Kamma from the previous life
The mind stream flows from moment to moment through life. It continues rising and falling, temperament, likes and dislikes including all mental constructions and impressions. Although these potentialities exist in a state of constant flux and are subject to the law of change and conditionality, each successive moment of consciousness, with all is mental corollaries, is conditioned by its proceeding moment. This process continues throughout the present life and passes on to the next in an unbroken stream. What we are now is therefore, to large extents, inherited from what we were in the past. certain inclinations and attitudes and why in sometimes have an inexplicably strong like or dislikes for certain individuals we encounter for the first time.
Based on the doctrine of kamma, it is possible to understand the present in reference to the past and to foresee the future through inference from the present. But this is no more a forgone conclusion than the statement " We are what we were. " Predetermination is not a Buddha' idea, neither is fate, destiny, or accidentalism. Kamma is open to the conditioning factors both in the present as well as the future. Even conditioned impulses, which hold the makings of the future, are subject to the influence of free will , that is, whether or not we choose to act on them. For example, an alcoholic is offered a bottle of whisky, he experiences an impulse to drink. Based on the past observation we can predict with the high degree of probability that he would lose no time in emptying its content into his stomach. Although that seem to be the most natural course of action, yet at the impulse or resolve to fight back by denying himself the unwholesome drink. In other words, he is not totally predetermined to consume the whisky. Kamma could be influenced by other physio - psycho - logical conditions as well.
The Buddhist meditation technique involves constant awareness of one's own thoughts. This is the most effective way to check the constantly changing state of mind, to see clearly how impulses arise, and how they are conditioned. By giving ourselves more space to reflect and contemplate, we will be able to get in touch with our own inner nature and our weaknesses and strengths. Most importantly, this awareness enables us to make better choices, to deal directly with our own impulses, not only by acting them out in a beneficial manner but transforming them if they are negative to positive ones. Mindfulness helps us to make wise decisions with regard to our impulses so that we are not tempted to perform unwholesome actions, but engage in the wholesome one.
By THE BUSDDHA'S Core Teachings
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