttara Nikāya book of 5's 79(9) Future Perils (3). It would be nice to hear your take on this as I'm still learning quite a bit and I enjoy how you break down the early Buddhist texts and teachings. Sadhu!🙏 Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hotu, Samanera
Thanks for the suggestion! 🙏 Taking a quick look, the sutta you cite seems similar in many respects to one I dealt with in this video: How Should We Read Buddhist Texts? Early Advice ruclips.net/video/QgNt_t4xY5c/видео.html
Thank you Doug. I have been contemplating about writing a paper and this video will be very useful. I can explain the 4th type of Kamma. Anything you intentionally do or do not do while following the path belongs to this category. However, if your intention is to gain something good or avoiding a bad thing in the future is the reason that you doing it then that action is NOT part of the 4th category. In short these are call kusals.
@@DougsDharma yes Sila are covered by step 3,4 and 5. Kusal is the 4th type of Kamma. Benefit can be only ‘walking the path’ Any other benefit is just a result not an intention. For example jhanas gives enormous happiness …. Get refined (less conditions) as we go up to higher jhanas. It is a result and if someone doing jhana meditation for this purpose he/she will be stuck at 6th and 7th fetters. 🙏🙏
10:55 Perhaps enlightened action is empty of karma because there is no "ego" doing it, and from this perspective of "empty phenomena rolling on" the karma being "done by others" are empty as well. In a sort of Dzogchen/Heart Sutra reading there's a lesson which isn't contradictory, but explaining a process, a before and after. In a play there is karma/action on the stage, but if the actors forget then it goes from a quality of playing to suffering. The awakened person remembers it is a game, theater or Lila- and empty. From this perspective all the other actors attachments are simply due to a kind of forgetting, and their true nature is empty.
I always got the sense that there is a "shoot for the moon" theme here. Particularly when thinking of the karmic results or rebirth with the brahmavihara or the formless attainments. A non-returner, in my understanding, is reborn in a heavenly realm. So presumably destroyed dark karma and/or attained bright karma. And this seems to lead closer to nirvana. Which always confused me a bit, since it is also said that the human realm was ideal for attaining right view of dukkha... I also always thought the fourth karma was understood as "that which destroys karma"? Tho that might be something I picked up from a later tradition.
@@DougsDharmaIn case you are interested: I tried to find a source for my wording and only really came up with a paper "Karmic Retribution in Theravada Buddhism" by Frédéric Richard. An interesting read for a novice like me. :) Richard seems to lean towards a Sanskrit terminology, so I wonder if "cessation" might more commonly be translated as "destruction" when translated from Sanskrit, given the use/context in Vedic traditions?
I wonder if bright actions with bright results could be viewed in terms of attachment? That is to say, one could even perform good deeds with pure-hearted intent, but still do so in a deluded way. For example, an excessive fixation on material equality (things like money and access to resources) or fear of painful outcomes from bad karma could be seen as kind-hearted intentions that still increase one’s attachment to material things.
I don't know if this helps but sort of from a more secular sounding perspective I would say that the people who were born in the generations before us even though who were born long before in some way or form effect our lives now and whenever you do things in your own life time you should sort of stop and think of whether or not the actions you perform now are going to create a world which other people would want to live in or whether or not the things you do right now would create a world which you would want to live in assuming that you possibly had to deal with the type of world which you created during your current life later.
With each moment of thought, you are reborn in one of the six realms of existence. One moment you are happy and proud, you are in heaven. Then you are jealous and stingy, you are in the titan realm. After that you are stupid and heedless, you are in the beast realm. Then you are afraid and angry, you are in hell. Next you are craving and in despair, you are a hungry ghost. Now you are preoccupied with worldly things, you are in the human realm. Round and round you go...
The way i understand it is that it just means cause and effects. The nitty gritty of that are near impossible to work out, chaos theory and all. The budda even names "“The [precise working out of the] results of kamma . . ." as one of the four imponderables.
