The Second Category of Kamma:
Kamma Which Gives Its Consequences as a Function of Strength
Kamma works to make us uniquely different and our overall Kamma depends on our past and current deeds. We may sometimes hear about a certain individual that has had a good life when for some reason, he begins to suddenly experience one problem after another, sort of like 'when it rains, it pours.' He may go from being a millionaire to being a poor person, or we may hear of a person who has been poor all of his life when for some reasons he meets with unexpected prosperity. Our lives can indeed change very dramatically and quickly at times. When our overall wholesome Kamma has been nearly exhausted and no new wholesome deeds are being accumulated in the present, this situation can cause our past unwholesome Kamma to give its consequences quite suddenly. But if we had accumulated a vast amount of wholesome deeds in our past lifetime(s), and we continue to regularly accumulate wholesome deeds in the present lifetime, it will be difficult for our past unwholesome deeds to give its consequences.
Our overall wholesome and unwholesome Kamma follows us everywhere like a shadow. If anyone is unwary and reckless in the way he lives his life, he can easily commit unwholesome deeds. If the unwholesome Kamma is very grave, it will give its consequences with a real force when the time comes. A comfortable life can turn into a life plagued with all kinds of problems. Or if one dies, one will suffer horrific forms of punishment in the States of Loss and Woe for an unimaginably long time. Knowledge of the Law of Kamma should help us to live our lives carefully so that we will not make the mistake of committing any misdeed.
We will concentrate on the category of Kamma which gives its consequences as a function of strength. For this category of Kamma, one rule applies: Kamma which is more potent will give its consequences faster. This applies to both wholesome and unwholesome Kamma, regardless of when it is performed. That is, if the Kamma is potent but performed later, it can still give its consequences earlier. It means that the speed and the order with which Kamma gives its consequences depend on its potency or strength. The order in which different types of Kamma give their consequences is automatically in place and needs no aid from any outside agent. Our different Kamma knows to arrange itself accordingly and in the right order.
This category of Kamma includes:
Strong-Effect-Producing Kamma (Garuka-kamma);
Death-Proximate Kamma (Asanna-kamma);
Habitual Kamma (Acinna-kamma); and
Casual Kamma (Katatta-kamma).
The speeds with which they give their consequences are as follows:
