2025-11-19
MN 98: Kamma is a law of nature, not a convention
Kamma-niyāma is a type of dhamma-niyāma, general law of cause and effect. Human-made laws
and social criteria are called sammati-niyāma, 'conventional law'.
Kammunā vattati loko, / kammunā vattati pajā;
Kammanibandhanā sattā, / rathassāṇīva yāyato. (MN 98)
| vattati 1 | (pr) proceeds; continues; goes forward; practices [vatta + ti] pr |
| pajā 2 | (fem) people; population; generation; mankind [pa + √jan + ā] fem, abstr, from pajāyati |
| nibandhana 1 | (nt) binding; fastening; tying down [ni + bandha + ana] nt, act, from nibandhati |
| rathassāṇi | (fem) lynchpin of a chariot [rathassa + āṇi] fem, comp |
| yāyanta | (prp) going; moving forward; proceeding; travelling [yāya + nta] prp of yāyati |
AN 6.63: Intention is called kamma
Kammaṁ, bhikkhave, veditabbaṁ ...pe... kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā veditabbāti,
iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Cetanāhaṁ, bhikkhave, kammaṁ vadāmi.
Cetayitvā kammaṁ karoti --- kāyena vācāya manasā.
| veditabba | (ptp) can be known (by); should be understood (by) [vede + itabba] ptp of vedeti |
| panetaṁ | (sandhi) and this; but this [pana + etaṁ] sandhi, ind + pron |
| vutta 2.1 | (pp) said; told; spoken; mentioned [√vac > vuc + ta] pp of vacati |
| kiñcetaṁ | (sandhi) and what this? [kiṁ + ca + etaṁ] sandhi, pron + ind + pron, interr |
| paṭicca 1 | (ger) dependent; depending (on); because (of); on account (of); [pati + √i + tya] ger of pacceti |
| cetanāhaṁ | (sandhi) I (say) intention; I (say) volition [cetanā + ahaṁ] sandhi, fem + pron |
| vadāmi | (pr) I say; I speak; I tell [vada + āmi] pr 1st sg of vadati |
| cetayitvā | (abs) having willed; having intended [cetaya + itvā] abs of cetayati |
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, kammānaṁ nidānasambhavo? Phasso, bhikkhave, kammānaṁ nidānasambhavo.
Katamā ca, bhikkhave, kammānaṁ vemattatā? Atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ nirayavedanīyaṁ,
atthi kammaṁ tiracchānayonivedanīyaṁ, atthi kammaṁ pettivisayavedanīyaṁ,
atthi kammaṁ manussalokavedanīyaṁ, atthi kammaṁ devalokavedanīyaṁ.
Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammānaṁ vemattatā.
| katama | (pron) what?; which (of the many)? [ka + tama] pron, interr, from ka |
| nidānasambhava | (masc) primary cause (of); origin of the reason (for) [nidāna + sambhava] |
| vemattatā | (fem) difference (between); diversity; spectrum [vematta + tā] fem, abstr, from vematta |
| niraya | (masc) hell; hell realm [nir + √i > ay + *a] masc, from aya |
| vedanīya 1 | (ptp) could be felt; experienceable; tangible [√vid > ved + *anīya] ptp of vedeti |
| tiracchānayoni | (fem) animal realm; animal birth [tiracchāna + yoni] fem, comp |
| pettivisaya | (masc) ghost realm; realm of the ancestors [petti + visaya] masc, comp |
| manussaloka | (masc) human world; world of men; human realm [manussa + loka] masc, comp |
| devaloka | (masc) heaven; world of gods; heavenly realm [deva + loka] masc, comp |
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, kammānaṁ vipāko? Tividhāhaṁ, bhikkhave, kammānaṁ vipākaṁ vadāmi ---
diṭṭheva dhamme, upapajje vā, apare vā pariyāye. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammānaṁ vipāko.Katamo ca, bhikkhave, kammanirodho? Phassanirodho, bhikkhave, kammanirodho.
Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā, seyyathidaṁ ---
sammādiṭṭhi ...pe... sammāsamādhi.
| vipāka 1 | (masc) (of an action) result; outcome; consequence; fruit [vi + √pac > pāk + *a] |
| tividha | (adj) three kinds of; three-fold; three-way [ti + vidha] adj, comp |
| diṭṭheva | (sandhi) in this very [diṭṭhe + eva] sandhi, pp + ind |
| upapajja 1 | (adj) reborn; re-arisen [upa + √pad + ya] adj, from upapajjati |
| apara 1 | (adj) another; after; further; next [apa + ra] adj, from apa |
| pariyāya | (masc) order; succession; course; sequence [pari + [y] + √i > āy + *a] |
MN 9: Kusala-akusala, phassa
Katamañcāvuso, akusalamūlaṁ? Lobho akusalamūlaṁ, doso akusalamūlaṁ, moho akusalamūlaṁ. ...