I don't think a day goes by that I don't see people I know, flattering their own egos 😁. On the other hand, there is a phenomenon known as Compassion fatigue, common in mental health workers, which can lead to serious problems. Interestingly, one of the recommended coping strategies is mindfulness. 🙏
Great point. I did an earlier video on compassion vs. empathy, I think empathy fatigue can be more of a problem: ruclips.net/video/FVpdon6YErY/видео.html
In Buddhism, there are four types of karmic actions and their results: dark actions with dark results, bright actions with bright results, mixed dark and bright actions with mixed results, and actions that are neither dark nor bright with neither dark nor bright results. The last type means that there is no karmic formation, or 0% karmic formation. This happens when there is no ignorance or clinging involved. According to the Law of Dependent Origination, ignorance leads to mental formations, and clinging leads to becoming. But if there is no ignorance and no clinging, then there is no karmic formation, and the result is the cessation of suffering (Nirvana). As far as my concerned, the eightfold path(neither-dark- nor bright actions without inention) leading to neither- dark- nor bright results (Nibbana). Buddha says " It is intention or volition that I call Karma". 1). Dark actions (with intention or Karma) 2). Bright actions (with intention or Karma) 3). Mixed Dark and Bright actions (with intention or Karma) On the other hand, 4). neither- dark- nor bright actions ( 8 fold path - there is no intention) leadind to Nibbana. Because the noble eightfold path must abandon those 1,2,3 actions(volitional formations) and also ignorance. Buddha says"This noble eightfold path is the way leading to the cessation of Kamma". AN.6. 69-9.
What about donating money with the desire the help the people you are donating to? Which category would that fall under in your understanding? Thank you for a great video.
If its being donated with no other intention but to help others it would be an end of karma action. If you donate to feel like a good person then you experience the bright result of feeling good about yourself which reinforces the ego. “I am good because I donated, as opposed to those who didn’t” Or “I am better after donating than I was before I donated”
@@marka2188 Doing actions with no content of Kusala (wholesome) and Akusala (uwholeseome) is Kariya (functional). Karyia doesn't generate any Kamma. Only in the mind of the Buddhas and Arahats (fully enlightened people), kariya arises.
Both bright and dark karma at the same time is consistent with quantum mechanics which suggests that, for instance, an electron can be a wave and a particle at the same time or a particle can be two places at the same time. Whether it is a wave or a particle and either here or there is only resolved when an "observation" takes place. This is the Copenhagen interpretation of QM and is not without its opponents. However, starting from that point it seems like our "intent" in doing, speaking or thinking what we do, is important. Even a good intent, like working toward enlightenment, can be dark in that it is just another form of desire and attachment. Of course "intent" gets into the the whole idea of "free will" which is a whole other kettle of fish!
From my understanding, some right action and right view leading to good karma while practicing eight fold path doesn’t lead to good karma mean that there are different right actions for different desired results. Eg, doctor giving right medicine for right disease. for the first part, some people do good deeds not to achieve nirvana but to have better life. For the right view part, it is about knowing what is good things that lead to good karma. For the second part, People see the world as it is (as dukkha, as unsatisfactory, as non-self) and it no longer matters for them to have wealth or power. every one of their right action is to escape samsara and to achieve nirvana. For that karma part, buddha isn’t unique when explaining about karma which mean good view about good karma isn’t just Buddhist view while understanding of noble truths and eight fold path is unique to Buddhism. My understanding comes from my native country, where lay people focus more on practices that brings good karma than the practices that lead nirvana and people usually differentiate between things lead to good karma (လောကီ) and things lead to nirvana (လောကုတ္တရာ). Sorry that I don’t know the translation of those words in english. As always, Thanks for sharing your view on dharma. Listening to your videos makes me feel at ease like listening to monks from my native country, Myanmar.
One thing I thought about recently is that Karma as described by the Buddha is inherently unfair. Why should I suffer now, because of actions did in my previous life? After all, it is not "really" me who did those actions, but a past self that I, as the way I exist now, have nothing to do with. Similarly, why should I suffer in my next live for what I do now? My existence in the next life has nothing to do with me now, as I don't even "really" exist and everything that makes "me" is impermanent and not transferred into the next life (anatman).
I think Buddhism say otherwise, that is your 'this life' is an extension of your past life. Even though you may not be the same in the place you were born before, the way you look like etc, On the basis of rebirth you carry the same seeds of kamma, good and/or bad continuously till you realise the true nature of our existence that is nibbana. And that is how I see it. I am not an expert in Buddha dhamma, only new to this, yet fascinate me.
Not realizing the true meaning of Kamma and Kamma-vipaka is the issue here. Don’t worry about previous life. Follow Buddha’s advice to follow the right step path. And use this video to connect Kamma with the path.
You tomorrow is different from you yesterday, but both are considered the same person when it comes to moral/karmic reward, because they are both so tightly causally integrated.
