Karma of the Noble Person

Abstract

Karma is action accompanied by intention, divided into three categories: physical karma, verbal karma, and mental karma. These actions yield results according to their intention and are further categorized into three types: karma that yields results according to its function, karma that yields results before or after, and karma that yields results according to time. The results of karma depend on an individual's actions; good deeds result in good consequences, while bad deeds result in bad consequences. The effects of karma are indiscriminate, impacting everyone equally. This includes the Buddha, who received the consequences of his actions in fourteen past lives before his passing; Arahants, Anagami, Sakidagami, and Sotapanna; and ordinary individuals. Bad deeds result in bad consequences, while good deeds result in good consequences. For example, the Buddha being injured by a rolling rock pushed by Devadatta, Moggallana being beaten to death by robbers, and Samavati and her companions being burned alive—all these individuals were noble beings ranging from Sotapanna to Arahant. No one can escape the consequences of their own actions. Currently, we see that some people do evil but do not receive good results, while some people do good and receive the opposite outcome. All of this is a result of each individual's karma, whether in the past or present. The consequences of actions will inevitably affect individuals in the future.