The Goals (3)
What are the goals during life?
The goal during life is to make
progress towards Enlightenment.
The Goals (3)

Kamma — the natural law of cause and
effect.

‘Unskilful’ actions bind the unenlightened to
samsara, ‘skilful’ actions lead towards
enlightenment.

pp. 63-78

The Goals
Buddhists believe that there is a purpose to our
existence, our life is for something.

What’s more, they believe that a new ‘you’ is
created every moment (think Anicca and Anatta).

This new ‘you’ is dependant on choices by the
previous ‘you’.

In a way ‘you’ die every moment for the new ‘you’
to be created.
The Goals

So… it doesn’t matter so much about physical death, it’s about now.
What kind of person are you recreating by your actions right now? (are
paying attention?!)

To Buddhists we are all living in ignorance.

The Goal of life is to progress toward Enlightenment. To a place where
we are no longer ignorant to Reality.
The Goals

Only humans are capable of enlightenment.

Humans must do something about it,.

It is your actions now that are important.

There is no God to help you.
few moments…
What are your goals in life?
 Does your life have a point?
 Should your life have a point?
 What happens when you die?
 Does this affect the way you live?
 How should you live?


The Law of Kamma
Kamma: the natural law of cause and effect
 Unskillful (akusala) actions bind the unenlightened to Samsara
 Skillful (kusala) actions lead to enlightenment and escape from
Samsara

Put simply, every conscious ethical choice you make has a
consequence. The nature of your decisions will have a direct impact
on your future.

Put even more simply…
Haud oan

Isn’t having the Goal of Enlightenment a form of desire?
 Good question.
 Maybe it is used to start you off?

What is the intention behind the desire?
 Is it motivated by the 3 Root Poisons?
 Is it Chanda or Tanha?
The Law of Kamma

To Buddhists your present existence is shaped by the pattern of
actions set up in previous existences. It is just cause and effect. A
Natural Law.

Throughout your life your thoughts lead to actions which lead to
consequences.

We are in control of our own lives and responsible for our present
situation.
The Law of Kamma

Think seeds (Kammic seeds are called bija) in that for every
conscious ethical choice you make there will be a consequence.
Cause and effect.

If you sew cherry seeds you’re going to get a cherry tree. Likewise if
you make good ethical choices you are going to receive good results.
Bad Kamma?
The Law of Kamma:
What is the root of the action?

All trees need roots. Good roots will produce good fruit.

All kammic actions need intentions. Good intentions will produce
good consequences.

To a Buddhist what three things might motivate bad intentions
(Think Samsara)?
The Law of Kamma:
Kusala and Akusala (Skillfull and Unskillful)

Akusala (Unskillful) actions are
motivated by
 Desire
 Hatred
 Ignorance

Kusala (Skillful) actions are motivated by
 Non-attachment
 Kindness
 Understanding
Which are kusala
or akusala actions?
1.
You turn off a life support machine.
2.
You kick a dog and it’s jaw breaks.
3.
You give a friend £10.
4.
You loan someone a pencil.
5.
You see someone stealing and say nothing… they
don’t get caught.
Remember

The Buddha encouraged self-reflection and
a critical examination of his teachings.

There are no inflexible ‘rules’ or ‘laws’ in
Buddhism.

The Dalai Lama: “Learn the rules so you
know how to break them properly”
Skillful and Unskillful

There are no moral absolutes.

Completely different choices could be
right depending on the situation.

Buddhists ask
 Was your choice skillful or
unskillful?
 What was your motivation?

To Buddhists the action was wrong if your intention was wrong.

If you do ‘good’ things to gain an advantage for yourself, your action is
wrong.

Can you think of any examples?
The Drunk Driver and the
“I never meant to hurt anyone” defence

Buddhist response: If you drive under the influence you are more likely to
make mistakes and have slower reaction time which may lead to an
accident.

Think your actions through.

In this case the decision to get in the car was unskillful. The skillful choice
would have been to get in a taxi.
The situation

There are no absolutes and what’s right for one person may
not be right for another.

Different situations call for different choices.

Is you choice kusala or akusala?

What is the intention?
So what happens?

Kammic consequences or imprints will impact throughout this life or the
next (remember momentary deaths too).
 Your current conditions depended on your previous actions.
 Your future conditions depends on your actions now.

It is all up to you. Remember for Buddhists only humans are capable of
making conscious ethical choices.
Compassion

Quotes p.73

For Buddhists compassion means
basing your actions on the
three good roots:
 Non-attachment
 Kindness
 Understanding

All life is suffering and we are all inter-related so it is key to learn
compassion for one another.
Compassion

If you approach your conscious ethical choices with compassion you’re
never really go wrong.

Compassion – Skillful Actions – Good Kammic Results

Is Buddhism an inward looking faith?

E.g. on p.75
Check Your Learning

Kamma — the natural law of cause and
effect.

‘Unskilful’ actions bind the unenlightened to
samsara, ‘skilful’ actions lead towards
enlightenment.
Activity
 As
a class, complete the questions on pp.76
& 77. Look over them all tonight. Any
questions?
 Next
Step: Nibbana