@@DougsDharma Exactly :) That is were my problem lies with rebirth, as I am very different from my past life (as all five aggregates are not transfered with rebirth). So me dealing with the Karma seeds (vipaka) from previous lifes seems unfair, as there is nothing but karma that connects me to that previous person. I guess a more philosophical question would be "what if a murderer has sudden amnesia and lost his entire memory and personality, should he still be in prison for life if his new personality is inherently peaceful?". I dont know the answer, just something I am thinking about :)
Kamma is intention and the action that stems from it; It indeed means Action, but not any action; Only action afflicted by ignorance, greed and hate is Kamma. Obviously, there can be no "good/bright kamma" when *all* kamma is afflicted, just like how there can be no clean hands if they is washed in dirty water. Kamma heats up the mind, and hot mind, like a hot tea pot, is difficult to handle. Dukkha is this difficulty - a result of a hot mind. Cool mind is nibbana, as nibbana literally means "coolness". When a mind is cool it is a nibbana mind. And yes, every time our minds are cool, we are experiencing a temporary nibbana! Let's say, the mind is like a pot; "Bright kamma" is like a wholesome meal; "Dark kamma" is like junk food. Whether we are preparing a wholesome meal or junk food, what happens to the pot? It heats up regardless of what we're cooking. In exactly the same way, whether we think/speak/do bright or dark deeds is irrelevant to the mind - it will heat up anyways for there is fire (afflictions) underneath it; and hot mind is dukkha mind. So to conclude: there are no 4 types of kamma. There are 2 traditional types common to all religions - doing good brings you good, doing bad doesn't. And there's the third type, discovered by the Buddha: kamma stemming from the *Right Intention* to eliminate both "good" and "bad" kamma. It is still kamma because the mind is still afflicted, but is neither good nor bad as the intention behind it is neither good nor bad. Actions of enlightened, awakened beings are called Kiriya, as they do not produce Kamma. Fruits of Kiriya are called Patikiriya - reaction (and not Vipaka). Kiriya does not cause Dukkha.
What about SOCIAL COLLECTIVE, or society-group Karma? It has been said that a nation of people truly only get the leaders-rulers that they deserve, for good or for bad. A Tibetan Buddhist devotee once told me, that because of certain abusive and corrupt behaviors perpetuated by many Tibetan Lamas against their own people for over centuries of time, ... all the incense, prayer wheels, prayer flags, prostrations, and liturgical worshipping, etc, could not stop the steamrollers of dark (Chinese Army invasions) karma from smashing down the monasteries and causing a huge wave of cultural eviction. Karma seems to be an impersonal universal law with incredible super-powers that can not be appeased! (Do you think this view is correct?)
In early Buddhism karma was always personal: it depended upon the intentions of the individual person, not upon societies or groups. Though I believe that changed in some later Buddhism.
If you have enough information to know whole world how buddhism was destroyed and decline in india please do some effort on this for more information I can help you
Hi Doug. Interesting topic. I have come across a similar explanation in the Bhagavad Gita. (I'm going to paraphrase) Lord Krishna explains that karma binds one to samsara because we are attached to fruits of our actions. There is good karma whereby a person can earn a place in a higher realm and bad karma where a person can end up in a lower realm. The way to liberation is not by giving up action and not doing anything, but by doing one's actions (or duty) and surrendering the fruits of those actions. In this way one does no accumulate karma.
Hi! I agree, there's a partial similitude between those two concepts. However, I think the main two differences between them are: a) The concept of duty in the BG seems to be related to fulfilling one's role in society according to the caste system. You could even kill some else, but as long as you fulfill your expected duty, and as long as you give the "fruits" of your actions to Krishna, everything else will be ok. b) In buddhism, there's not an endorsement of the caste in this way, and there's no sense of divine duty. The focus is set, instead, on suffering and rebirth, and you end both by following the Eightfold Path, which includes non-violent intention. And I think the Buddha would not consider the possibility of murdering one's family members without violent intentions.
Generosity for the sake of fame is ego driven & reflecting wrong view, generosity with the aim of getting rid of grasping is giving generously with a desire to get rid of grasping therefore also not really reflecting right view as it contains "desire". Generosity without any attachment or expectation of any particular outcome would be right view as I understand the teaching.
To my knowledge the Buddha never condemns generosity of any sort; generous actions provide good karma. See for example: suttacentral.net/an7.52/en/sujato . Selfless generosity is the best kind however.
