The Buddha said that individuals were the owner of their actions, inheritor of their actions, born of their actions, related through their actions, and had their actions as their judge.

Whatever individuals did, good or evil, they would feel the resulting effects of that.

The Buddha said that intention is what he called action, for through intention one initiates these actions through the door of the body, speech or mind.

He said:

• There is kamma (intentional action), that ripens in hell
• There is kamma that ripens in the animal world
• There is kamma that ripens in the heavenly world
• There is kamma that ripens in the world of humans

Threefold, however, is this ripening fruit of kamma:

• Ripening during here in this life
• Ripening during the next rebirth
• Ripening in later rebirths

 

The ten advantageous courses of actions are:

• The three bodily actions: avoidance of killing, stealing, abusive sexuality.
• The four verbal actions: avoidance of lying slandering, angry and empty speech.
• The three mental actions: withdrawal, good-will, right views.
• Greed, hate and confusion are conditions for the arising of kamma.

One who kills and harms goes either to hell or, if reborn as man, will be short-lived. One who torments others will be afflicted with disease. The angry one will look ugly; the envious one will be without influence. The stingy one will be poor; the stubborn will be low and stupid. The lazy will be without knowledge. In the contrary case, one will be reborn in heaven or reborn as man. One will be long-lived, beautiful, influential, highborn and intelligent.

There are ten meritorious actions leading to human or divine rebirth:

• Giving.
• Morality.
• Meditation.
• Reverence by paying respect to monks and elder.
• Performing services to others.
• Transference of merits to others.
• Rejoicing in others’ merit.
• Learning this true Dhamma.
• Teaching this true Dhamma.
• Correcting views.

 

To the extent that there are beings, past and future, passing away and re-arising, all beings are the owner of their actions, inheritor to their actions, born of their actions, related through their actions, and live dependent on their actions. Whatever they do, for good or for evil, from that will they feel the result.