ABHIDHAMMA IN DAILY LIFE - Abhidhamma.com

Verbal kamma means the words that you utter. Forms of exhortations, lying, preaching, all fall
into this category.
Mental kamma means the thoughts that occur in your mind, short of physical action and
utterances by mouth. Evil thoughts such as "How I wish all property were mine" are mental
kamma. Pity, compassion, sympathy, appreciative joy, practicing bhávaná meditation is also
different forms of mental kamma.
Physical Kamma - Any physical action or deed.. Take for instance killing some being or giving
charity, etc.
7.1.a The Culprit
The three forms of kamma do not occur automatically. For instance, in the act of killing the hand
gets hold of the dagger. There is bound to be a prompting force makes you to utter certain words.
While you are asleep there occurs no mental kamma even though many units of consciousness
are arising. We now conclude therefore, that there must be a force different from the basic mind;
and this force, is the culprit of the three-kamma actions..
7.1 b Volition is the Culprit
The culprit, which prompts the three-kamma actions, is nothing but the mental concomitant,
which occurs in the mind-continuum of beings. This volition is the busiest, the most active of all
consciousness - cetasikas. Because volition impels to perform a certain deed, because it is
responsible for the completion of every kamma action, volition is commonly called kamma.
7.2 Consciousness That Is Not Noticeable
Through practical experience you find, some mind and consciousness are prominent while some
are not. Some do not show themselves while you are asleep even though the mind continuum is
in the process. When you are wide awake too, you unmindfully see, hear, smell or touch, the eyeconsciousness,
ear-consciousness, etc. that arise are not clearly noticeable; as you ponder about
this and that absent-mindedly, sense-objects come to the mind only unwittingly. It is due to the
prompting of wholesome or unwholesome volition, that physical or verbal actions take place; but
when the impulsive force of each volition accompanying the consciousness that arise is weak no
action results. Such volitions without any force of impulsion to complete certain acts occur in the
course of a day.
7.2.1 Prominent Wholesome and Unwholesome Volition
When you have a strong will to kill someone, the anger mind and volition become very strong
and overwhelming. Your thoughts are occupied with plans to carry out the murder. Likewise if
you are too overwhelmed by evil thoughts of sensual pleasures you develop intense greed or lust
in your mind and your body becomes aroused and active. At such times when actions, words and
thoughts are all intent on evil deeds, the volition inside you is also powerful. The evil volitions
are very dynamic impulses and are prominent and quite noticeable in the normal trend of
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