Sambodhi 2006 Vol 30

Author(s): J B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 82

76
RAMANATH PANDEY
SAMBODHI
independent then how can we perform sinful acts, if it all depends on fate, spontaneous acts or God or past acts then we are not independent. In Jātakamālā five concepts have been refuted : i) All are causeless, ii) all are controled by God, iii) all are dependent on past deeds, iv) there is no rebirth, and v) All should obey the caste based duties. Yet, we should not have faith in the independence of own neighbour. In Anguttaranikāya,' when a Bhikkhu observes someone committing the crime towards him then he thinks that this fellow who abuses him is the receiver of a portion of old deeds.55 The theory of Kamma inspires an individual to be self-dependent. An individual makes himself evil by not doing own good deeds and becomes good by not performing himself evil deeds. All these depend on individual that how he wishes to make himself. No one else can make good to anyone 'For self is the lord of self; who else could be the lord ? With self well subdued a man finds a lord who is difficult to obtain.'56 In this manner, in Buddhism an individual is himself responsible for being good or evil. The person may set his present and future life pleasant and stress-free by performing his good
ds. In this context of Buddhist theory of Kamma the doctrine of dependent coorigination - Pratītyasamutpāda, is most important. Infact it is very essential for proper and clear understanding of the theory of Kamma because the saṁskāra is also included here in the sense of Kamma. It means, the deeds of previous birth is saṁskāra. The results of good and evil deeds produced from ignorance cause
ng of creatures in this universe. These good and evil acts are Samskara. Aggrergation depending upon ignorance, consciousness depending on aggregation and vijñāna is șadavijñānakāya - six sense organs. Name and form depends on consciousness. This is called pañcaskandha - five aggregates. Contact depending on the six organs of sense : sensation depending on contact, desire depending on sensation, grasping depending on desire, the process of becoming, old age and death depending on birth, sorrow, suffering, grief and despair arise, so, it is the origin of all this aggregation of suffering. 57
Thus, the Doctrine of Kamma can be properly understand by nature of causal chain of dependent co-origination which is also called Kamma, and with the present theory it is deeply correlated. This chain of dependent co origination gives a general survey of the causes of deeds and remedies for its annihilation. Through this theory a connection is made between the acts of deeds and after that experiencing of their fruits between ignorance and craving, on the other hand, and