Post #864

Kamma and Rebirth Beings existing in saṃsāra perform actions with body, speech and mind. This is kamma (Skt. karma) and such actions always have a later effect (vipāka). If the actions are skilful (kusala) they lead to pleasant results, if they are unskilful (akusala) they lead to painful results. Note that this terminology is preferred to the use of “good” and “evil” because kamma is not a divine judgement, but a natural law. At the moment of death, when the body ceases to provide a substrate for consciousness, the next moment of consciousness will arise in a new body determined by the kamma made by that individual. This may be in any of the realms of being and may be either upward or downward depending on that person’s kamma. This process of repeated rebirth is both beginningless and endless unless that person achieves full awakening and makes an end of it. There is no ultimate purpose served within the process of rebirth itself, and seeing into the futility of saṃsāra is an important aspect of waking up. Ajahn Punnadhammo