Reply To: On Akusala Citta and Akusala Vipāka Citta

#51902
Lal
Keymaster

1. What kind of kamma one engages in is unrelated to kamma vipaka.

  • One could do an akusala kamma based on a good kamma vipaka. For example, suppose a poor person gets a hundred dollars as a gift. That is a good kamma vipaka. But that poor person could use that money to buy a gun and shoot his enemy.   

2. Kamma generation must not be attached to a kamma vipaka.

  • In the “Nibbedhika Sutta (AN 6.63)“: “Cetanāhaṁ, bhikkhave, kammaṁ vadāmi. Cetayitvā kammaṁ karoti—kāyena vācāya manasā” OR “Bhikkhus, I say one does kamma with intention. One does a kamma via thoughts, speech, and body based on intention.”
  • That “word-by-word” translation does not convey the true meaning of the verse. A better translation (that provides the meaning is: “Bhikkhus, I say one does kamma with defiled intention. One does a kamma via defiled thoughts, speech, and body based on defiled intention.” 
  • Therefore, it is essential to note that “cetanā” is “sancetanā” or “with raga, dosa, moha in mind.” With a defiled mind, one engages in defiled actions, speech, and thoughts. 
  • See “What is “San”? Meaning of Sansara (or Samsara)

3. Therefore, the easiest way to assess whether a given kamma can bring a “bad vipaka” is to see whether that action, speech, or thought was based on greed, anger, or ignorance. 

4. Let us analyze your example. 

  • You wrote: “Let’s say in my country giving apples to people is an insult, and I intentionally give apples to other people to insult them.” In that case, you know you will insult someone if you give them apples. Thus, you know that person will be offended if you do it. So, it is a “bad kamma” on your part.
  • You will not receive apples in the future just because you gave apples to someone. 
  • Now, suppose you are in a different country where giving apples to people is NOT an insult. You see a hungry person and give them apples, expecting that will help quench their hunger. That is a good kamma. But the vipaka may not necessarily be to receive apples in the future. There will be a good vipaka corresponding to that good deed, but it does not have to be “receiving apples.”  

5. Arahants can experience both good and bad kamma vipaka until their physical body dies. 

  • But they will not do either good kamma or bad kamma (that can bring vipaka in the future.)
  • All their actions are categorized as “kriya” (or mere actions) that do not generate any kammic energy.
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