Are you going to make a video on rebirth and reincarnation? Please consider these questions What does Buddha mean by rebirth? Is it the arising and extinguishment of the self every moment due to mental processes? Or is it the rebirth/reincarnation into another body after death? Does Buddha anywhere mention such thing? What happens after death, is it the complete annihilation? And your thoughts on Tibetan Buddhism and the belief of reincarnation (is it different than what Buddha taught?)
Sometimes I wonder if people making these videos are just regurgitating old texts or have had an actual personal enlightening experience. The former is pretty much useless, and the latter cannot be conveyed in language (or even thought, for that matter). Quite the conundrum.
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🧡 If you find benefit in my videos, consider supporting the channel by joining us on Patreon and get fun extras like exclusive videos, ad-free audio-only versions, and extensive show notes: www.patreon.com/dougsseculardharma 🙂
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😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊lp😊
Everything is connected. The karma the energy. We have to be mindful all the time, follow the right path. Really not so easy as it requires a lot of practices, with no luxury hiding in cave for meditation, rather opposite to find every moment and present as the way out. Shanti Doug, inspired, huge thanks.
My pleasure, thanks for commenting!
when a practicioner attains right view, i.e. seeing that grasping at the five aggregates creates existence and suffering, he avoids any deed that is rooted in greed, hate and delusion. He basically sees where the danger lies and stops planting seeds of new existence with his actions. Although a streamenterer does not necessarily do a great job at this. He might just relax surrounded by the danger but knowing the escape from it at the same time.
🙏😊
5:40 I think right view here refers to "right view with effluents, siding with merit, resulting in acquisitions" from MN 117 (Thanissaro translation) and not the noble right view. "Siding with merit" matches "bright results".
Yes, that could very well be.
Andrew Olendzski - "Karma includes (1) the decision to do something (2) the action carrying it out (3) what we make thereby, or the result of the action... (1) Intention is the leading edge of karma, (2) directing the activities of body, speech, and mind to act in ways that (3) accumulate, at its trailing edge, karmic formations or dispositions...
Our character, our personality, our very self, is viewed in Buddhist thought as a gallery of ossified karmic relics, the accumulated residue of earlier dynamic processes of intention and action." The phrase "gallery of ossified karmic relics" is probably my favorite way of thinking about the self.
Yes I think Andy's analysis probably comes from the abhidhamma.
Thanks Doug 😊 let the 'unskillful' comments pass by... like the minority thats usually noisy.
Your content is extremely helpful and beneficial for me and I'm sure also people in similar life circumstances.
💛
My pleasure, thanks for your comment. 🙏😊
Another enlightening video, Doug :). Thank you, as always, for your patient scrupulousness. The world will always need an accessible infrastructure of practical wisdom - and, at least a few of us, the kind of philosophy that enlivens and enriches a life well-contemplated.
My pleasure, glad you are enjoying the videos. 🙏
Thanks Doug for another insightful talk on a very popular topic. The Karma is a pre-Buddhist upanishadic concept " good deeds lead to good results and bad deeds lead to bad results".
The lord Buddha further improved upon this and the Buddhist practice is mostly about challenging the karmic determinism. In spite of the actions committed earlier - How can this moment lead to freedom, wisdom, wholesome liberation? This is the Buddhist contribution to karma. Also the 4th category - understanding the subtle nuances of karma and doing action with a self less spirit or anatta and not getting restricted by the duality of Good - Bad kamma, rather experiencing the transcendence. Thanks again for the wise reflections. May all beings be wise, kind, happy & free.
Jai buddhashaasana 🙏
🙏😊
Moreover, Subhuti, when bodhisattvas give a gift, they should not be attached to a thing. When they give a gift, they should not be attached to anything at all. They should not be attached to a sight when they give a gift. Nor should they be attached to a sound, a smell, a taste, a touch, or a dharma when they give a gift. Thus, Subhuti, fearless bodhisattvas should give a gift without being attached to the perception of an object.
🙏
Thank you for this video! Going to be observed tomorrow by my supervisor as I work with a student. This video on kamma was a much-needed dose of motivation and advice I needed to succeed tomorrow.
Wonderful, best of luck!
Thank you Doug.
I had a thought about the last section of the video where you describe the Buddhas' position on non-dark/non-light Karma. Particularly how actions made with these sort of self dissolving intentions do not have the effect of generating good Karma to provide a better future result if one is born again. My initial thought about this was the it seems to be a pretty high risk/high reward choice to follow the spiritual path. I had assume many practicioners were at least somewhat motivated by getting a better future result. But then I thought, since most people presumably have neutral Karma, it's kind of a no risk/high reward situation. Either way your commentary has added depth to my understanding of why people practice, thanks again.
