Is intention kamma?

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
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Bhikkhu Pesala
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Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:17 pm

Re: Is intention kamma?

Post by Bhikkhu Pesala »

Tom wrote:Would "volition" or some other term be a better translation of "cetana"?
The Buddha clearly stated that cetanā is kamma (cetanāhaṃ bhikkhave kammaṃ vadāmi), so we are discussing cetanā in this thread.

Translation is always problematic — whichever word we choose it will have nuances not found in the original Pāli, and some nuances of the original Pāli will be lost in translation. So don't worry too much about the actual term used — try to understand how kamma works by reading widely.
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Dr. Dukkha
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Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2013 3:02 am

Re: Is intention kamma?

Post by Dr. Dukkha »

Cittasanto wrote:
Tom wrote:Is intention itself kamma? For example, if one has an intention to undertake some deed, but ends up not doing the deed, is the intention itself considered kamma?
Intention is Kamma, as in a mental action.
As all acts start out as a mental process - even knee jerk reactions - intention has a role, whether deliberate or not.

what one perceives, what one thinks over, and what one fills the senses with: this supports the continuation of consciousness, and is a support for acts of body, speech and mind in the future.
What about medications that cause intrusive thought? Or a disorder with intrusive thought in general? Would those be considered demerit as well?

I'm thinking possibly because they generated the kamma to be in that condition themselves, so they have to deal with constantly regenerating demerit because of it, but I'm really not sure. It doesn't seem fair that there is a "point of no return."
"There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting."
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