Abhidhamma in Daily Life (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa)

by Ashin Janakabhivamsa | 66,666 words

English translation of "Abhidhamma in Daily Life" by Professor Ko Lay. Revised by Sayadaw U Silananda, International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University, Yangon, 1999...

Cause 4 - Untimely Death

Uppachedaka death means untimely death or unnatural death. Some sentient beings are destined to go on living since their life span and kammic forces permit them to do so. But if some evil deeds done in the past suddenly come to fruition, evil kamma effects cause them to die an untimely death. This death is similar to the dying out of flame by a gust of wind through wick and oil remain or intentional blowing out by someone. Such a death is known as death due to upacchedaka kamma, close interruption by powerful evil kammic effect.

The Venerable Moggallana, in one of his previous existences killed his mother. This great evil of his had the opportunity to come to fruition in the existence as Moggallana; therefore he had to suffer the attack by five hundred robbers before he entered Parinibbána. King Bimbisara, in one of his previous lives, walked on the pagoda platform wearing shoe, For this bad kamma he died suffering wounds inflicted by his son on the sole of feet. Samavati and her retinue were burnt to death because they, in one pat life had burnt a Pacceka Buddha while he was absorbed in jhana meditation. When he rose up from it and was found alive, Savamti and her companions set fire to him again till death, fearing consequences of their evil deeds if discovered. There are instances in which strong akusala kamma caused untimely deaths.

Some very grave evil kamma can produce immediate effect. Dusi, the Mara, threw stones at the head of the chief disciple of Kassapa Buddha. Nanda, the demon hit the head of Venerable Shariputra. The Bodhisatta Khanti Vadi the hermit was killed by the order of King Kalabu. All of them, Dusi, Nanda and King Kalabu, due to their evil kamma, were swallowed by the earth in their present lives because their heinous acts produced immediate evil results. In like manner, those who insult or humiliate parents, elders and superiors are bound to suffer from the effects of their akusala kamma and die untimely deaths known as akala marana before completing their life span.

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