The Lady who lives downstairs from me has a dog . Cute little girl dog called Maya . Sometimes she goes mad barking , waking me up . I love it . Makes me giggle . Sweet heart .
😄
This teaching is both bright and dark. Thank you for your explanation of a much misunderstood concept. I am a Kadampa and therefore my understanding is slightly different. My life experiences as an alcoholic flavour my perception of the sutras. And even though I would not explain Karma to a general audience so in depth, I trust your wisdom and accept the kindness with which it is given. Om mani padme hum.
🙏😊
Thank you Doug!
My pleasure!
This reminds me of an article I once read on the web that there was a blind monk who was trampling ants to death on the path he was walking and the Buddha said to the sangha that the monk won't suffer negative karma because he was not intentionally killing the ants
This is one main distinction between Buddhist and Jain notions of ethics and karma.
@@DougsDharma I did read that unlike other Indian spiritual traditions, intention is a key part of karma in Buddhism
Yes, “It is intention I call karma.” (AN 6.63)
You rock doug
🙏😊
Thorough, elaborate, Doug's Dharma! It's just that simple! 😁🙏
Thanks so much xiao mao!
Interesting that the Buddha teached this kind of karmic action, it reminds me on the teachings from the Bhagavad Gita which state that one should act without being attached to the fruits of the action and without being attached to any bad results if they would occur.
Right, most likely the Gita was written with Buddhism in mind.
@@DougsDharma My Indian friend once told me that the Bhagavada-gita was the Brahmin's answer to Buddhist impersonalisms.
Thank you!
My pleasure!
Hi Doug,
First off, I would like to thank you as always for the terrific presentation of the material as I recently read about it and liked your interpretation of the 4 kinds of Khamma.
I would like to request a presentation regarding "kanhadhamma - dark dhamma" found in the Anguttara Nikāya book of 5's 79(9) Future Perils (3).
It would be nice to hear your take on this as I'm still learning quite a bit and I enjoy how you break down the early Buddhist texts and teachings.
Sadhu!🙏 Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hotu,
Samanera
Thanks for the suggestion! 🙏
Taking a quick look, the sutta you cite seems similar in many respects to one I dealt with in this video: How Should We Read Buddhist Texts? Early Advice
ruclips.net/video/QgNt_t4xY5c/видео.html
Thank you Doug. I have been contemplating about writing a paper and this video will be very useful.
I can explain the 4th type of Kamma.
Anything you intentionally do or do not do while following the path belongs to this category.
However, if your intention is to gain something good or avoiding a bad thing in the future is the reason that you doing it then that action is NOT part of the 4th category.
In short these are call kusals.
Right, though sila is kusala too even if done for one's own temporary benefit.
@@DougsDharma yes Sila are covered by step 3,4 and 5.
Kusal is the 4th type of Kamma.
Benefit can be only ‘walking the path’
Any other benefit is just a result not an intention. For example jhanas gives enormous happiness …. Get refined (less conditions) as we go up to higher jhanas. It is a result and if someone doing jhana meditation for this purpose he/she will be stuck at 6th and 7th fetters. 🙏🙏
10:55 Perhaps enlightened action is empty of karma because there is no "ego" doing it, and from this perspective of "empty phenomena rolling on" the karma being "done by others" are empty as well. In a sort of Dzogchen/Heart Sutra reading there's a lesson which isn't contradictory, but explaining a process, a before and after. In a play there is karma/action on the stage, but if the actors forget then it goes from a quality of playing to suffering. The awakened person remembers it is a game, theater or Lila- and empty. From this perspective all the other actors attachments are simply due to a kind of forgetting, and their true nature is empty.
Right, it's action that doesn't come through ego-grasping.
I always got the sense that there is a "shoot for the moon" theme here. Particularly when thinking of the karmic results or rebirth with the brahmavihara or the formless attainments. A non-returner, in my understanding, is reborn in a heavenly realm. So presumably destroyed dark karma and/or attained bright karma. And this seems to lead closer to nirvana. Which always confused me a bit, since it is also said that the human realm was ideal for attaining right view of dukkha...
I also always thought the fourth karma was understood as "that which destroys karma"? Tho that might be something I picked up from a later tradition.
