Death-Proximate Kamma (Asanna-kamma)
1. The Meaning of Death-Proximate Kamma
Death-Proximate Kamma is wholesome and unwholesome deeds that are performed soon before death or wholesome and unwholesome deeds that are recalled just before death.
2. Characteristics of Death-Proximate Kamma
Death-Proximate Kamma is second to Strong-Effect-Producing Kamma in terms of strength. It means that when an individual has not performed wholesome or unwholesome Strong-Effect-Producing Kamma, it is Death-Proximate Kamma that will give its consequences first after he dies. But if the individual possesses Strong-Effect-Producing Kamma, after it gives its consequences, Death-Proximate Kamma will be next in line to give its consequences. The speed with which Death-Proximate Kamma gives its consequence is not dependent on its level or amount. It is like cows which have been kept in the corral; once the fence is opened, the cow closest to the fence at the time will be the first one out. It does not matter whether it is old and weak or young and strong. Whatever deeds or Kamma that an individual can recall just before death will give its consequences first, regardless of the presence of other types of past unwholesome or wholesome Kamma.
There are two types of Death-Proximate Kamma: unwholesome Death-Proximate Kamma and wholesome Death-Proximate Kamma. Unwholesome Death-Proximate Kamma will lead one to be reborn in the States of Loss and Woe after one dies. On the contrary, wholesome Death-Proximate Kamma will lead one to be reborn in the States of Happiness after one dies.
3. Unwholesome Death-Proximate Kamma
Unwholesome Death-Proximate Kamma means unwholesome deeds which lead one to be reborn in the States of Loss and Woe.
A Case Study as Recorded in the Tripitaka
Having a Rebirth as a Naga Because of His Unwholesome Death-Proximate Kamma
During the time of the Lord Buddha Kassapa, there was a young lay devotee who had the desire to leave the suffering of the round of rebirth. He gave away all of his possessions and became ordained as a Buddhist monk. He diligently practiced meditation. One day, he wanted to go look for a suitable place that would be conducive to his meditation practice. He had to travel by boat in order to get to his destination. Unfortunately, during the ride his hand accidentally got tangled in some vegetation and as the boat moved, the vegetation was uprooted. He realized that he had just transgressed the Dhamma-Discipline by having caused the vegetation to be uprooted. It was necessary for him to recognize his transgression according to the Dhamma-Discipline but he did not do it, thinking it was only a minor transgression.
After he found the location he wanted, he devoted himself to meditation practice for a total of 20,000 years. Yet, he could not realize the Dhamma. As the time of his death approached, he recalled the incident about the uprooted vegetation and became very worried about this transgression. Unfortunately that was his last thought before he died. As a result, this unwholesome Asanna-kamma led him to be reborn as a Phya Naga king by the name of 'Erakapatta.'
4. Wholesome Death-Proximate Kamma
Wholesome Death-Proximate Kamma means wholesome deeds which lead one to be reborn in theStates of Happiness after one dies.
A Case Study as Recorded in the Tripitaka
The Hereafter of Matthakundali
During the time of our Lord Buddha, here was a Brahmin in the city of Savatthi. He was a miserly man and would never give anyone anything so the people called him 'Adinnapubbaka.' He had an only child. Although he loved his son dearly, when he wanted to give his son some jewelry, his miserliness caused him to make the jewelry himself by fashioning two simple earrings from gold. So the people called the young man 'Matthakundali' which meant simple earrings.
When Matthakundali was 16 years old, he was afflicted by an illness which made him thin and sallow. The Brahmin's wife told her husband to fetch a physician, but being miserly he went to ask for a formula from the physician so that he could prepare the medication himself. But the medication made his son's symptoms worse, so this time the Brahmin went to fetch the physician. By then, it was too late and the physician could not do anything to help the young man.
As the young man's condition grew worse, the Brahmin moved him to the front porch because he did not want anyone visiting his sick son to see his possessions inside the house. Near dawn one morning, the Lord Buddha had just emerged from the bliss of deep meditation and checked to see whom he would save on that day. The image of Matthakundali appeared to Him. The Lord Buddha immediately appeared at the front door of the Brahmin's house. At the time, Matthakundali was lying down and facing the house. The Lord Buddha exuded His personal radiance once to make the young man wonder what the light was. He turned toward the light and saw the Lord Buddha. Since his father had never taken him to see the Lord Buddha, to listen to the Dhamma lectures, or to make an offering of alms to the Buddhist monks, Matthakundali never had the opportunity to pay homage to the Lord Buddha. Since he was so weak that he could not raise his hands or do anything to pay homage to the Lord Buddha, he did so in his mind. After the Lord Buddha left, the young man died. He was reborn in the Tavatimsa Realm as a gentleman celestial being having a celestial castle standing 390 kilometers high.
Matthakundali never gave alms or listened to any Dhamma lecture given by the Lord Buddha, but he had a firm belief in the Lord Buddha just before his death. It was this wholesome Death-Proximate Kamma that caused him to have a rebirth in the Celestial Realm.
