The Working of

Kamma
By Kamma is this world led - Atthasalini

The Working of Kamma

Mind or consciousness, plays the most
important part in the generation of
Kamma.
It is the mind that either defiles or
purifies one. Mind is both the bitterest
enemy and the greatest friend of
oneself.
To understand Kamma, it is necessary to
acquaint oneself with thought-process
(cittavithi) according to Abhidhamma.

Thought Process
When a person is deep in a dreamless sleep, he
experiences a kind of consciousness which is
similar to the consciousness one experiences at
the moment of conception and at the moment of
death (cuti).
This type of consciousness is called Bhavanga
which means a factor of life, or indispensable
cause or condition of existence.
Arising and perishing every moment, Bhavanga
flows on like a stream not remaining the same for
two consecutive moments.

Thought Process
We experience the Bhavanga in our waking state
as well. In fact, we experience the Bhavanga
thought-moments more than any other type of
consciousness.
The Bhavanga consciousness, which one always
experiences until it is interrupted by an external
stimuli, vibrates for a thought-moment and
passes away when a physical or mental object
enters the mind.

Suppose, for instance, the mind is presented with a

physical object. Let us now trace the thought-moment
process going through the mind.

His
His Bhavanga
Bhavanga consciousness
consciousness is
is

interrupted,
interrupted, vibrates
vibrates for
for aa
thought-moment
thought-moment and
and passes
passes
away.
away. This
This gives
gives rise
rise to
to the
the
Arrest
Arrest Bhavanga.
Bhavanga.

The
The sense-door
sense-door consciousness
consciousness
(panca
(panca dvaravajjana),
dvaravajjana), which
which
serves
serves to
to turn
turn the
the
consciousness
consciousness to
to the
the object,
object,
arises
arises and
and passes
passes away.
away.

Immediately
Immediately after
after this,
this, there
there
arises
arises visual
visual consciousness
consciousness
(cakkhuvinnana)
(cakkhuvinnana) which
which sees
sees the
the
object,
object, but
but yet
yet knows
knows no
no more
more
about
about it.
it.

This
This sense
sense operation
operation is
is followed
followed
by
by aa moment
moment of
of the
the reception
reception of
of
the
the object
object so
so seen
seen
(sampaticchana).
(sampaticchana).

Wow!! A
chest of
jewels!!

Next
Next arises
arises the
the investigating
investigating
thought-moment
thought-moment (santirana)
(santirana)
which
which momentarily
momentarily examines
examines
the
the object
object so
so seen.
seen.

Diamonds,
ruby, gold!!

This
This is
is followed
followed by
by the
the
determining
determining thought-moment
thought-moment
(vottapana)
(vottapana) when
when discrimination
discrimination
is
is exercised
exercised and
and freewill
freewill may
may play
play
its
its part.
part.

If it belongs
to me, I will
be rich.

The
The Javana
Javana process
process then
then runs
runs for
for 77
thought-moments.
thought-moments. ItIt is
is at
at this
this stage
stage
that
that an
an action
action is
is judged,
judged, whether
whether itit be
be
moral
moral or
or immoral.
immoral. Kamma
Kamma is
is

performed
performed at
at this
this stage.
stage.

If, for instance, one sees an enemy, anger will arise automatically creating
bad kamma. A wise person might, with self-control, radiate a thought of
loving kindness towards him.
Depending on how we exercise our own freewill to overcome the external
stimuli, moral or immoral thoughts will be generated by the mind.

The
The Javana
Javana
process
process
Javana means running. It is so called
because, in the course of a thought-process,
it runs consequently for 7 thought-moments,
or, at the time of death, for 5 thoughtmoments.
The mental states occurring in all these 7
thought-moments are similar, but the
potential force differs.

The
TheJavana
Javanaprocess
process
(7
(7thought
thought
moments)
moments)

1
The effect of the Kamma
from the 1st thoughtmoment is the weakest in
potentiality. One may
reap its effect in this life
itself. This is called the
Immediately Effective
Kamma which becomes
ineffective if it does not
operate in this life.

The effect of Kamma from

the 7th thought-moment is
the next weakest. One may
reap its effect in the
subsequent birth
(Subsequently Effective
Kamma), which
automatically becomes
ineffective if it does not
operate in the second birth.

The
TheJavana
Javanaprocess
process
(7
(7thought
thought
moments)
moments)
1

D
A
B

A
M
M
A
K

2 3 4 5

The effect of the Kamma from the other 5 thought-moments

may take place at any time in the course of ones wandering
in Samsara until ones final liberation. This type of Kamma
is termed Indefinitely Effective.
Nobody is
watching.
I will take
the
jewels!!

After
After the
the Javana
Javana process,
process, the
the
registering
registering consciousness
consciousness
(tadalambana)
(tadalambana) lasting
lasting for
for two
two
thought-moments
thought-moments takes
takes over
over and
and
completes
completes the
the entire
entire thought
thought
process.
process.

Thought Process

Summarising the thought process

1. His Bhavanga consciousness is interrupted, vibrates for a thoughtmoment and passes away.
2. The sense-door consciousness (panca dvaravajjana), which serves to
turn the consciousness to the object, arises and passes away.
3. Immediately after this, there arises visual consciousness
(cakkhuvinnana) which sees the object, but yet knows no more about it.
4. This sense operation is followed by a moment of the reception of the
object so seen (sampaticchana).
5. Next arises the investigating thought-moment (santirana) which
momentarily examines the object so seen.
6. This is followed by the determining thought-moment (vottapana) when
discrimination is exercised and freewill may play its part.
7. The Javana process then runs for 7 thought-moments. It is at this stage
that an action is judged, whether it be moral or immoral. Kamma is
performed at this stage.
8. The registering consciousness (tadalambana) lasting for two thoughtmoments completes the entire thought process.