The Wheel of Life

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The Wheel of Life

• Samsara

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Kamma

• Kamma P (Karma) S
• Samsara cycle of birth, death and rebirth
• Fuelled by the three poisons
• The three poisons affect our thoughts, thoughts
  affect our actions
• Actions affect rebirth
• If actions are motivated by greed, hatred and
  ignorance they will have negative or bad karmic
  consequences for us
• Kamma literally means action

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The Law of Kamma

• Some of our action are motivated by negative
  emotions
• The intention behind the action will create good
  or bad kamma
• All intentional actions have consequences
• The Law of Kamma is a natural law of cause and
  effect, it is the law of cause and effect
  related to intentional action
• Thoughts lead to actions, actions lead to
  consequences
• Kamma affects rebirth
• Good actions with good intentions lead to a
  better rebirth
• Bad actions with bad intentions lead to poorer
  rebirths

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Good/Bad action

• Kamma can be either good or bad
• The consequences of our actions may not follow
  immediately
• Kamma accumulates through this life and is
  carried over to he next rebirth
• Kamma from previous lives is also added
• An action performed with a bad intention in a
  previous life may be experienced in this life

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Skilful/Unskilful Action

• Buddhists talk about skilful and unskilful
  actions
• Skilful actions lead to enlightenment and are
  free from the effects of the three poisons
• Skilful actions are motivated by wisdom and
  compassion
• Unskilful actions bind the unenlightened to
  Samsaric rebirth
• Intentions carry consequences doing something
  accidentally carries little or no karmic
  consequences
• HOWEVER!!!!!

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Merit

• Good merit can be achieved by helping the
  monastic community
• Giving alms to monks
• Helping with manual tasks
• Listening to teachings
• Volunteering at an orphanage

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Kamma and Control

• Kamma is not a punishment for wrong
• There is no God administering justice
• Our own chosen actions affect our kamma
• Kamma is a sign that sentient beings are in
  control of their own rebirth
• According to the law of kamma, we are masters of
  our own destiny
• We have a choice, the choice will effect rebirth
  for a Buddhist