Summary of Kamma

• Kamma means action

• Natural law – so not decided by a god

• If you behave in a certain way with certain intentions then results will follow.

• Benefits - Spreads goodness into society & keeps three poisons under control

• Disadvantages – Difficult to always be in control & difficult for those who don’t understand Kamma.

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sadfasand Unskilful Actions

Skilful

Skilful actions are good actions and unskilful actions are bad actions. But does it mean anything else to say they are skilful? Yes

Buddhism doesn’t have many set ‘rules’ of behaviour. Buddhism relies on each of us to adapt to our current circumstances in order to do the right thing. This may even mean disobeying the one of the few rules that there are.

The effect of this is that the same action could be right for one person, but not right for another.

When you perform any action you must take 3 things in to consideration.

The Intentions

The Consequences

The Appropriateness

We will look at each of these in turn

But first have a look at this

The IntentionsPut simply, an action is wrong if the intentions (the reason for doing it) of the person are based on one of the three root poisons. The name for these is Akusala.

The Intentions

A good action is one that is based on one of the three good roots. These are choices based on:

1. Non-attachment

2. Understanding

3. Kindness

The name for these is Kusala.

The Consequences

Sometimes, even if we have good intentions, we still do the wrong thing as we didn’t think about what consequences could occur. Driving your friend home to make sure they get back safely would be a good intention. But if you were drunk and crashed, your good intentions would not mean it was good. It was bad as you didn’t think you’re action through.

The AppropriatenessWe have to consider what type of person we are and what the situation is before we perform an action. If I know that eating lots of sweets makes me hyper and easily distracted then it might not be a good idea to eat them at lunch before RMPS.

However, those same sweets might not have an effect on another person, so it would not be a bad action for them.

Here’s another example

According to Buddhists it is wrong to lie. But suppose I’m sick with a serious illness, I might not want to worry my 5 year old son about it, as I know he wouldn’t really understand and it would only make him feel sad. In this situation the right thing to do is to lie.

Write down your own example of a Skilful and an Unskilful action

Draw three pictures which show what Buddhists mean by good intentions, consequences and appropriateness.

Work in twos/threes.Think of a skilful action. Mime it to the rest of the group - they guess it.

Skilful Actions Lead to Good Kamma

Skilful or Unskilful actions therefore have kammic consequences. The kamma you’ve built up will affect future re-births. And your life is affected by the kamma of previous births.

Good kamma can then progress you towards the ultimate goal of attaining Nibbana. This is why Skilful actions are important to Buddhists.

On the next slide there are eight different actions.

For each example identify the intentions, appropriateness and the consequences.

Eg. Making my girlfriend a cup of tea

IntentionMake my girlfriend happyAppropriatenessShe needs a cuppaConsequencesAn easier life for me!!!

All good, so skilful action!!

1. Lying about your mate new (dodgy) haircut to save their feelings

2. Stealing food to feed your starving family

3. Punching a mugger in the face to save an old lady

4. Stealing the answers to an exam to get the results you need for uni

6. Killing someone who is breaking into your house

5. Telling someone you love them to get sex

7. Illegally downloading films from the internet

8. The bombing of Hiroshima

Questions

‘Unskilful actions bind the unenlightened to samsara.’ What would a Buddhist mean by this? 4 KU

What is meant by the term ‘skilful action’?

4 KU