Читать книгу Treasury of Dharma - Géshé Rabten - Страница 19

I would now like to return to the explanation about Karma, as I feel this needs to be amplified. You may ask what are the physical, vocal and mental actions to which we have been referring. The actions which we are talking about here are those which become the cause of happiness or of suffering. Karma is generally divided into two categories: contaminated Karma and non-contaminated Karma. In other words, Karma which gives rise to results in the cycle of existence and Karma which gives rise to results outside the cycle of existence. The latter will only be produced when a person has gained insight into emptiness (Skt. Shunyata). Karma which produces an effect within cyclic existence is also divided into two categories: positive and negative contaminated Karma. To give you some idea of this, imagine a circle which represents the round of existence. Within this picture there are two arrows, one pointing up, the other pointing down. These arrows symbolize positive and negative actions. Outside the circle there is another arrow which symbolizes non-contaminated Karma, that is actions which are the causes for the attainment of liberation. The circle itself represents the actions which we accumulate at our present stage of existence, not those of Arya beings, that is, those who have gained direct insight into emptiness. All actions contained within the circle are contaminated. The two arrows indicate that this contaminated action can be either positive or negative. The positive ones within the round of cyclic existence are the cause of happiness. The negative ones are the cause of suffering.

Because, at our present stage, negative contaminated actions produce all our suffering, this is the kind of action that we must eliminate first. Until we have attained insight into emptiness we must rely on positive contaminated actions to produce the causes of happiness and finally total liberation from suffering. Because we are at present unable to perform uncontaminated actions we must do our best to eliminate negative contaminated actions and engage in positive contaminated actions. The latter refer, for example, to such practices as generosity, patience and habitually pure moral conduct. Such activities provide the means by which we can progress towards our ultimate goal of liberation. When we actually gain direct intuitive insight into the ultimate nature of all phenomena, emptiness, we shall then be able to extricate ourselves from cyclic existence. As a result of this realization our previously contaminated positive actions will be transformed into non-contaminated positive actions and by the force of that transformation we will be able to root out suffering and its causes. We should not therefore mistakenly think that all actions are a cause of rebirth in the round of existence. Rather, we must distinguish between actions which are contaminated or non-contaminated. Also, although contaminated positive actions produce an effect within the round of cyclic existence, they are needed at first to provide the impetus which will enable us to develop the ability to carry out non-contaminated positive actions. For example, if we wish to board a plane we must first climb some steps. These are essential to get on the plane, but once we are on board, they are no longer necessary and can be taken away. Uncontaminated Karma is like the flight of a plane. The steps leading to the door are similar to contaminated positive actions. We cannot avoid the steps – they are necessary. And in the same way, if we try to avoid engaging in contaminated positive actions by saying they are a cause for cyclic existence, this would be an absurdity since they are the very means by which we reach the higher stages.

Karma refers to our daily activities, and apart from these activities, there is no ‘big something’ outside us which is causing our happiness or suffering. If we perform a bad act, such as killing or stealing, the result of that act will arise both in this and future lives. In this life we may be abused and harmed by others and in future lives suffer similar consequences. On the contrary, if we lead a good life, are habitually generous and have sound morals, not only will we experience the results of this in future lives but even in this life very good effects will manifest.