The Law of Kamma as Taught in
Different Religious Beliefs
It is a universal fact that humanity is divided as a result of different ideas and beliefs. Individuals that share similar ideas and beliefs seek to be with each other. This self-imposed segregation has been with humanity all throughout the ages. During the time of our Lord Buddha, there was a widespread of different ideas and beliefs. The ideas and beliefs of some religious sects were good, but others were questionable. The Lord Buddha made comments about these different sects, their ideas and beliefs according to how well or how much their ideas and beliefs corresponded to the Law of Kamma.
Ideas and beliefs which go against the Law of Kamma are as follows:
1. Alms-giving has no consequences.
2. Aid-giving has no consequences.
3. Revering those who are worthy of our reverence has no consequences.
4. An action has no consequences.
5. The reality of this world does not exist.
6. The hereafter does not exist.
7. Motherhood is inconsequential.
8. Fatherhood is inconsequential.
9. There is no such thing as 'Spontaneous Rising.'
10. Enlightened monks, who can penetrate the whole truth about existence and teach it to others, do not exist.
These ideas and beliefs arise from wrong understanding and are called 'Wrong View.' Any individuals who have these beliefs are said to be 'Wrong View' individuals. These 'Wrong View' individuals can be further grouped into three main categories as follows:
1. Natthikaditthi: A belief in nihilism. These individuals tend to pride themselves on having a logical and advanced thinking. They may even antagonize an Arahat as a result of their 'Wrong View.'
2. Akiriyaditthi: The belief that an action has no consequences. Whatever good deed that one does or asks another to do earns no merit. Whatever bad deed that one does or asks another to do earns no retribution. Believers of these ideas deny the existence of the Law of Kamma and the importance of morality.
3. Ahetukaditthi: A belief in non-causality. They believe that an individual's life is not affected by anything but his own fate, which is dictated by his astrological birth chart. Individuals that subscribe to this belief will abandon themselves to their so called fate and show no desire to improve upon their situation. They believe that there is no connection between cause and effect and everything is the way it has to be.
'Wrong View' causes human beings to be dominated by defilements, which drive them to commit all kinds of misdeeds. These misdeeds cause suffering for themselves and for society here and now and cause them to go to the States of Unhappiness after they die. Therefore, the Lord Buddha taught that having the 'Wrong View' is a worse offense than any other types of unwholesomeness. 'Wrong View' causes human beings to be irresponsible and to be unreceptive to anything decent.
If one should wonder why we need to learn about 'Wrong View,' it can be explained in this way. When a person lives in filth, when he hears about the virtue of cleanliness, it is difficult for him to understand what cleanliness is and what use it can be. Only when he has seen both filth and cleanliness can he understand the virtue of cleanliness. In the same manner, a person can understand the virtue of 'Right View' when he can truly appreciate the harm caused by 'Wrong View.
