Question on kamma in other realms and precept of non killing

[Huihua Wong]

Hi bhante ,

I would like to ask two questions. One on karma and one on the precept of non killing.

1. Are there any karmic effects that beings in other realms create which will affect them and make them transit between realms ?

2. Buddhist adopt non killing: Buddha said we should not consume food that is killed for our meals or when we see it being killed or when we heard it being killed by us. What does the "heard" means ? Does it mean we hear the cry of the animal or we hear literally the news ?

Regards
Hui Hua

[Bhikkhu Sunyo]

Hi dear Huihua,

Question 1: Kamma is the driving force of rebirth, so are there karmic effects to make beings go to other realms? Yes! That is basically the only way to go to another realm. (Or rebirth in the same realm is also a result of kamma.) I think there is also a story or quote in the suttas somewhere about certain devas who instantly get "transferred" to a lower realm as soon as they have a bad thought. While that is a bit of an extreme example, the same principle applies for all beings.

Question 2: The thing you laid out about not being able to consume meat knowing that it is killed, is a rule for monks and nuns. As far as I know the Buddha never suggested this for lay persons (although it can still be a good practice to adopt). "Heard" means that we have come to know it through word of mouth. It does not mean the cry of the animal itself. Let me give you an example. One day a person who owned a chicken ranch comes up to the monastery and says: "I have killed some chickens for you monks and made butter chicken curry." That would count as having heard that those animals are specifically killed for the monks, and they would not be allowed to eat it. Again, this is a rule for monks and nuns, not for lay people.

With kindness,

Sunyo

[Huihua Wong]

Thanks bhante for the answers. It has helped clear my doubts.

With metta
Huihua

Hi dear Huihua,

Question 1: Kamma is the driving force of rebirth, so are there karmic effects to make beings go to other realms? Yes! That is basically the only way to go to another realm. (Or rebirth in the same realm is also a result of kamma.) I think there is also a story or quote in the suttas somewhere about certain devas who instantly get "transferred" to a lower realm as soon as they have a bad thought. While that is a bit of an extreme example, the same principle applies for all beings.

Question 2: The thing you laid out about not being able to consume meat knowing that it is killed, is a rule for monks and nuns. As far as I know the Buddha never suggested this for lay persons (although it can still be a good practice to adopt). "Heard" means that we have come to know it through word of mouth. It does not mean the cry of the animal itself. Let me give you an example. One day a person who owned a chicken ranch comes up to the monastery and says: "I have killed some chickens for you monks and made butter chicken curry." That would count as having heard that those animals are specifically killed for the monks, and they would not be allowed to eat it. Again, this is a rule for monks and nuns, not for lay people.

With kindness,

Sunyo