THE PRIMARY CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH CLASSIFICATION A First, Nonmeritorious Karma and its Result.

Generally, there are numerous nonmeritorious actions, but they are briefly summarized as ten—three from the body, taking life and so forth; four from speech, telling lies and so forth; and three from the mind, covetousness and so forth. There are three subcategories for each of these ten: classification, result, and distinctive action.

1. Taking Life

through the door of hatred, and taking life through the door of ignorance. The first one means to take life for meat, pelts and so forth, for sport, for one’s own wealth, and to maintain oneself and loved ones. The second one means to take life through the arising of hatred, out of resentment, or in competition. The third one refers to making sacrifices and so forth.

b) Three Results of Taking Life. There are three results of taking life: the result of the maturation of the act, the result similar to the cause, and the general result of the force. “Result of maturation of the act” means that the actor will be born in the hell realms. Experiencing a “result similar to the cause” means that even if the actor is born in the human realm, his life will be short or he will experience much sickness. “General result of the force” means that the actor will be born in an inauspicious place where there is little dignity. c) Distinctive Act of Taking Life. Taking the life of one’s father, who is also an Arhat, is very heavy negative karma.

2. Stealing

a) Classification of Stealing. There are three types of stealing: taking things by force, taking things secretly, and taking things through deceit. The first one means to rob by force without any reason. The second one means to steal things by breaking into a house without others noticing and so forth. The third one refers to deceit through measurements, scales, and so forth.

b) Three Results of Stealing. “Result of maturation of the act” means that the actor will be born as a hungry ghost. “Result similar to the cause” means that even if the actor is born in the human realm, he will suffer from insufficient wealth. “General result of the force” means that the actor will be born in a place where there is more frost and hail than normal.

c) Distinctive Act of Stealing. Taking wealth belonging to one’s spiritual master or the Three Jewels is very heavy negative karma.

3. Sexual Misconduct

a) Classification of Sexual Misconduct. There are three types of sexual misconduct: protected by the family, protected by the owner, and protected by the Dharma. The first one means sexual misconduct with one’s mother, sister, and so forth.4 The second one means sexual misconduct with someone owned by a husband

or king, and so forth. The third one has five subcategories: even with one’s own wife, sexual misconduct refers to improper parts of the body, improper place, improper time, improper number, and improper behavior. Improper parts of body are the mouth and anus. Improper places are close to the spiritual master, monastery, or stupa, or in a gathering of people. Improper times are during a special retreat,5

when pregnant, while nursing a child, or when there is light. An improper number is more than five times. Improper behavior refers to beating or having intercourse with a male or hermaphrodite in the mouth or anus.

b) Three Results of Sexual Misconduct. “Result of maturation of the act” means that the actor will be born as a hungry ghost. “Result similar to the cause” means that even if the actor is born in the human realm, he will become his enemy’s wife. “General result of the force” means that the actor will be born in a place with more dust than normal.

c) Distinctive Act of Sexual Misconduct. Having intercourse with one’s mother, who is also an Arhat, is very heavy negative karma.

4. Lying

a) Classification of Lying. There are three types of lying: spiritual lies, big lies, and small lies. The first one means to lie about having a supreme Dharma quality.6 The second one means to tell a lie that makes a

difference between harm and benefit for oneself and another. The third one refers to a lie with no benefit or harm.

b) Three Results of Lying. “Result of maturation of the act” means that the actor will be born in the animal realm. “Result similar to the cause” means that even if the actor is born in the human realm, he will be

slandered. “General result of the force” means that the actor will be born with bad breath.

c) Distinctive Act of Lying. Slandering the Thus-gone One and lying to the spiritual master are very heavy negative karma.

5. Divisive Speech

a) Classification of Divisive Speech. There are three types of divisive speech: dividing forcefully, dividing indirectly, and dividing secretly. The first means to divide friends in front of them. The second one means to divide two friends with indirect language. The third one refers to secretly dividing.

b) Three Results of Divisive Speech. “Result of maturation of the act” means that the actor will be born in the hell realm. “Result similar to the cause” means that even if the actor is born in the human realm, he will be separated from his loved ones. “General result of the force” means that the actor will be born in a place where it is uneven.

c) Distinctive Act of Divisive Speech. Within divisive speech, using unpleasant words with the noble Sangha is very heavy negative karma.