Interesting, yes it might be from a later tradition or a different sutta. 🙏
@@DougsDharmaIn case you are interested: I tried to find a source for my wording and only really came up with a paper "Karmic Retribution in Theravada Buddhism" by Frédéric Richard. An interesting read for a novice like me. :) Richard seems to lean towards a Sanskrit terminology, so I wonder if "cessation" might more commonly be translated as "destruction" when translated from Sanskrit, given the use/context in Vedic traditions?
I wonder if bright actions with bright results could be viewed in terms of attachment? That is to say, one could even perform good deeds with pure-hearted intent, but still do so in a deluded way. For example, an excessive fixation on material equality (things like money and access to resources) or fear of painful outcomes from bad karma could be seen as kind-hearted intentions that still increase one’s attachment to material things.
Right, if the action is done with attachment then it is either bright or dark. If it is done to end attachment then it is neither.
Sir is it possible to adequately understand karma without reference to rebirth? Thank you Sir.
Karma and rebirth is inextricably link when you learn about dependent origination.
I don't know if this helps but sort of from a more secular sounding perspective I would say that the people who were born in the generations before us even though who were born long before in some way or form effect our lives now and whenever you do things in your own life time you should sort of stop and think of whether or not the actions you perform now are going to create a world which other people would want to live in or whether or not the things you do right now would create a world which you would want to live in assuming that you possibly had to deal with the type of world which you created during your current life later.
With each moment of thought, you are reborn in one of the six realms of existence.
One moment you are happy and proud, you are in heaven.
Then you are jealous and stingy, you are in the titan realm.
After that you are stupid and heedless, you are in the beast realm.
Then you are afraid and angry, you are in hell.
Next you are craving and in despair, you are a hungry ghost.
Now you are preoccupied with worldly things, you are in the human realm.
Round and round you go...
The way i understand it is that it just means cause and effects. The nitty gritty of that are near impossible to work out, chaos theory and all. The budda even names "“The [precise working out of the] results of kamma . . ." as one of the four imponderables.
@@jona8659 nothing causes anything to happen,cause and effect is an elaborate thought construct,like time.
4th Karma, without intention wanting good or bad, but the results of the action.
Hello Mr dough you are doing great no matter how subscriber is there is less knowledgeable person in the world also dhammapada have this words
🙏😊
I don't think a day goes by that I don't see people I know, flattering their own egos 😁. On the other hand, there is a phenomenon known as Compassion fatigue, common in mental health workers, which can lead to serious problems. Interestingly, one of the recommended coping strategies is mindfulness. 🙏
Great point. I did an earlier video on compassion vs. empathy, I think empathy fatigue can be more of a problem: ruclips.net/video/FVpdon6YErY/видео.html
In Buddhism, there are four types of karmic actions and their results: dark actions with dark results, bright actions with bright results, mixed dark and bright actions with mixed results, and actions that are neither dark nor bright with neither dark nor bright results. The last type means that there is no karmic formation, or 0% karmic formation. This happens when there is no ignorance or clinging involved. According to the Law of Dependent Origination, ignorance leads to mental formations, and clinging leads to becoming. But if there is no ignorance and no clinging, then there is no karmic formation, and the result is the cessation of suffering (Nirvana).
As far as my concerned,
the eightfold path(neither-dark- nor bright actions without inention) leading to neither- dark- nor bright results (Nibbana).
Buddha says " It is intention or volition that I call Karma".
1). Dark actions (with intention or Karma)
2). Bright actions (with intention or Karma)
3). Mixed Dark and Bright actions (with intention or Karma)
On the other hand,
4). neither- dark- nor bright actions ( 8 fold path - there is no intention) leadind to Nibbana. Because the noble eightfold path must abandon those 1,2,3 actions(volitional formations) and also ignorance.
Buddha says"This noble eightfold path is the way leading to the cessation of Kamma". AN.6. 69-9.
What about donating money with the desire the help the people you are donating to? Which category would that fall under in your understanding? Thank you for a great video.
If its being donated with no other intention but to help others it would be an end of karma action. If you donate to feel like a good person then you experience the bright result of feeling good about yourself which reinforces the ego.
“I am good because I donated, as opposed to those who didn’t”
Or
“I am better after donating than I was before I donated”
@@RubberJunk1 excellent answer!
@@marka2188 Doing actions with no content of Kusala (wholesome) and Akusala (uwholeseome) is Kariya (functional). Karyia doesn't generate any Kamma. Only in the mind of the Buddhas and Arahats (fully enlightened people), kariya arises.
