Four Types of Karma
Positive
- results in positive effects within samsara
- liberates from suffering
Negative
- results in negative effects within samsara
- perpetuates and increases suffering
Throwing
- directly causes rebirth into a specific realm or state
- causes rebirth as a human with either great fortune or vast suffering
Completing
- produces effects similar to the action
- repetition of similar actions in the future
- becoming the object of similar actions by others
- rebirth in beneficial or hostile environments
- produces environmental effects
Four Necessary Factors
Intention
- strength of the motivation (positive or negative)
Object
- the more important the object, the stronger the karma
Action
- the method of action (skilful or unskillful)
- type of harm or benefit inflicted
- in descending order of harm: wrong views, malice, avarice, killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, slandering, abusing, gossiping;
- in ascending order of benefit: good wishes, beneficial acts
- frequency: repetition increases power and effect
Satisfaction
- positive karma is strengthened by
- rejoicing in positive actions
- absence of regret
- negative karma is strengthened by
- rejoicing in negative actions
- absence of scruples and shame
Four Protections
Avoiding: guarding against the arising of new unwholesome thoughts
Overcoming: if unwholesome thoughts arise, striving for equanimity
Developing: cultivating wholesome thoughts and actions not yet arisen
Maintaining: cultivating the Three Harvests
- Personal Benefit: reduction or cessation of individual suffering
- Proximate Benefit: reduction of suffering among proximate beings
- Great Benefit: reduction or cessation of suffering for all beings
Four Remedies to Purify Negative Karma
Regret: realizing that negative actions are harmful, like drinking poison
Reliance: realizing that negative actions are the result of not heeding the instructions of the Three Jewels, and going to Them for refuge
Resolve: firm determination to avoid repeating negative actions
Reparation: (1) invoking the Buddhas; (2) reciting purification prayers or mantras; (3) reciting relevant scriptures; (4) meditating on Ultimate Reality; (5) making actual and imagined offerings to the Three Jewels; (6) sponsoring or engaging in the production or distribution of representations of the Three Jewels
Can you explain “throwing” karma? I have not heard this term and do not understand what it signifies.
“Throwing karma” is what determines the realm in which we are reborn, while “Completing karma” determines the conditions of that life. As an example, Throwing karma is like purchasing a ticket to visit Paris, while Completing karma is like making arrangements for your stay (accommodations, activities, etc.).
I am used to thinking of karma in terms of actions, both personal and collective. This seems like another category, which is neither personal nor collective.
It is precisely action. What is being categorized is the type of consequence, or result. Just like when pointing to a particular bush or tree, we might refer to it by the name of its fruit or flower (although it is neither fruit nor flower, but bush or tree), we refer to types of karma according to their result.
I think I see — these are karmic terms describing the causations/results of a particular rebirth — but how are these terms helpful? Why not simply say rebirth is the result of previous karma? Is it to emphasize the utter importance of mindful behavior?
We can go into specifics at greater length at another time. For now, let’s just say that there are actions (both positive and negative) that have sufficient power to determine one’s next rebirth realm, as for example the 5 acts of immediate retribution:
1.killing one’s father
2.killing one’s mother
3.killing an arhat or Bodhisattva
4.maliciously drawing blood from the body of a Buddha
5.creating a schism in the Sangha
Regardless of the karmic ‘balance’, these five acts constitute Throwing karma for rebirth in the hell realms.
By the same token, an act of great sacrifice (dying to save or protect another, for example) may constitute Throwing karma for rebirth in the god realms.
The rest of that individual’s karma would modify the environment and conditions of rebirth, but would not change the realm. Thus, it would be Completing karma.
You are correct that this teaching emphasizes the importance of mindful behavior, because a very positive karma (on balance) does not guarantee a good rebirth if one commits an act of immediate retribution (immmediate means the very next birth). And an act of great merit can produce a good rebirth for an individual with a negative karmic balance.
Gracias, Tashi la!
Reblogged this on Gr8fullsoul.