Kamma and not - self

Kamma and not - self

         The law of kamma does not necessary presuppose the existence of a permanent self. On the contrary, it indicates the negation of self.

          The idea of a permanent self is conceived on a psychologically deep - rooted fear of death and annihilation. To maintain a sense of security and ensure self - preservation, the false concept of an immoral soul, believed to be unchanging and eternal, is created. But according to the law of causal dependence, this concept is untenable and unwarranted because all things, animate or inanimate, are relative and must depend on certain condition for their arising that they are also liable to change and disintegrate according to the conditions on which they depend.

          Instead of the soul theory, the Buddha taught the doctrine of no soul or non - self or anatta. According to this doctrine, such a thing as soul or self is illogical and impossible. It is a false concept, which bears on relation to reality and is a prolific breeding ground for defilement such as selfishness, conceit, attachment, hatred and desire. The Buddha 's philosophical position is unique in the history of human thought for he unequivocally rejects the concept of soul, which has previously been unquestioningly accepted. The Buddhist doctrine of non - self stands firm on the ground of sound logic and good reasons and is completely compatible with the law of kamma.



          To begin with, self and kamma are two reciprocally conflicting terms.The operation on the law of . kamma presupposes both conditionality and changeability. In other words it is only on account of a person's inherent susceptibility to conditioning that kamma will find space to function. Self as an unchanging absolute entity would not meet that requirement and is therefore irrelevant as far as the law of kamma is concerned. In this way, the doctrine of non - self further substantiates the law of kamma and makes it more acceptable to the critically - minded intellectual.

           The conception of soul or self originates from a lack of understanding of the true nature of mind. To, rudimentary logic, it seems that there must be an everlasting entity within which thinks, feels, perceives and makes decisions. Self according to the common view, is the thinker of thoughts, feeler of sensations, perceives of perceptions and maker of decisions. Self is that which is punished and rewarded by the Will of the so - called supreme God. Thus is man forever in fear and dread of the Almighty he himself has created.

          Buddhist requires no such imaginary entity. All physiopsychological phenomena are in a state of flux, arising and falling, according to the physical or psychological conditions present at the moment. What is conveniently called " thinker " is nothing but the though itself , which keeps rising and falling, like all other realities. This is true of sensations, perceptions, and all other mental activities. There is no thinker behind the perceptions and no decision - makers behind the process of decision making.

           All these mental activities keep flowing from one moment to another in an intricately interwoven relationship, giving a false notion of permanent self to the unenlightened mind. As kamma is itself part of the mind stream, there is no need at all to introduce the concept of self as an agent of the action or a recipient of the result therefore.




By THE BUDDHA'S Core Teachings