The Reality of Doing Good Deeds but Encountering Bad Results

This question is a difficulty that troubles the minds of most people in the world. Although we can say with our mouths the principle of Kamma and its Results—"If you do good, good happens; if you do bad, bad happens"—there are often situations where we do not yet believe it within our hearts. When we see people in the world doing wrong yet prospering, we tend to say "Doing right but staying poor." Speaking like this is Micchādiṭṭhi (Wrong View) entering.

The True Nature of Kamma and Its Results

What we should understand is that at the time of performing a Kusala Kamma (wholesome deed), Akusala (unwholesome) elements can be included. For example, in making a donation, if one orders animals to be killed or chickens to be slaughtered for cooking curries, Akusala Kammas are mixed together with the Kusala Kamma. If this happens, because Kusala leads, wealth is obtained, but because Akusala is included, one also encounters bad things.

Therefore, in the world, we see some people doing good deeds but encountering suffering. This could be the results of Akusala Kammas from past lives. However, because they are performing Kusalas in the present, they will obtain good results in the future. We also see some people doing bad deeds yet prospering. Although this is the results of Kusala Kammas from past lives, because they are performing Akusalas in the present, they will encounter suffering in the future.

The Result of Kamma is Not Immediate

The result of Kamma is not given immediately on the spot, nor is it bound to give results only in a single lifetime. Some Kammas can give results in this life. Some Kammas can give results in the next life. Some Kammas give results only when conditions align. Therefore, truly believing in Kamma and its Results is Sammādiṭṭhi (Right View), and not believing is Micchādiṭṭhi.

Assuming that the earth has power, cardinal directions have power, Thursday is good, bird cries are auspicious, or the lines on the palm hold good or bad luck—these are Micchādiṭṭhis. These beliefs constitute not believing in Kamma and its Results. One must truly believe only in the principle: If you do good with your own Kamma, good happens; if you do bad, bad happens.

The Difference between Kamma Merit and Wisdom Merit

Although we understand Kusala and Akusala because we are Buddhists, we don't know much about there being two types of Kusala. There are two types of Kusala: Kamma Merit and Wisdom Merit. We have completed a life with Dāna, Sīla, Samatha and have not reached the aspect of Paññā (Wisdom). The appearance of the Buddha is for the sake of Paññā.

Kamma Kusala is the Cetanā (Volition) occurring in the Preceding Mind. For example, when saying "Please drink some coffee", Cetanā arises. When offering food to a Sayadaw, reciting "Idaṃ me puññaṃ nibbānassa paccayo hotu" constitutes Cetanā arising in the Preceding Mind. This Cetanā is like a banyan seed.

Wisdom Kusala is the Wisdom contemplating with Sati-Sampajañña in the Subsequent Mind. It is knowing with Sampajañña (Clear Comprehension) by noticing the arising Cetanā and realizing "It arises when conditions align, it ceases and disappears when conditions are absent". This Wisdom Kusala is like a great banyan tree. It is Wisdom Kusala arising based on Kamma Kusala.

The Meaning of "Offering a Banyan Seed, Getting a Banyan Tree"

We have heard the saying "If you offer the size of a banyan seed, you get the size of a banyan tree." When I was young, I wanted to win a hundred thousand in the lottery after donating about two kyats to the pagoda. This is understanding with Lobha (Greed). When hearing that offering a banyan seed yields a banyan tree, Lobha arises in the mind. Is Lobha good or bad? It is bad. We are not understanding the words of the wise like the wise, but understanding them from the side of Lobha, Dosa, Moha.

Actually, the meaning of "offering a banyan seed yields a banyan tree" implies that although the Kamma Kusala (Cetanā) of the Preceding Mind is the size of a banyan seed, the Wisdom Kusala (Sati-Sampajañña) of the Subsequent Mind becomes the size of a great banyan tree. Because Wisdom Kusala arises based on Kamma Kusala, they become Kusalas that support reaching Nibbāna.

If You Do Kusala, Akusala is Abandoned; If Akusala is Exhausted, Nibbāna is Reached

We did not know the principle: If you do Kusala, Akusala is abandoned; if Akusala is exhausted, Nibbāna is reached. Before, we were submerged in Taṇhā thinking "If I do Kusala, I get it; I will reach the Deva realm." This is possessing this great mind-matter as 'Mine', 'My property' with Lobha.

Doing Kusala means abandoning Akusala. It is like taking medicine cures the disease. By taking medicine, we do not get the medicine. We become well by the curing of the disease. Similarly, if one does Kusala, Akusala is abandoned; if Akusala is abandoned, one is happy; if Akusala is exhausted, suffering ceases and Nibbāna is reached. We suffer because of Akusalas.

Avoid Evil, Do Good, Purify the Mind The Buddha's teaching

"Avoid evil, do good, purify the mind" is very excellent. Avoiding evil means avoiding Akusalas. Doing good means doing Kusalas. However, we did not understand what purifying the mind meant.

Why is the mind not pure? The mind is not pure because when doing Kusala, we keep taking it as 'My Kusala', 'My Kusala'. There is Lobha included in assuming it as 'My Kusala'. If Lobha, Dosa, Moha are present, the mind cannot be pure in any way. Therefore, only by knowing Kamma Kusala and Wisdom Kusala does one realize that doing Kusala is not for getting something for oneself but for abandoning Akusala, and that if Akusala is exhausted, Nibbāna is reached.

Kusalas Happening in Daily Life

Every step is Kusala. Although we know that coming to the Dhamma hall to practice yields Kusala, it is difficult to be mindful that every step is Kusala. Scooping rice to feed at home is also Kusala, but if one gets angry while scooping, Akusala enters. Because one does not know it is Kusala nor does one know it is Akusala, good and bad get mixed up in life.

When drinking tea with friends, instead of saying "I will pay", saying "Please allow me to perform Kusala; I have a bit too much Akusala, so please allow me to perform Kusala" makes the words beautiful. By speaking like this, one comes to understand that Kusala is the abandoning of Akusala.

Conclusion

Therefore, doing good but having bad things happen is due to the complex nature of Kamma and its Results. It is due to causes such as past Kamma, present Kamma, and future Kamma being able to give results at different times, and Akusala being able to mix into Kusala Kamma. However, firmly believing in Kamma and its Results is Sammādiṭṭhi, and realizing the truth that 'If you do Kusala, Akusala is abandoned; if Akusala is exhausted, Nibbāna is reached' is Wisdom Kusala. Only by knowing Kamma Kusala and Wisdom Kusala does one fully perceive Kusala and Akusala from the aspect of Paññā.

Dr. Soe Lwin (Mandalay)