The four kinds of kamma...

 (Please click on the figure to enlarge)

Kamma is the result of our will or intention.  We discussed before that we have no absolute free will. But we have a will. Therefore we can change our kamma.

Lets take an illustration and see how we make our kamma.

When a person sees an object the person can react or respond in four different ways (See the illustration in the figure above). In this example here it is the identical object comes to their visual field ("A", "B" and "C").

1. The person "A" may react in an unskilful way making "dark kamma" resulting in "dark results."
2. Person "B"  may react with "bright kamma" resulting in "bright result."
3. Their could be a person ("A" or "B" or both) with mix of "dark and bright kamma" resulting in mixed results ("dark and bright results").
4. Their is the person "C" is awakened (fully enlightened). This person may respond with kamma that ends kamma (extinguish kamma). This person knows this is a mere flow of Nama Dhamma arising and passing away in the individual's own mind. This is also will be last mental action at death resulting in no future births.  All the previous kamma dark or bright does not come to fruit. They end all their kamma with  the last kamma that ends kamma.  

The above illustration is for eye and object only. The exact same mechanism applies to other senses too, including mind and mind objects. At the time of death mostly mind and mind objects (memories retrieved) as discussed in the mind works model come into play. The awaked has no more taints and therefore flow of thoughts from the mind does not happen.  We have discussed this in detail a previous post on taints.

(Please click on the hyperlinked words or phrases to read the previous posts related to this topic if you wish).

Further reading from previous posts.

"... there are four kinds of kamma proclaimed by me after realization myself with direct knowledge.

What are the four?

1.There is dark kamma with dark ripening,

2. There is bright kamma with bright ripening,

3. There is dark-and-bright kamma with dark-and-bright ripening,

4. There is kamma that is not dark and not bright with neither-dark-nor-bright ripening that conduces to the exhaustion of kamma.

Kukkuravatika Sutta: The Dog-duty Ascetic

translated from the Pali by Ñanamoli Thera

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.057.nymo.html

The five aggregates: A "SELF" generating entity

Figure 1: The five aggregates

Figure 2:The five aggregates are arranged according to the sequence they are generated as shown in the mind works model (figure 3). The usual order in which the five aggregates are described in the literature is form, feeling, perception, mental formation (fabrication) and consciousness (figure 1).

"And why do you call them 'fabrications'? Because they fabricate fabricated things, thus they are called 'fabrications.' What do they fabricate as a fabricated thing? For the sake of form-ness, they fabricate form* as a fabricated thing. For the sake of feeling-ness, they fabricate feeling* as a fabricated thing. For the sake of perception-hood, they fabricate perception* as a fabricated thing. For the sake of fabrication-hood, they fabricate fabrication* as a fabricated thing. For the sake of consciousness-hood, they fabricate consciousness* as a fabricated thing. Because they fabricate fabricated things, they are called fabrications."

- "Khajjaniya Sutta: Chewed Up" (SN 22.79), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight, 29 June 2010,http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.079.than.html . Retrieved on 2 January 2012.

* The five aggregates

Here "sankara" (of the five aggregates) are translated as fabrications. In the Figure 1 & 2 above it is translated as mental formations. These are mainly "cetana" or intentions that consist of thoughts. The thoughts are responsible for regeneration maintenance of our current form (body). These thoughts direct us to maintain the form by feeding it with nutrients. Therefore mental formations or sankara have the ability to fabricate the form. The mental formations also can fabricate or regenerate more consciousness (mind-consciousness), feeling, perceptions and more mental formations (see Figure 3).

Figure 3: The basic mind works model

Not only in the present life, mental formations or thoughts are responsible for generation of future form in the rebirth process.

The six senses in the form generate consciousness dependent on the sense base (eye, ear...) and give rise to contact (Figure 3). The sequence of events that happen from here on are discussed in detail in the mind works model. This will give rise to further perception, feeling and in tun more thoughts (mental formations) in our present life as discussed before.

These thoughts (intentions) become our kamma for the next birth. The last thought will determine the rebirth-consciousness that will link with the next name-and-form and this is explained in the post on last thought and rebirth.

The main message in this post is mental formation is the key player in reconstructing or fabricating, form, feeling, perception, (more)mental formations and consciousness as a self perpetuating cycle. This process not only influence this life but also the next life.

A person or a being is basically a process or a "SELF" generating entity (please see the post on the anatomy of a being) of Rupa Dhamma (form/six senses) generating Nama Dhamma (feeling, perceptions, mental formations and consciousness or perceptions, feeling, mental formations, contact, attention as described in elsewhere). There is only clinging to a distorted perception of "SELF." There is no "person" or "SELF" in control. These Nama Dhammas constantly arise and pass away. The form that consists of the four elements (solid, liquid, heat, gas) will arise and pass away too just as the Nama Dhamma. This change in form or its existence is perceived by the mind (as a perception) and therefore this can be basically seen as a Nama Dhamma (please see the post on "The five aggregates: They are all activities of the mind)". Seeing this clearly as it happens in the present moment is the work of insight.

The last thought and rebirth: A possible mechanism

Figure 1: The basic Mind Works Model

The six senses in the form generate consciousness dependent on the sense base (eye, ear...) and give rise to contact (Figure 1). The sequence of events that happen from here on are discussed in detail in the mind works model. This will give rise to perceptions, feelings and thoughts (mental formations) in our present life as shown above. These perceptions, feelings and thoughts are influenced by our memories.

