Where is Kamma stored? The Kammic energy is
not stored anywhere within or without the
body, just as wind is notstored in any particular
place. It is like the energy stored within a
mango seed. Given the right conditions, a
mango tree will sprout from the seed,
producing leaves, flowers and mangoes which
in turn can produce either mango trees. That
mango seed hasthe potential of producing a
large orchard of mango trees, although we
cannot see the trees when we slice open the
seed.
Kamma is action, and Vipaka is its fruit or
reaction. Just as every object is accompanied by
a shadow, even so every volitional activity is
accompanied by its results.
Kamma does not necessarily mean past actions.
It embraces both past and present deeds. In
one sense, we are the result of what we had
been, and will be the result of what we are.
In another sense, we should not resign
ourselves to fate thinking that what we will be
have already been predetermined by the results
of our past and present deeds, and therefore
nothing can be clonedto reverse the effects.
The working of Kamma is complex. A good
person yesterday maybe a vicious one todaya
criminal today may be a saint tomorrow.
- How Kamma Works
Every action of importance is performed
because there is a desire for a resultit has an
aim, an objective. This desire, no matter how
mild it may be, is a form of craving. Itexpresses
the thirst (Tanha) for existence and for action.
With intention, every deed performed is a
creative one. Kamma itself is the product of
choice and free willchoice between good and
bad actions. Without intention a deed is neutral
it produces no reaction of moral significance.
The cycle of cause and effect shown below is a
simplification of how Kamma works and how
cause gives rise to effect which in turn becomes
the cause. This cycle consists of the originator
of the action, desire (A), action (B), and the
result of the action (C).When a person becomes mentally attached to a
certain object (A), this attachment will cause
him to act in a certain way (B). The action
performed (B) will cause the result of the action
to arise (C) which will in tum reinforce the
mental attachment (A).If, for instance, a person becomes attached to
killing for fun (Cause 1 ), he seeks ways to
satisfy this desire like going for sports that
involve killing (Effect 1). The capture and the
death of the animal will give him pleasure
(Effect 2) which will reinforce his desire to
repeat this act (Effect 3). If he does not check
this habit, his mind becomes strongly
attracted to short lives which will cause him to
be born with a short life in a future rebirth.In the words of the old jingle:Sow a thought, reap an act;
Sow an act, reap a habit;
Sow a habit, reap a character;
Sow a character, reap a destiny.4