Kammapatha, in
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
, refers to the ten wholesome and unwholesome courses (or paths) of action (
karma
Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptivel ...
).
Among the ten in the two sets, three are bodily, four are verbal, and three are mental. The ten courses of unwholesome kamma may be listed as follows, divided by way of their doors of expression:
''Three of Body''
''Four of Speech''
''Three of Mind''
The ten courses of wholesome kamma are the opposites of these: abstaining from the first seven courses of unwholesome kamma, being free from covetousness and malice, and holding right view. Though the seven cases of abstinence are exercised entirely by the mind and do not necessarily entail overt action, they are still designated wholesome bodily and verbal action because they center on the control of the faculties of body and speech.
The Noble Eightfold Path by Bhikkhu Bodhi
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Je Tsongkhapa mentions that, while the first seven (those of body and speech) are paths of action (karma-patha) and actions (karma), the three of the mind are karma-patha but they are not actions (karma) as they culminate in intentions. While intentions are actions, they are not karma-patha.
Further reading
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See also
* Karma in Buddhism
Karma (Sanskrit, also ''karman'', Pāli: ''kamma'') is a Sanskrit term that literally means "action" or "doing". In the Buddhist tradition, ''karma'' refers to action driven by intention ('' cetanā'') which leads to future consequences. Those ...
References
Buddhist philosophical concepts
Buddhist terminology
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