Expert: Bodhicitta - 5/13/2006

Question
Hi,I'm Poh , a Chinese from Malaysia . I have a question on Karma which i couldn't get a definite answer from the many Buddhism books i have read .
The question is this :
When one has done a negative action now ( such as killing of animal ), can he avoid or eliminate the negative Karma that he might face ( as a result of killing animals ) in future by doing good merits ?

Some books say yes . Some say no .
Please give me your wise answer .
Thank you very much .
Amitabha .


Answer
Dear Poh Kian Bin,
Thank you for your interesting question.

The teachings on Karma say that intention seems to be important. Karma can lead to results in this life or in future lives. Karma can be positive or negative. There are
the  ten wholesome actions and the ten unwholesome actions which are particularly positive and negative respectively. Actions are sometimes said to create seeds which will in the future either in this life or a future life come to fruition but this is just a metaphor.

The effects of Karma are said to be very subtle. Every action has a consequence. The network of causes and effects
from all beings in the Universe create a complex situation
that is difficult to predict. It is said that only the Buddhas can understand Karma.

Even the Arhats can be subject to the results of unwholesome
consquences.  It can be seen at work on the case of Maudgalyayana , one of the Buddha's chief disciples, who died at the hands of bandits. According to the Buddha, Maudgalyayana had, in previous life, taken his old parents into the forest where he had beaten them to death and then claimed that they had been killed by bandits. The effect of this previous act was experienced by Maudgalyayana when he himself was beaten to death by bandits.

In other teachings it would seem that Karma can be exhausted. It is often said that a moment of emptiness
can exhaust the karma from countless lives.

I think it is safe to conclude that karma is not a simple
subject. Many people think they understand karma as it
sounds very simple. But it is not. The teachings on karma
are really just examples of the way it could work. The Avatamsaka Sutra or Huan Yen in Chinese is meant to be the most complete explanation of the Buddha's teachings in the Mahayana tradition. In this sutra it is said that everything  interpenetrates everything else. So a seemingly
simple result is actually  caused by the whole of the rest of the Universe. It seems similar to what  modern physics
says about quantum mechanics.

Can karma be avoided? This is indeed a complex subject.
The answer seems to be sometimes. Could you guarantee to
avoid it? No not even if your were an arhat.Could you
understand how an action will result? No , not unless
you are Buddha.

Hope this helps?

Bodhicitta
E-Mail: bodhicitta@bodhicitta.co.uk
http://www.bodhicitta.co.uk