Actions Have Consequences
The village this week, has been buzzing in anticipation for the arrival of the famous lama. The villagers could really benefit from such an uplifting person with so much compassion. It has been an eventful couple of weeks, and for many, a lot of misfortune. A significant amount of people lost their livelihood, from the damage caused from the storm, the builders have used many of their extra resources to help rebuild the bridge, and the ritualists and doctors have used many of their resources to go to the neighbouring village to help the people there, and to stop the spread of the naga illness. There has been much suffering and loss, and because of this, we as a village are struggling to pull together the necessary resources to provide enough gifts to give to the lama when he arrives.
I went to the temple the other day to help make preparations for the arrival of the lama. A few of the artists in our village made tormas which are statues made of flour and butter and are used in tantric rituals. While they were doing the tormas, many of us worked together to helped sweep the temple inside and out, gather comfortable pillows and blankets for the lama to use on the throne, and helped prepare the butter lamps. When the lama arrives, there will be many people playing different instruments while the children and other villagers line the roads to greet him with some of their offerings and scarves. It is going to be a wonderful day when he arrives.
The nunnery where I live, on the top east side of the village, was damaged pretty badly, and many of our books were destroyed. As I was attempting to do some research, I began sorting through the books deciphering what could be salvaged, and what would need to be replaced. I came across some texts about death ritual. It is customary in Tibetan tradition, that a body not be preserved after death, as it is harmful to the deceased, and it makes the process of conscious rebirth into the next state of existence more difficult. So the people are cremated. The texts teach that death is not the end, but a transition, and a passage between two states of existence. In Tibetan tradition, there is a place where the conscious goes after death but before rebirth called bardo, which means the intermediate state, or the transitional state. There is a traditional special prayer that loved ones offer to protect against fear during the transitional state of rebirth. These texts got me in a reflective state, about the lives that were lost as a result of the major storm, and the naga illness.
At the time of death, one is confronted with the good or bad karmic effects; however, it is not necessarily manifest immediately, and may be accumulated over a long period of time before the effects of one’s actions are known. The negative or positive actions of a being will lead to good or bad karma in the cycle of samsara. There are ten negative actions that will lead to bad karmic effects which are divided into three categories physical action, verbal action, and mental actions. It is important to keep in mind that the intentions behind one’s actions matter.
The first category is physical action and this includes sexual misconduct, taking the life of another, and stealing. Sexual misconduct means not upholding your vows. If you are married then you are to be faithful, and if you are a bhiksu or bhiksuni you must honor the vow of celibacy. Not all living beings are created equal in Buddhism. Taking the life of another has different facets to it. Intentions are one aspect, and what was killed is another. It is far worse to take the life of a human being then to take the life of a bug or a small animal. The reason for this, is that humans are the most likely to escape the cycle of rebirth and attain enlightenment.
The second category is verbal action, this includes lying- making false claims, speaking harshly, gossiping, and creating chaos and discord. The final category is mental actions, this includes, coveting what others have, wishing harm on others, and not having the right view, which is the Buddhist teaching. By following the 8 fold path, one can escape the cycle of samsara and reach Nirvana. We ourselves are responsible for our own happiness and misery; within us is the strength and ability to change our karma.
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