Katamañcāvuso, kusalamūlaṁ? Alobho kusalamūlaṁ, adoso kusalamūlaṁ, amoho kusalamūlaṁ.... Cattārome, āvuso, āhārā bhūtānaṁ vā sattānaṁ ṭhitiyā, sambhavesīnaṁ vā anuggahāya. Katame cattāro?
Kabaḷīkāro āhāro oḷāriko vā sukhumo vā, phasso dutiyo, manosañcetanā tatiyā, viññāṇaṁ catutthaṁ.... Saḷāyatanasamudayā phassasamudayo, saḷāyatananirodhā phassanirodho,
ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo phassanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ...
| mūla 2 | (nt) source; origin; root [√mūl + a] nt |
| āhāra 1 | (masc) food (for); fuel (for); nutriment (for); [ā + √har > hār + *a] |
| bhūta 03 | (nt) being; living being; entity [√bhū + ta] nt, pp of bhavati |
| ṭhitiyā | (fem) for the continuity (of); for the endurance (of); [√ṭhā + ti + iyā] fem, dat sg of ṭhiti |
| sambhavesī | (adj) who is seeking birth [sambhava + esī] adj, comp |
| anuggaha 2.1 | (masc) support; help; assistance [anu + √gah + a] masc, from anuggaṇhāti |
| kabaḷīkāra | (adj) (of food) material; physical; edible [kabaḷa > kabaḷī + kāra] adj, comp |
| manosañcetanā | (fem) mental intention; mental volition; [mano + sañcetanā] fem, abstr, comp |
MN 57: Dark and bright deeds
Cattārimāni, puṇṇa, kammāni mayā sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā paveditāni. Katamāni cattāri?
Atthi, puṇṇa, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ; atthi, puṇṇa, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ;
atthi, puṇṇa, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ;
atthi, puṇṇa, kammaṁ akaṇhaṁ asukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ, kammakkhayāya saṁvattati.
| mayā | (pron) by me; with me pron, 1st instr sg of ahaṁ |
| sayaṁ | (ind) by one's own; oneself; one's own [saya + aṁ] ind, adv, from sa |
| abhiññā 1 | (fem) direct knowledge; higher understanding; [abhi + √ñā + ā] |
| sacchikatvā | (abs) having personally experienced; having realized for oneself [sacchi + katvā] |
| pavedita | (pp) taught; explained; proclaimed; made known [pa + vede + ita] pp of pavedeti |
| kaṇha 1 | (adj) dark; black adj |
| sukka 1 | (adj) pure; bright [√suc > suk + ra] adj |
| khaya | (masc) wearing away (of); exhaustion (of); destruction (of) [√khī > khay + *a] |
| saṁvattati | (pr) leads (to); results (in); causes [saṁ + vatta + ti] pr |
... Katamañca, puṇṇa, kammaṁ akaṇhaṁ asukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ, kammakkhayāya saṁvattati?
Tatra, puṇṇa, yamidaṁ kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ tassa pahānāya yā cetanā,
yamidaṁ kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ tassa pahānāya yā cetanā,
yamidaṁ kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ tassa pahānāya yā cetanā --- idaṁ vuccati, puṇṇa,
kammaṁ akaṇhaṁ asukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ, kammakkhayāya saṁvattatīti.
| tatra 2 | (ind) in that case; in that regard; in this connection [ta + tra] ind, adv, from ta |
| yamidaṁ | (sandhi) whichever; whatever [yaṁ + idaṁ] sandhi, pron + pron |
| tassa 2 | (pron) of that; his; its [ta + ssa] pron, masc & nt gen sg of ta |
| pahāna | (nt) giving up (of); letting go (of); abandoning (of) nt, act, from pajahati |
| ya 2.1 | (pron) whoever; whatever; whichever pron, base |
| cetanā | (fem) intending; willing [√cit > cet + *anā] fem, abstr, act, from ceteti |
| vuccati | (pr) is said to be; is called [vucca + ti] pr, pass of vacati |
MN 136: The time of results is not deterministic
One might commit unwholesome deeds, but earlier wholesome deeds might ripen sooner. However, the result of the unwholesome deeds will also be experienced when they ripen.
"In the case of the person who takes life... & holds wrong view (yet), with the breakup of the body, after death, reappears in a good destination, a heavenly world: Either earlier he performed fine action that is to be felt as pleasant, or later he performed fine action that is to be felt as pleasant, or at the time of death he adopted & carried out right view. Because of that, with the breakup of the body, after death, he reappears in a good destination, a heavenly world. But as for the results of taking life... holding wrong view, he will feel them either right here & now, or in the next (lifetime), or following that. (Aj Thanissaro)
AN 3.100: The result may manifest in varying strength, but of the same type
"Suppose a person was to drop a lump of salt into a mug of water. What do you think, mendicants? Would that mug of water become salty and undrinkable?"
"Yes, sir." "Why is that?" "Because there is only a little water in the bowl."
"Suppose a person was to drop a lump of salt into the Ganges river. What do you think, mendicants? Would the Ganges river become salty and undrinkable?"
"No, sir." "Why is that?" "Because the Ganges river is a vast mass of water."
