Beneficent and Maleficent Forces  How one’s present life-situation influences one’s actions and future life - Ven. Narada Mahathera

In the working of Kamma it should be understood that there are beneficent and maleficent forces to counteract and support this self-operating law. Birth (jati), time or conditions (kala), personality or appearance (upadhi) and effort (payoga) are such aids and hindrances to the fruition of Kamma.

If, for instance, a person is born in a noble family or in a state of happiness, his fortunate birth will sometimes hinder the fruition of his evil Kamma. If on the other hand, he is born in a state of misery or in an unfortunate family, his unfavorable birth will provide an easy opportunity for his evil Kamma to operate.

This is technically known as Jati Sampatti (favorable birth) and Jati Vipatti (unfavorable birth).

An unintelligent person, who, by some good Kamma, is born in a royal family, will, on account of his noble parentage, be honored by the people. If the same person were to have a less fortunate birth, he would not be similarly treated.

© "Dhamma" (May 2003) published by Buddha Vachana Trust, 14, Kalidasa Road, Gandhinagar, Bangalore 560 009. Website: www.mbodhi.com. Reprinted with permission.

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