Reproductive Kamma (Janaka-kamma)
1. The Meaning of Reproductive Kamma
Reproductive Kamma means Kamma which causes each consciousness to be reborn in a particular realm of existence such as the Animal Realm, the Human Realm, the Celestial Realm, etc.
2. Characteristics of Reproductive Kamma
From its meaning, Reproductive Kamma can be compared to a mother who gives birth to a child. Once Reproductive Kamma causes a being to be reborn in a particular realm of existence as dictated by the being's overall Kamma, its duty is over. It is Reproductive Kamma which provides the physical makeup of each being such as its eyes, ears, nose, arms, legs, etc., be it an animal, a hell being, a human being, a celestial being, etc. In addition, Reproductive Kamma causes all beings to differ in terms of a healthy body, a handicapped body, a good-looking form, a homely form, a high birth, a low birth, a high intelligence, a low intelligence, being wealthy, being poor, etc.
There are two types of Reproductive Kamma: wholesome and unwholesome. Unwholesome Reproductive Kamma will cause a consciousness to be reborn in the States of Unhappiness. These are the four States of Loss and Woe which include the Hell Realm, the Peta Realm, the Asurakaya Realm, and the Animal Realm. Examples of how Reproductive Kamma works are presented in the following case studies.
A Case Study in Unwholesome Kamma as Recorded in the Tripitaka
The Past Kamma of Four Hell Beings
During the time of the Lord Kassapa Buddha, there were four men who came from four wealthy families and they were very close friends. In spite of their great wealth, they did nothing to benefit others. They were reckless and committed mostly misdeeds. They transgressed the Precepts. They had affairs with married women. After they died, they were reborn in the hell realm of 'Lohakumbhi' and had experienced horrific suffering there for a total of 60,000 hell years. When each of these four hell beings struggled to the top of the punishment pit, it wanted to voice what was on its mind. The first hell being wanted to say, "Dujjivitamajivamha yesan tena dadamhase vijjamanesu bhogesu dipannakamha attano," which means "When I was wealthy, I did not practice generosity. I did not make any provisions for myself. I lived a life of evil." Since the hell being only had a fraction of a second before being sucked back into the hot, gigantic pot which was being constantly heated by hellfire, the only sound it managed to make was "Du."
The second hell being wanted to say, "Satthivassasahassani paripunnani subbaso niraye paccamananan kada anto bhavissati," which means "I have to burn in hell for 60,000 years. I have to serve my sentence. When will it ever be over?" But all it managed to say was "Sa" before it was sucked back into the hot, gigantic pot which was being constantly heated by hellfire.
The third hell being wanted to say, "Natthi anto kuto anto na anto patidissati tada hi pakatan papan mama tumhanca Marisa," which means "There's no end. Where is the end? There's no end in sight. I committed too many misdeeds." But the only sound it managed to make was "Na."
The fourth hell being wanted to say, "Sohan nuna ito gantava yoni laddhana manusi vadannu silasampanno kahami kusalan pahun," which means "If I ever leave Lohakumbhi and am reborn in the Human Realm, I will give alms and observe the Precepts meticulously. I will accumulate many wholesome deeds." But all it managed to say was "So."
The misdeeds of the four men that had been committed throughout their lives became the Reproductive Kamma which caused them to serve their long and horrific sentence in the hell realm of 'Lohakumbhi.'
A Case Study in Wholesome Kamma as Recorded in the Tripitaka
The Destiny of a Lay Devotee
During the time of our Lord Buddha, there was a lay devotee who believed strongly in the Triple Gem. He was devoted to the Buddhist Cause. He held the Lord Buddha's Teachings in the highest regards. He performed wholesome deeds and observed the Five Precepts regularly. On every Buddhist Holy Day, he would observe the Eight Precepts and make a food offering to the monks. Later on, he would be dressed in white clothes and make an offering of the juice of eight different fruits to the monks before listening to the Lord Buddha's sermon. Throughout his life, he had accumulated only wholesome deeds and the reputation of his virtue spread far and wide.
After he died, the accumulation of his wholesome deeds became the Reproductive Kamma which caused him to be reborn as a gentleman celestial being in the Tavatimsa Realm. He possessed a large and magnificent white celestial elephant whose body was covered with ornaments made of precious gems. The white elephant served as his celestial vehicle that transported him to wherever he wanted. Every time this celestial being went outside his celestial castle, he would ride on this magnificent elephant accompanied by a large celestial retinue.
One night this celestial being or the former lay devotee was thinking about the Lord Buddha. So he was dressed in his most elegant attire, rode on his white elephant and descended from the Tavatimsa Realm to the Earth in order to pay homage to the Lord Buddha at the Veluvana Temple. He was accompanied by his retinue.
When the gentleman celestial being arrived at the temple, Phra Vangisa, who was an Arahat, saw the glorious celestial being who exuded great personal radiance and wanted to converse with him. He asked for the Lord Buddha's permission to speak to the celestial being. After being granted permission, Phra Vangisa asked the celestial being how he came to possess such a spectacular celestial fortune. The celestial being paid homage to the Arahat before he gave him the following answer.
"When I was a human being, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to listen to the Lord Buddha's sermons. I vowed to be a lay devotee and diligently observed the Five Precepts. I abstained from killing, from stealing, from sexual misconduct, from false speech and from alcohol. I offered food and beverages to the monks and novices with respect and devotion. On every Holy Day, I observed the Eight Precepts. These accumulated good deeds caused me to be reborn in the Tavatimsa Realm and to possess this vast celestial fortune." After the conversation, the celestial being paid the Lord Buddha a deep homage and said his farewell to Phra Vangisa. He then returned to his celestial castle in the Tavatimsa Realm.
