SN 35.145

CDB ii 1211 (corresponds to CDB SN 35.146)

Kamma.m Sutta: Kamma

translated from the Pali by

Maurice O'Connell Walshe

Alternate translation: Thanissaro

The Pali title of this sutta is based on the PTS (Feer) edition.

"Monks, I will teach you about new kamma and old kamma, about the ceasing of kamma and the path that leads to the ceasing of kamma. Listen well, pay close attention and I will speak.

"What, monks, is old kamma?

"The eye [ ear, nose tongue, body (touch), mind ], [1] monks, is to be regarded as old kamma, brought into existence and created by volition, [2] forming a basis for feeling. [3] This, monks, is called 'old kamma.'

"And what, monks, is new kamma?

"The action [4] one performs now by body, speech and mind. This monks, is called 'new kamma.'

"When, monks, by ceasing actions of body, speech and mind, one touches liberation, [5] this, monks, is called 'the ceasing of kamma.'

"And what, monks, is the path that leads to the ceasing of kamma?

"It is the Noble Eightfold Path, namely Right View, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, [6] Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration. This, monks, is called 'the path that leads to the ceasing of kamma.' [7]

"Whatever, monks, a teacher ought to do out of compassion, for the profit of his disciples, that I have done, having compassion for you.

"Here monks, are the roots of trees! Here are lonely places! Meditate monks. Do not be slothful, have no subsequent regrets. Thus we charge you."

Notes

1 .: Woodward quotes SA [SN commentary] as correctly pointing out that "Eye in itself is not old but it has come about by former actions [i.e., kamma. ]"
2 .: Cf. the classic definition of kamma at AN 6.63: cetanaaha.m bhikkhave kamma.m vadaami "volition, monks, I declare to be kamma" (see A.nguttara Nikaaya : An Anthology translated by Nyaa.naponika Thera, Part II [WH 208-211], p.67).
3 .: Vedaniiya.m . Hence a basis for craving etc.
4 .: The same word kamma is used in the Pali.
5 .: This is really the Third Noble Truth.
6 .: The word here is kammanta . Right Action is specifically the observance of the first three precepts, i.e., abstaining from killing, theft and sexual misconduct.
7 .: Kammanirodha-gaaminii-pa.tipadaa . The usual term for the Path is dukkhanirodha-gaaminii-pa.tipadaa "the path ( or practice) that leads to the extinction of suffering." Here the link between kamma and dukkha is clearly brought out. Those who have attained the goal do not create even good kamma.

You may copy, reformat, reprint, republish, and redistribute this work in any medium whatsoever, provided that: (1) you only make such copies, etc. available free of charge and, in the case of reprinting, only in quantities of no more than 50 copies; (2) you clearly indicate that any derivatives of this work (including translations) are derived from this source document; and (3) you include the full text of this license in any copies or derivatives of this work. Otherwise, all rights reserved. Documents linked from this page may be subject to other restrictions. From Samyutta Nikaya: An Anthology (WH 318-321) , by M. O'C. Walshe (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1985). Transcribed from the print edition in 2007 by a volunteer, under the auspices of the Access to Insight Dhamma Transcription Project and by arrangement with the Buddhist Publication Society. Minor revisions were made in accordance with the ATI style sheet. Pali diacritics are represented using the Velthuis convention. Last revised for Access to Insight on 30 November 2013.

How to cite this document (a suggested style): "Kamma.m Sutta: Kamma" (SN 35.145), translated from the Pali by Maurice O'Connell Walshe. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition) , 30 November 2013, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn35/sn35.145.wlsh.html .