6. Harsh Words

a) Classification of Harsh Words. There are three types of harsh words: direct, circuitous, and indirect. The first one is forceful, directly digging at someone’s various faults. The second one is to use sarcasm or some funny words just to hurt. The third one is to dig at someone’s various faults by saying bad things to his friends or relatives.

b) Three Results of Harsh Words. “Result of maturation of the act” means that the actor will be born in the hell realm. “Result similar to the cause” means that even if the actor is born in the human realm, he will hear a lot of unpleasant news. “General result of the force” means that the actor will be born in a dry, hot place where there are more evildoers than normal.

c) Distinctive Act of Harsh Words. Using harsh words to harm one’s parents or Noble Ones is very heavy negative karma.

7. Idle Talk

a) Classification of Idle Talk. There are three types of idle talk: false, worldly, and true. The first one means reciting the mantras and reading the texts of heretics and so forth. The second one is useless chatter. The third one is giving Dharma teachings to those who have no respect and who are improper vessels.

b) Three Results of Idle Talk. “Result of maturation of the act” means that the actor will be born in the animal realm. “Result similar to the cause” means that even if the actor is born in the human realm, his word will not be respected. “General result of the force” means that the actor will be born in a place with inappropriate weather.

c) Distinctive Act of Idle Talk. Within idle talk, distracting those who are practicing the Dharma is very heavy negative karma.

8. Covetousness

a) Classification of Covetousness. There are three types of covetousness: with regard to one’s own, with regard to others’, and with regard to neither.7 The first one means being attached to one’s own race, clan,

body, qualities, and wealth, and thinking, “There is no one like me.” The second one means being attached to others’ prosperity and thinking, “I wish I owned this.” The third one is being attached to an underground mine, or the like, which belongs to no one, and thinking, “I wish I owned that.”

b) Three Results of Covetousness. “Result of maturation of the act” means that the actor will be born as a hungry ghost. “Result similar to the cause” means that even if the actor is born in the human realm, he will have even stronger covetousness. “General result of the force” means that he will be born in a place with bad harvests.

c) Distinctive Act of Covetousness. Desiring to rob the wealth of a renounced one is very heavy negative karma.

9. Harmful Thought

a) Classification of Harmful Thought. There are three types of harmful thought: harmful thought that comes from hatred, from jealousy, and from resentment. The first one means the desire to kill others with hatred, like in a battle. The second one means the desire to kill, and so forth, a competitor out of the fear that he will best you. The third one means the desire to kill and so forth while holding past harm in the mind.

b) Three Results of Harmful Thought. “Result of maturation of the act” means that the actor will be born in the hell realm. “Result similar to the cause” means that even if the actor is born in the human realm, he will experience even stronger hatred. “General result of the force” means that the actor will be born in a place where the foods are bitter and coarse.

c) Distinctive Act of Harmful Thought. Within harmful thought, commission of the heinous crimes8 is very

heavy negative karma.

10. Wrong Views

a) Classification of Wrong Views. There are three types of wrong view: wrong view of cause and result, of the truth, and of the Three Jewels. The first one means not believing that suffering and happiness are caused by nonvirtue and virtue. The second one means not believing that one attains the Truth of Cessation even if the Truth of the Path is practiced. The third one means not believing in the Three Jewels and slandering them.

b) Three Results of Wrong Views. “Result of maturation of the act” means that the actor will be born in the animal realm. “Result similar to the cause” means that even if the actor is born in the human realm, he will have even deeper ignorance. “General result of the force” means that the actor will be reborn in a place with no crops.

c) Distinctive Act of Wrong Views. Within wrong view, belief only in literal, rational, observable truths is very heavy negative karma.

All of the above “maturation” results are given in general terms. There are also three specific classifications: by the type of afflicting emotions, by the frequency, and by the object.

First, if one acts with hatred, one will be born in the hell realm. If one acts with desire, one will be born as a hungry ghost. If one acts with ignorance, one will be born in the animal realm. The Precious Jewel Garland says:

By attachment, one will become a hungry ghost, By hatred, one will be thrown in the hell realm, and By ignorance, one will be born an animal.

Relating to frequency, when one creates countless nonvirtuous actions, one will be born in the hell realm; one will be born as a hungry ghost by committing many nonvirtuous actions; one will be born as an animal by committing some nonvirtuous actions.

Relating to object, one will be born in the hell realm if one acts nonvirtuously toward beings of higher status; if toward mediocre beings, one will be born as a hungry ghost; if toward ordinary beings, one will be born as an animal.

This is the explanation of the cause and result of the nonvirtues. The Precious Jewel Garland says:

Desire, aversion, ignorance,

And the karma created thereby are nonvirtues. All sufferings come from nonvirtue,

As do the lower realms.