By Reason of Righteous Conduct

‘Master Gotama, what is the cause and condition why some beings here, on the dissolution of the body, after death, reappear in states without basic necessities, in an unhappy destination, in perdition, even in hell? And what is the cause and condition why some beings here, on the dissolution of the body, after death, reappear in a happy destination, even in the heavenly world?’

Householders, it is by reason of conduct not in accordance with The Teachings, by reason of unrighteous conduct that some beings here, on the dissolution of the body, after death, reappear in states without basic necessities, in an unhappy destination, in perdition, even in hell.

It is by reason of conduct in accordance with The Teachings, by reason of righteous conduct that some beings here, on the dissolution of the body, after death, reappear in a happy destination, even in the heavenly world.

‘We do not understand the detailed meaning of Master Gotama’s spoken words, which he has spoken in brief without explaining the detailed meaning. It would be good if Master Gotama would teach us The Teachings so that we might understand the detailed meaning of his spoken words.’

Then, Householders, listen and attend closely to what I shall say.

Householders, there are three kinds of bodily conduct not in accordance with The Teachings, unrighteous conduct. There are four kinds of verbal conduct not in accordance with The Teachings, unrighteous conduct. There are three kinds of mental conduct not in accordance with The Teachings, unrighteous conduct.

Householders, there are three kinds of bodily conduct in accordance with The Teachings, righteous conduct. There are four kinds of verbal conduct in accordance with The Teachings, righteous conduct. There are three kinds of mental conduct in accordance with The Teachings, righteous conduct.

(The detailed meaning at Chapter 14 - Ten Courses of Unwholesome Kamma (Deposited in Hell) and Chapter 45 - Ten Courses of Wholesome Kamma (Deposited in Heaven) of this book.)

If, Householders, one who observes conduct in accordance with The Teachings, righteous conduct, should have the objective: ‘Oh, that on the dissolution of the body, after death, I might reappear in the company of well‑to‑do nobles!’ it is possible that, on the dissolution of the body, after death, he will reappear in the company of well‑to‑do nobles.

Why is that?

Because he observes conduct that is in accordance with The Teachings, righteous conduct.

If, Householders, one who observes conduct in accordance with The Teachings, righteous conduct, should have the objective: ‘Oh, that on the dissolution of the body, after death, I might reappear in the company of well‑to‑do Brāhmins!’ … in the company of well‑to‑do Householders! … in the company of the gods of the heaven of The Four Great Kings! … in the company of the gods of the heaven of the Thirty‑three … the Yāma gods … the gods of the Tusita heaven … the gods who excite in creating … the gods who wield power over others’ creations … the gods of Brahmās company … the gods of Radiance … the gods of Limited Radiance… the gods of Immeasurable Radiance … the gods of Streaming Radiance … the gods of Glory … the gods of Limited Glory … the gods of Immeasurable Glory … the gods of Refulgent Glory… the gods of Great Fruit … the Aviha gods … the Atappa gods… the Sudassa gods … the Sudassī gods … the Akaniṭṭha gods … the gods of the base of infinite space… the gods of the base of infinite consciousness … the gods of the base of nothingness … the gods of the base of neither perception‑nor‑non‑perception!’ it is possible that on the dissolution of the body, after death, he will reappear in the company of the gods of the base of neither perception‑nor‑non-perception.

Why is that?

Because he observes conduct that is in accordance with The Teachings, righteous conduct.

If, Householders, one who observes conduct in accordance with The Teachings, righteous conduct, should have the objective: ‘Oh, that by realizing for myself with direct knowledge (experience) I might here and now enter upon and reside in the liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom that are taintless with the destruction of the taints!’ - it is possible that, by realizing for himself with direct knowledge (experience), he will here and now enter upon and reside in the liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom that are taintless with the destruction of the taints.

Why is that?

Because he observes conduct that is in accordance with The Teachings, righteous conduct.

(Reference: MN 41)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares what leads to rebirth in the realm of hell and what leads to rebirth in the heavenly realm.

It is one’s own decisions to either have unwholesome or wholesome conduct. It is our own decisions that lead to the results we experience in this life and, if needed, future lives.

There is no being that is judging us on the totality of our entire life to determine if we should permanently go to a bad place or a good place, but instead, it is our own decisions that determine the results we experience in this life or as we move through The Cycle of Rebirth. This is The Natural Law of Kamma.

Kamma, or The Natural Law of Kamma, refers to the fact that everything in life has a “cause and effect” or “action and result”. Essentially, our intentions, speech, and actions, wholesome or unwholesome, have an effect on us. One way to think of Kamma is that Kamma is “the results of our own decisions” or “the effects of our own decisions”.

You may have been exposed to the word “Karma” which is referring to the same natural law but using a different language. Karma is from the Sanskrit language while Kamma is from the Pāli language. The source of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings is in the Pāli language. Those who are learning and practicing these Teachings from The Pāli Canon, the most complete source of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings, will typically use the word “Kamma” instead of “Karma”.