Both bright and dark karma at the same time is consistent with quantum mechanics which suggests that, for instance, an electron can be a wave and a particle at the same time or a particle can be two places at the same time. Whether it is a wave or a particle and either here or there is only resolved when an "observation" takes place. This is the Copenhagen interpretation of QM and is not without its opponents. However, starting from that point it seems like our "intent" in doing, speaking or thinking what we do, is important. Even a good intent, like working toward enlightenment, can be dark in that it is just another form of desire and attachment. Of course "intent" gets into the the whole idea of "free will" which is a whole other kettle of fish!
From my understanding, some right action and right view leading to good karma while practicing eight fold path doesn’t lead to good karma mean that there are different right actions for different desired results. Eg, doctor giving right medicine for right disease. for the first part, some people do good deeds not to achieve nirvana but to have better life. For the right view part, it is about knowing what is good things that lead to good karma. For the second part, People see the world as it is (as dukkha, as unsatisfactory, as non-self) and it no longer matters for them to have wealth or power. every one of their right action is to escape samsara and to achieve nirvana. For that karma part, buddha isn’t unique when explaining about karma which mean good view about good karma isn’t just Buddhist view while understanding of noble truths and eight fold path is unique to Buddhism. My understanding comes from my native country, where lay people focus more on practices that brings good karma than the practices that lead nirvana and people usually differentiate between things lead to good karma (လောကီ) and things lead to nirvana (လောကုတ္တရာ). Sorry that I don’t know the translation of those words in english. As always, Thanks for sharing your view on dharma. Listening to your videos makes me feel at ease like listening to monks from my native country, Myanmar.
Yes, thank you. 🙏😊
One thing I thought about recently is that Karma as described by the Buddha is inherently unfair. Why should I suffer now, because of actions did in my previous life? After all, it is not "really" me who did those actions, but a past self that I, as the way I exist now, have nothing to do with. Similarly, why should I suffer in my next live for what I do now? My existence in the next life has nothing to do with me now, as I don't even "really" exist and everything that makes "me" is impermanent and not transferred into the next life (anatman).
I think Buddhism say otherwise, that is your 'this life' is an extension of your past life. Even though you may not be the same in the place you were born before, the way you look like etc, On the basis of rebirth you carry the same seeds of kamma, good and/or bad continuously till you realise the true nature of our existence that is nibbana. And that is how I see it. I am not an expert in Buddha dhamma, only new to this, yet fascinate me.
Not realizing the true meaning of Kamma and Kamma-vipaka is the issue here.
Don’t worry about previous life. Follow Buddha’s advice to follow the right step path.
And use this video to connect Kamma with the path.
You tomorrow is different from you yesterday, but both are considered the same person when it comes to moral/karmic reward, because they are both so tightly causally integrated.
@@DougsDharma Exactly :) That is were my problem lies with rebirth, as I am very different from my past life (as all five aggregates are not transfered with rebirth). So me dealing with the Karma seeds (vipaka) from previous lifes seems unfair, as there is nothing but karma that connects me to that previous person. I guess a more philosophical question would be "what if a murderer has sudden amnesia and lost his entire memory and personality, should he still be in prison for life if his new personality is inherently peaceful?". I dont know the answer, just something I am thinking about :)
Yes well this is why I leave questions of literal rebirth to one side in my practice. What matters is this life.
Reminds me of Angulimala when he's able to break the wheel of life. 🤔
Yes, maybe so!
when the mind is in a perfectly neutral state, karma is neutral.
Kamma is intention and the action that stems from it; It indeed means Action, but not any action; Only action afflicted by ignorance, greed and hate is Kamma.
Obviously, there can be no "good/bright kamma" when *all* kamma is afflicted, just like how there can be no clean hands if they is washed in dirty water.
Kamma heats up the mind, and hot mind, like a hot tea pot, is difficult to handle. Dukkha is this difficulty - a result of a hot mind. Cool mind is nibbana, as nibbana literally means "coolness". When a mind is cool it is a nibbana mind. And yes, every time our minds are cool, we are experiencing a temporary nibbana!
Let's say, the mind is like a pot; "Bright kamma" is like a wholesome meal; "Dark kamma" is like junk food. Whether we are preparing a wholesome meal or junk food, what happens to the pot? It heats up regardless of what we're cooking. In exactly the same way, whether we think/speak/do bright or dark deeds is irrelevant to the mind - it will heat up anyways for there is fire (afflictions) underneath it; and hot mind is dukkha mind.
