ABHIDHAMMA IN DAILY LIFE - Abhidhamma.com

that he had to go out alone for alms-food again. After partaking of a meal the Venerable asked
his donors to send a bowl of food to the Losaka Tissa Thera. The servants who were sent with
the bowl ate the food on the way. When the Venerable Shariputra came to know that the food did
not reach the monk, he asked for a bowl of delicious food from King Kosala and fed the Arahat
with the bowl held in his hand lest the bowl would disappear. This was the monk's last full meal
and he entered Parinibbána immediately.
Note:
In this episode one person's misdeed done during the time of Kassapa the Buddha affected the
whole community when he was reborn in a fishing village. Even his teacher the Venerable
Shariputra did not get alms food because he was accompanied by Losaka Tissa Thera, the doer
of the unwholesome deed in the past. This is ample proof that the effects of misdeeds effect with
him in the series of existences. Therefore everyone should think of their well-being in samsara,
and lest they too should suffer indirect ill effects, take care to distance themselves, at least in
mind, if not in body from evil individuals even if they happen to be relatives. Only then, will one
be free from the evil aura of unwholesome deeds.
7.2.10 Ill Effect on Others
There are cases in which some person unfortunately suffered the ill effect in lieu of the doer. In
such cases the doer escaped the bad resultant effects due to some form of protection *, but
someone else very close to him such as his parents, teachers, children, servants, disciples or
donors had to suffer in his place. People would then say, "Poor creature became the victim of
kamma." The actual doer, who is responsible for the evil, will also feel sorry for the poor victim
though he escaped the ill effects of his own misdeed. It may be seen therefore he is not altogether
free from some suffering.
Note:
* From the point of view of astrology, if the doer of evil were under his lucky constellation, he
would not suffer from the evil effects, which are diverted to some relative, servant or family
member.
9.2.11 Same Kamma, Different Results
In this world there are good virtuous persons as well as bad, evil ones. Let us now suppose, a
good and a bad jointly committed an evil deed. The good one will not suffer much because his
good kamma will over-rule the single misdeed. However, for the bad person, since he has no
good kamma to cover him, will be fully effected by the evil results.
Example: -One night, a rich man's son and an opium-addict prowled around to snatch some
chicken. The rich man's son actually stole a hen and ran away but was caught by the owner.
Seeing the rich man's son the owner let him go because he dared not accuse him as a thief, he
even apologized to the lad. However, he charged the opium-addict with theft and put him in jail.
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