All of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings center on the importance of “not doing any harm”. By doing harm to other beings, we do harm to ourselves because of The Natural Law of Kamma.

If we put out wholesome intentions, speech, and actions, wholesomeness will come back to us. With wholesome and pure intentions, speech, actions, and livelihood, we know that our life will be wholesome, calm, steady, and peaceful as we eliminate more and more attachments on our pursuit to Enlightenment.

Likewise, if our intentions, speech, actions, and livelihood are unwholesome, unwholesome things will come back to us. If we harm other beings, through our intentions, speech, actions, or livelihood, harm will return back to us.

Kamma is not necessarily instantaneous or immediate. It may not come back in exactly the same form we put it out in. For example, if we put calm, steady, kind, and polite waves into the world’s seas, that’s what will come back to us. Maybe not immediately, but over time we will see this steadiness and calmness come back to us.

Conversely, if we put out damaging and vicious waves into our world’s seas, then that is what will come back to us. Fierce, strong, and violent waters will create havoc and floods in our life. Kamma is not a system of rewards and punishments but instead a natural law of “cause and effect” or “action and results” - the results of our decisions.

Kamma does not need to be feared. The Natural Law of Kamma needs to be understood so that we can make wise choices in our life that lead to a more peaceful mind and a more peaceful existence for us individually and all of humanity.

There is no fear in these Teachings and there is no fear in Kamma.

The only one who fears Kamma is the person who does not understand The Natural Law of Kamma and is unable to make wise decisions that would lead to a more peaceful existence.

The more you learn and practice The Teachings of Gotama Buddha, the more awakened the mind will become to The Natural Law of Kamma and the better decisions one can make. This will result in a more peaceful existence to include a peaceful, calm, serene, and content mind with joy.

Gotama Buddha’s Teachings are guiding you in understanding this Natural Law of Kamma to awaken the mind to better life choices that lead to an improved existence.

Each person has 100% ability to make decisions in their life, these are personal choices. Based on the personal choices we make, the resulting effect will be experienced. This is our Kamma.

The Natural Law of Kamma is something that is talked about in modern society but oftentimes as a joke or said in passing. Kamma is sometimes thought to be a mystical or mysterious concept. However, Kamma is the governing factor of all things in life through “cause and effect” or “action and result”.

Kamma is the results or effects of our own decisions. It is a natural law that exists, and Gotama Buddha’s Teachings are awakening the mind to deeply understand this natural law, so that you can make good wholesome decisions to function peacefully in life. Through understanding The Natural Law of Kamma, you will make much better decisions in life and, thus, experience better results.

There is no one that governs this natural law or oversees its functioning. The Natural Law of Kamma just exists and it is absolutely one-hundred percent truth.

Examples of Kamma are:

1.) You murder someone and then you are put into jail. Your quality of life is impacted by becoming worse.

2.) You steal something and then you are put into jail and people steal from you. Your quality of life is impacted by becoming worse.

3.) You commit sexual misconduct having sexual contact with a person already involved in a relationship. This relationship is discovered, and the partner finds you and a verbal and/or physical attack transpires. Your quality of life is impacted by becoming worse.

4.) You are someone who speaks with false truth through lying, gossip, and slander. People cannot trust your words and you find it difficult to have relationships, conduct business, and people constantly lie to you. Your quality of life is impacted by becoming worse.

5.) You take substances becoming heedless and find yourself lacking concentration or mindfulness with the inability to focus on work, relationships, and everyday activities. Your quality of life is impacted by becoming worse.

When our intentions, speech, actions, and livelihood are pure without craving, anger, or ignorance (unknowing of true reality), we are creating wholesome Kamma for ourselves, thus, goodness will come back to us.

It is the goal of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to eliminate The Three Poisons (i.e. The Three Unwholesome Roots) of craving/greed, anger/hatred, and ignorance/delusion/unknowing of true reality realizing non-self and dissolving the ego to attain Enlightenment. This is the awakened mind that can be peaceful and co-exist with others peacefully.

Through eliminating these Three Poisons, one has eliminated all the unwholesome roots that create unwholesome Kamma, thus, Enlightenment will be attained. The more people who attain the mental state of Enlightenment, the more peaceful existence all of humanity will experience. Through everyone actively pursuing Enlightenment, the world will gradually become a more peaceful place to exist.

Always keep in mind that the goal of The Path to Enlightenment is to attain Enlightenment in this life and to not experience rebirth. But, if one does need to experience rebirth, as part of The Buddha’s Teachings, he is explaining how and why that occurs.

Detailed explanation of The Natural Law of Kamma is available in this same book series found in Chapter 9 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1) and the book “The Natural Law of Kamma” (Volume 6).