ABSTRACT

                      The thematic paper, “An Analytical Study of the Belief in Law of Kamma according to  Theravāda  Buddhism” had main purposes: (1) to studythe law of   Kamma  and its result according to teachings  in Theravāda Buddhism, and (2) to analyze a meaning, a type and a belief in the law of Kamma according to  Theravāda Buddhism. This was a qualitative research to collect all data from books, texts, Buddhist academic paper and related researches with the descriptive analysis.

                      A result of this study was found that the law of Kamma was action with intention to cause a result of that action. The word, ‘Kamma’ was general language without stressing on only goodness or badness. Some of Kamma produced a result in the present time but some of Kamma gave a result in the future when all proper factors came together. In Buddhism, there was a way to stop and cease it by training oneself in a way of Threefold Training: morality, concentration, and wisdom. All human beings ought to be conscious and get attempt to produce good action both in front of people and behind them. They ought to be afraid of badness and get continuously moral mind full of good action. Thus, Kamma was like a shadow following a person without any stop although he was free from all defilement because Kamma gave continuously a result through all times.  

                      The law of Kamma according to  was a process of living. If life was full of kindness, it caused the right to live in the Middle Way or Eightfold Noble Path that was really a way of ceasing the suffering. There were two ways of making people believe in the law of Kamma according to Theravāda   Buddhism : (1) Paratoghosa (external factors) such as associating with good, moral persons like a worthy man and the Buddha, and (2) Yonisomanasikara (internal factors) such as holding the honesty both in front of people’s eyes and behind them, fearing a result of badness, and getting the intention to produce continuously goodness. The belief in the law of Kamma according to Sammādhitthi was an important factor to live in the present time because it had great effect on a personal manner and thoughts. Thus, it was necessary to practice it continuously.

Download