Question

Please explain the relationship between conditioning and Kamma.

Answer

Conditioning and Kamma. Everything we think, say and do has a result. We are born of our Kamma, related to our Kamma, abide supported by our Kamma, whatever Kamma we shall do, of that we shall be the heir. So according to the Buddha's teaching, what family we are born to that conditions us, arises due to our Kamma. However, the choices we make within that situation creates new condition for ourselves. Our conditioning is a cycle of Cause and Effect, "this causes this result."

But if there was no way out of our conditioning, then there would be no chance of the ending of suffering. So suppose due to your conditioning, the people whom you were taught by, your parents, your family, etc., brought forth certain results. But in the present, we have the opportunity to cut this cycle of conditioning and create a different cycle of conditioning. Hopefully, by creating a different cycle of conditioning by walking the path, we are working towards ending the cycle of cause and effect, and ultimately ending the cycle of birth and death.

For example, suppose due to your conditioning you have been conditioned to believe it is good to be angry, it gives you strength and power to let go of your suffering. For example, anger comes, people feel stress within themselves and due to their conditioning they think it is good to express it. That is what they have been encouraged to believe and they don't know any other way, because suppressing it causes them rage and they don't know what to do with the anger if they suppress it. So they express it. By expressing it, there is a cause for it to arise again and so this cycle of conditioning continues. The anger comes up due to their wrong view and wrong intention, they grab onto it through their wrong view and express it causing the arising of anger again in the future.

So they are trapped in the cycle of conditioning of this wrong view that suffering comes from that person, this person, life, etc. Now in order to break through that cycle, they have to develop an objective awareness. As we teach, first note the anger for what it is and see the result within ourselves so that we can start to see the true cause of suffering, getting insight into the Four Noble Truths, so that our view becomes Right View. The intention becomes right, that is compassion arises. As we start to see we are on the path out of suffering; Right View, Right Intention. Compassion arises and there is the fading away of the aversion, so instead of a seed for the same conditioning being sown, there is a seed for wisdom and the path leading out of this conditioning.

Everything we think, say and do has a result and continues the cycle of conditioning, the cycle of Kamma. Conditioning and Kamma are very similar. But through understanding this impersonal process of cause and effect, we can work within this Law of Conditioning and Kamma so that we sow the causes for the results we want.

Our apologies if there are any errors in the above text. If anything seems to be wrong or confusing in any way, please feel free to contact the teachers for further clarification.