nature of human beings Flashcards
what is kamma?
directly means ‘doing’ or ‘action’ - the principle that beings are reborn according to the kamma they have accumulated in past lives
what type of actions generate kamma?
those that are deliberate and ethically significant
what happens with kamma when you die?
it is passed onto the next life since there is no soul
what is kamma dependent on?
skilful and unskilful actions
what are the three root poisions?
greed hatred ignorance
what are the three good roots?
non-attachment, understanding, kindness
dhammapada quote on kamma
“if a man speaks and acts with a pure mind, joy follows as his own shadow”
explain parabole of the burning house
buddha told this parabole of a man lying to get his children to leave the burning house - it is an example of a ‘bad’ act actually being good
benefits of kamma
encourages us to think carefully before we act, discourages selfishness, contributes to achievement of nibbana
difficulties of kamma
leads to belief misfortune is own fault, can lead to lack of empathy for less fortunate, future determined by past in rigid way
what did the buddha stress?
we are all agents of our own experience
three root poisons relationship with samsara
at the centre of samsara, keep us trapped in the cycle, each rely on and lead to each other, have to be removed to reach enlightenment
what is tanha?
craving
what are the three types of tanha?
craving for sensual pleasures, craving for existence, craving for non-existence
what does tanha cause?
dukkha, suffering
