Karma

Chapter 6: Competitors of Karma

ChaPter 6 Competitors of Karma The importance of karma is emphasized in texts belonging to both Brahmanism and Buddhism. A chapter of the Padma Purana (2.94), to take an example from the Brahmanical tradition, claims that karma is the cause of everything that happens in the universe. And the Buddhist Abhidharmakosha Bhashya of Vasubandhu states in so many words that “the diversity in the world is born from karma”; other passages add that this includes the very structure of the universe . This does not entitle us to conclude that everyone in the Brahmanical and Buddhist traditions attributed quite so much importance to karma (not everyone did), but it does illustrate the central place that karma occupied in Indian thought. In spite of this, earlier deeds are not always presented as the only factor that determines present events. Present experiences are frequently stated to be the result of other factors, often banal ones such as the state of one’s health, the weather, excessive indulgence in unwholesome substances, or violence. A passage from the Buddhist canon (Samyutta Nikaya IV, pp. 230–231), which records a discussion between the Buddha and a wanderer called Sivaka, illustrates this: “Master Gotama, there are some ascetics and Brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: ‘Whatever a person experiences, whether it be pleasant or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, all that is caused by what was done in the past.’ What does Master Gotama say about this?” “Some feelings, Sivaka, arise here originating from bile disor- 98 karma ders: that some feelings arise from bile disorders one can know for oneself, and that is considered to be true in the world. Now when those ascetics and Brahmins hold such a doctrine and view as this, ‘Whatever a person experiences, whether it be pleasant or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, all that is caused by what was done in the past,’ they overshoot what one knows by oneself and they overshoot what is considered to be true in the world. Therefore I say that this is wrong on the part of those ascetics and Brahmins. Some feelings, Sivaka, arise here originating from phlegm disorders ...originating from wind disorders...originating from an imbalance of the three...produced by change of climate...produced by careless behavior...caused by assault...produced as the result of karma: that some feelings arise here produced as the result of karma one can know for oneself, and that is considered to be true in the world. Now when those ascetics and Brahmins hold such a doctrine and view as this, ‘Whatever a person experiences, whether it be pleasant or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, all that is caused by what was done in the past,’ they overshoot what one knows by oneself and they overshoot what is considered to be true in the world. Therefore I say that this is wrong on the part of those ascetics and Brahmins.” Further factors are enumerated in Brahmanical texts. An example is the Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.1), which states: “Some wise men say it is one’s own nature, while others say it is time—all totally deluded . It is rather the greatness of God present in the world by means of which this wheel of Brahma goes about.” The Bhagavata Purana (4.11.21–25) gives a longer list: “The Lord ordains the increase or decrease in the life span of a miserable creature. Some say this is karma; others that it is one’s own nature; others that it is time; others that it is fate; and others that it is desire.” From among these factors, the nature here referred to may well be the nature also invoked by the Carvakas in order to explain the diversity of the world we live in. Of more interest at present are time and fate. Before turning to them, we will consider the role of curses. Curses were a special concern of the Brahmins. Recall that the Competitors of Karma 99 extraordinary powers that they claimed to possess most often found expression in their use of magical formulas, among them precisely curses. A curse might have a profound effect on its victim. There are countless stories in Brahmanical literature that illustrate this. The best known of these stories is about Shakuntala, a girl who fell in love with the king and secretly married him. Absorbed in thought after this...