________________
Theory of Karma and Rebirth in Theravada : 115
death. Advocating his famous middle path, Buddha admitted the presented universe as it is i. e. from birth to death. Disease, sorrow and death are the indispensable factors of life. Buddha fully understood the complexity of experience from within and without. Any theoretic mode or code of discipline detached from one's concrete experience could not satisfy him.
Starting with the given order of experience, Buddha found the presented universe as transient (anitya), non-substantial (anātma) and sorrowful (duḥkkha). The root of suffering, for him, lies in birth and the cause of birth in basic ignorance or undisciplined conditions. Consequently, rebirth is also based on similar ground i.e. ignorance. Hence, ignorance leads to the triadic process of birth, death and rebirth. The bold facing of life made him to refuse that man is merely a historical creature subject to death. Buddha emphasized that man goes through the cycles of death and rebirth till he is free from ignorance. The fundamental cause of all misguided actions leading to sorrow has been ascribed to ignorance and desire. Therefore, one should try to get rid of all desire and false perceptive. As the Buddhist ethics is directed towards the goal of freedom, it has discovered moral virtues and proper attitude which helps one in the realization of the ideal. It has enunciated a disciplined order in terms of conduct (śīla), meditation (samādhi) and insightful understanding (prajnā). The crux of Buddhist ethics is spiritual perfection. Such perfection consists in a harmonious life. There is no possibility of attaining Nirvana unless a person has first reached the empirical state of equilibrium and equipoise. The attainment of such state is possible only through the proper enunciation of one's actions (Karma or Kamma).
Meaning of Karma
The word 'Kamma' appears in some passages of Pāli Abhidharmakosa as the cause of the world. In some other passages both Kamma and Kilesa (passion) are regarded as the cause. However,
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
