The present study aims to explore the direct causal link between
illness and kamma in the Tipit?aka and the At?t?hakath?. It is evidently found
that to understand the law of kamma one needs to take into account Buddhist
laws of conditionality, dependent origination, nature including factors which
affect kamma-vip?ka. In the Samyutta Nik?ya, the Buddha said those who
hold to the belief that kamma are always the cause hold wrong view.
Nonetheless, according to the Abhidhammathasangaha and the At?t?hakatha
kamma-vip?ka will be in effect when it meets all necessary conditions.
There are eight causes for physical diseases and kamma is one of
them. Diseases arise from the ripening of one’s kamma is not necessary
belong to that of the past. Kamma committed in present life can produced its
result in present lifetime. There are factors (sampatti or vipatti) that are
involved. Moreover, diseases of the body and mind have close relationships;
they affect and can be the cause of one another. While bodily disease can be
cured, mental disease is not finally cured until its root causes of greed, hatred
and ignorance are finally eliminated.
Kamma is therefore not predetermined or fatal. From the study
human has potentiality to change his own destiny through the cultivation of
right view. Prescriptions for illnesses, physical and spiritual, are provided by
the Buddha both to heal and to prevent.

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