"This is how it is in the case of an individual who does a trivial bad deed, but it lands them in hell. Meanwhile, another individual does the same trivial bad deed, but experiences it in this life, so that not even a little remains, let alone a lot." (Aj Sujato)
The arahant makes no new kamma
Kamma is the non-arahant's intentional action, performed with grasping and identification.
Intentional acts performed without grasping (upādāna) and I-making (ahaṁkāra) produce no new kamma.
ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo = kammanirodha = phassanirodha = nirupadhi (anupādāya) = bhavanirodha = nibbāna
'Akuppā me vimutti, ayamantimā jāti, natthi dāni punabbhavo'ti. (SN 56.11)
Bhikkhūnaṁ anupādāya āsavehi cittāni vimucciṁsū'ti. (SN 22.59)
Khīṇaṁ purāṇaṁ, navaṁ natthi sambhavaṁ, / Virattacittāyatike bhavasmiṁ; (Snp 2.1)
| akuppa 1 | (ptp) unshakeable; unwavering; unassailable [na > a + √kup + ya] ptp of na kuppati |
| ayamantimā | (sandhi) this is the last; this is the final [ayaṁ + antimā] sandhi, pron + adj |
| dāni | (ind) now; immediately [ima + dāni] ind, adv, from ima |
| punabbhava | (masc) renewed existence; rebirth; future life [puna + bhava] masc, abstr, comp |
| anupādāya | (ger) not holding (onto); not grasping (onto); not taking possession (of) [an + upādāya] |
| khīṇa 1 | (pp) consumed; spent; finished; exhausted; slowly destroyed [√khī + na] pp of khīyati |
| purāṇa 1 | (adj) previous; former; old [pura + aṇa] adj, from pura |
| nava 1.1 | (adj) new; fresh adj |
| sambhava 1 | (masc) birth; origin; source (of) [saṁ + √bhū > bhav + *a] masc, from sambhavati |
| ratta 3.1 | (pp) infatuated (with); enamoured (with); inflamed (with) [√raj + ta] |
| virattacitta | (masc) mind free from desire (for); [viratta + citta] masc, comp |
| āyatika 1 | (adj) upcoming; future [āyati + ka] adj, from āyati |
"Ayoghanahatasseva jalato jātavedaso;
Anupubbūpasantassa yathā na ñāyate gati.
Evaṁ sammāvimuttānaṁ kāmabandhoghatārinaṁ;
Paññāpetuṁ gati natthi pattānaṁ acalaṁ sukhan"ti. (Ud 8.10)
| ayo | (masc) iron masc, in comps, mano group, from ayas |
| ghana 1.2 | (masc) mass; lump masc |
| hata 1 | (pp) beaten (by); struck (by); thrashed (by) [√han + ta] pp of hanati |
| jalanta 1 | (prp) burning; blazing [jala + nta] prp of jalati |
| jātavedas | (masc) fire [jāta + vedas] masc, comp, mano group |
| anupubba | (adj) gradual; step-by-step; successive [anu + pubba] adj, from pubba |
| upasanta 1 | (pp) calmed; cooled; composed; still; calm; at peace; tranquil [upa + √sam + ta] |
| yathā 1 | (ind) like; as; [ya + thā] ind, adv, from ya |
| ñāyati 1 | (pr) is known; is evident; is perceived [ñāya + ti] pr, pass of jānāti |
| gati 2 | (fem) path; course; destination; destiny [√gam + ti] fem, abstr, from gacchati |
| sammāvimutta | (adj) correctly liberated; rightly emancipated [sammā + vimutta] adj, comp |
| kāma 3 | (masc) sense desire (of); sensual pleasure (of) [√kam > kām + *a] masc, from kāmeti |
| bandha 1 | (masc) rope; bond; fetter [√bandh + a] masc, from bandhati |
| ogha 1 | (masc) (of water) flood; deluge; torrent masc |
| oghatara | (adj) who has crossed the flood; overcome the torrent [ogha + tara] adj, comp |
| paññāpetuṁ | (inf) to define; to delineate; to describe [pa + ñāpe + tuṁ] inf of paññāpeti |
| patta 3.1 | (pp) reached; attained; gained; accomplished; found [pa + √ap + ta] pp of pāpuṇāti |
| acala 1 | (adj) unshakeable; immobile; stationary; stable [na > a + √cal + a] adj, from na calati |
| sukha 2 | (nt) ease; comfort; happiness; pleasure; contentment [√sukh + a] nt, abstr |
Further Reading
Discussion on 2025-04-03: SN 36.21 Sīvakasutta, Not everything experienced is the result of kamma
Questions on Kamma (2000) by Bhikkhu Bodhi
The arahant, the liberated one, does not generate any more kamma. He continues to act and perform volitional actions, but without clinging. Hence his actions no longer constitute kamma. They don't leave any imprints upon the mind. They don't have the potency of ripening in the future to bring about rebirth.
Buddhadhamma - Chapter 5. The Law of Kamma (2021) by P. A. Payutto
The Buddha's Teaching - Its Essential Meaning (1969) by R.G. de S. Wettimuny, Chapter 5. Kamma