So to conclude: there are no 4 types of kamma. There are 2 traditional types common to all religions - doing good brings you good, doing bad doesn't. And there's the third type, discovered by the Buddha: kamma stemming from the *Right Intention* to eliminate both "good" and "bad" kamma. It is still kamma because the mind is still afflicted, but is neither good nor bad as the intention behind it is neither good nor bad. Actions of enlightened, awakened beings are called Kiriya, as they do not produce Kamma. Fruits of Kiriya are called Patikiriya - reaction (and not Vipaka). Kiriya does not cause Dukkha.
No 4 is for the Buddha & Arahats who have no Kamma at all, They totally cut off Kamma..
🙏
What about SOCIAL COLLECTIVE, or society-group Karma? It has been said that a nation of people truly only get the leaders-rulers that they deserve, for good or for bad. A Tibetan Buddhist devotee once told me, that because of certain abusive and corrupt behaviors perpetuated by many Tibetan Lamas against their own people for over centuries of time, ... all the incense, prayer wheels, prayer flags, prostrations, and liturgical worshipping, etc, could not stop the steamrollers of dark (Chinese Army invasions) karma from smashing down the monasteries and causing a huge wave of cultural eviction. Karma seems to be an impersonal universal law with incredible super-powers that can not be appeased! (Do you think this view is correct?)
In early Buddhism karma was always personal: it depended upon the intentions of the individual person, not upon societies or groups. Though I believe that changed in some later Buddhism.
If you have enough information to know whole world how buddhism was destroyed and decline in india please do some effort on this for more information I can help you
I have a video on that topic. 🙏
Hi Doug. Interesting topic. I have come across a similar explanation in the Bhagavad Gita. (I'm going to paraphrase) Lord Krishna explains that karma binds one to samsara because we are attached to fruits of our actions. There is good karma whereby a person can earn a place in a higher realm and bad karma where a person can end up in a lower realm. The way to liberation is not by giving up action and not doing anything, but by doing one's actions (or duty) and surrendering the fruits of those actions. In this way one does no accumulate karma.
Hi!
I agree, there's a partial similitude between those two concepts.
However, I think the main two differences between them are:
a) The concept of duty in the BG seems to be related to fulfilling one's role in society according to the caste system. You could even kill some else, but as long as you fulfill your expected duty, and as long as you give the "fruits" of your actions to Krishna, everything else will be ok.
b) In buddhism, there's not an endorsement of the caste in this way, and there's no sense of divine duty. The focus is set, instead, on suffering and rebirth, and you end both by following the Eightfold Path, which includes non-violent intention. And I think the Buddha would not consider the possibility of murdering one's family members without violent intentions.
Yes I believe the Bhagavad Gita was composed with Buddhism in mind.
ruclips.net/video/TtDG6ljhGkg/видео.html
Stayanarayan goenka
Dhamm speech in English video
Karma is:
- My boyfriend
- A god
-The breeze in my hair on the weekend
- A relaxing thought
A cat purring in my lap cause it loved me
🙏😊
Generosity for the sake of fame is ego driven & reflecting wrong view, generosity with the aim of getting rid of grasping is giving generously with a desire to get rid of grasping therefore also not really reflecting right view as it contains "desire". Generosity without any attachment or expectation of any particular outcome would be right view as I understand the teaching.
To my knowledge the Buddha never condemns generosity of any sort; generous actions provide good karma. See for example: suttacentral.net/an7.52/en/sujato . Selfless generosity is the best kind however.
Are you going to make a video on rebirth and reincarnation? Please consider these questions
What does Buddha mean by rebirth?
Is it the arising and extinguishment of the self every moment due to mental processes?
Or is it the rebirth/reincarnation into another body after death?
Does Buddha anywhere mention such thing?
What happens after death, is it the complete annihilation?
And your thoughts on Tibetan Buddhism and the belief of reincarnation (is it different than what Buddha taught?)
Vicky as we are a process of becoming,there isn't anything that we can definitively be said to be.
I have a couple of related videos: ruclips.net/video/83ycWNSnjC0/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/aBZNU-Vigz0/видео.html
@@DougsDharma Thank you so much.
shakespeare on karma?tis better vile then to be vile esteemed.
Bugs barma
Sometimes I wonder if people making these videos are just regurgitating old texts or have had an actual personal enlightening experience. The former is pretty much useless, and the latter cannot be conveyed in language (or even thought, for that matter). Quite the conundrum.
In that case, why watch?
@@DougsDharma Good point.
interesting video.
Please refrain from the clickbait title cards. It really cheapens the channel.