These thoughts (intentions) become our kamma for birth. The last thought will determine the rebirth-consciousness that will link with the next name-and-form and this is explained in the post, rebirth: how does it work?

When the present body dies, the six senses cease to exist. However the last contact from the senses (eye in this example) will keep generating throghts as shown in the video below. This suggests the mind can still be active when the body is clinically dead. Activity of the mind after clinical death is shown in scientific research published on Near Death experience (NDE). It is possible that one of these thoughts become the last thought. This thought will determine the last mind consciousness and that will become the rebirth-consciousness. The rebirth-consciousness will link with a new Name-and-Form and produce a rebirth or a new form (body). This body will hvae six senses and this process will go on (See Figure 2, Video).

Figure 2, Video

Is there free will or determinism ? The answer is neither

There is no absolute free will. But we have a will (intention).  The mind is like a random thought machine. Initial thoughts are triggered by our senses (for example; eye and object) are modified by our memories (see the post on cognitive series). Our likes, dislikes (feelings) and perceptions will modify our subsequent thought process (see the post on how the mind works). There is no self or a person in control of all these (see the post on the anatomy of a being). These are just the activities of the five aggregates (see the post on five aggregates). This creates a false sense of a self in control (see the post on personality view). This is just a process and therefore free will is not possible. There is now some scientific evidence* supporting this.

How about determinism? Everything does not depend on our Kamma (see the post on kamma). Kamma can be modified or extinguished (also see the post on how kamma works). There is no evidence that a God** is in control of our destiny either.

So we are deluded form the reality. The greed, hatred, delusion (ignorance) and fear put us off the tack from the path to awakening. The awaken one knows there is no self. This is just the work of the five aggregates. That's all. He knows that there is no self, no being or an external source in charge of him. He is fully mindful of all the thoughts as they arise and does not cling to a idea of permanent self. He knows for himself there is no permeant self by his own experience of internal investigation of the mind. He has the direct knowledge of the truth. This is the insight he gains through the practice of mindfulness meditation. There is no more ignorance, craving or even clinging. He is totally free and liberated within. There is no more birth for him.

** Related Discussions/Sutta:

1. "Buddhism and the God-idea", by Nyanaponika Thera. Access to Insight, 7 June 2010, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nyanaponika/godidea.html . Retrieved on 24 November 2011

2. "Tittha Sutta: Sectarians" (AN 3.61), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight, 3 July 2010,http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.061.than.html . Retrieved on 24 November 2011.

3. Tevijja Sutta (DN 13): Page 9-21 and 78-91; Basic Teachings of the Buddha by Glenn Wallis, 2007, Modern Library, NY

* Related links:

1. Is Neuroscience the Death of Free Will?

2 . Neuroscience vs philosophy: Taking aim at free will

3. 'Free Will Debate: Who’s in Charge?' by Michael Gazzaniga (review)

4. What Makes Free Will Free?

Reincarnation - Ian Stevenson - Children's past life memories

Scientific Evidence for Reincarnation by Dr Ian Stevenson

Life Before Life (featuring Dr. Jim B. Tucker)

Rebirth: How does it work? A model based on the dependent origination

These are two videos illustrating the mechanisms of rebirth and dependent origination using the mind works model.

Video 1

The first video (above) shows the cognitive series.* When we die the five senses cease to exist. However the last contact made from one of the five sense just before death can generate three more thoughts shown as secondary, tertiary and quaternary cognitive series (please see the video 1 above).

In the background of ignorance (see video 2 below) one of these mental formations (thoughts) can then become the last thought (rebirth/generative kamma) that determines the future consciousness (rebirth consciousness). The consciousness in turn will determine the name-and-form of the future birth.

The name-and-form together with consciousness in the new embryo will form the six senses and with birth this will continue the cycle all over again (also see video 2 below) ending up with old age, sickness and death. The second video below shows the 12 step dependent origination as described in the suttas.

Video 2

Here are the 12 step dependent origination as described in a sutta.

1. From ignorance as a requisite condition come mental formations (fabrications).

2. From Mental formations (fabrications) as a requisite condition comes consciousness.

3. From consciousness as a requisite condition comes name-&-form.

4. From name-&-form as a requisite condition come the six sense media.

5. From the six sense media as a requisite condition comes contact.

6. From contact as a requisite condition comes feeling.

7. From feeling as a requisite condition comes craving.

8. From craving as a requisite condition comes clinging/sustenance.

9. From clinging/sustenance as a requisite condition comes becoming.

10. From becoming as a requisite condition comes birth.

11. From birth as a requisite condition,

12. Then aging & death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair come into play.

Such is the origination of this entire mass of stress & suffering.

Paticca-samuppada-vibhanga Sutta: Analysis of Dependent Co-arising

translated from the Pali by

Thanissaro Bhikkhu

* Cognitive series is explained in the post below:

Are we really "multi tasking"or is it just another sophisticated function of the mind?

“Death seems to be not death any more. It is a continuity of consciousness”- Pim van Lommel, M.D. (part 1)

“Death seems to be not death any more. It is a continuity of consciousness”- Pim van Lommel, M.D. (part 2)