Kamma Sutta

[Admin]

Kamma Sutta
Action

Translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu


"Monks, I
will teach you new & old kamma,
the cessation of kamma, and the path
of practice leading to the cessation of kamma.
Listen and pay close attention. I will speak.
"Now what, monks, is old kamma?
The eye is to be seen as old kamma,
fabricated & willed,
capable of being felt.
The ear... The nose... The
tongue... The body... The intellect
is to be seen as old kamma, fabricated &
willed, capable of being felt.
This is called old kamma.
"And what is new kamma? Whatever kamma one does now with the body, with
speech, or with the intellect: This is called new kamma.
"And what is the cessation of kamma? Whoever touches the release that comes
from the cessation of bodily kamma, verbal kamma, & mental kamma: This is
called the cessation of kamma.
"And what is the path of practice leading
to the cessation of kamma?

Just this noble eightfold path: right view, right
resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right
mindfulness, right concentration.

This is called the path of practice leading to the cessation of kamma.
"So, monks, I have taught you new & old kamma, the cessation of kamma,
and the path of practice leading to the cessation of kamma.
Whatever a teacher should do — seeking the welfare of his disciples,
out of sympathy for them — that have I done for you.
Over there are the roots of trees; over there, empty dwellings.
Practice jhana, monks.
Don't be heedless.
Don't later fall into regret.
This is our message to you."