English translation
2.1.3 Born of One‘s own Kamma *
There are, Bhikkhus, five facts that any woman, man, householder and recluse should repeatedly consider. What are these five?
‘It is in my nature to get old, I cannot escape old age’—in this way any woman, man, householder and recluse should repeatedly consider.
‘It is in my nature to encounter diseases, I cannot escape diseases’—in this way any woman, man, householder and recluse should repeatedly consider.
‘It is in my nature to pass away, I cannot escape death’—in this way any woman, man, householder and recluse should repeatedly consider.
‘I will be separated and disconnected from all which is dear and beloved to me’—in this way any woman, man, householder and recluse should repeatedly consider.
‘Kamma is my only possession, I am heir to my kamma, I am born from my kamma, kamma is my relative, kamma is my reconciliation, whatever kamma I perform, wholesome or unwholesome, I will be the heir thereof.’—in this way any woman, man, householder and recluse should repeatedly consider.
…
And what, Bhikkhus, is the reason that any woman, man, householder and recluse should repeatedly consider: ‘Kamma is my only possession, I am heir to my kamma, I am born from my kamma, kamma is my relative, kamma is my reconciliation, whatever kamma I perform, wholesome or unwholesome, I will be the heir thereof.’?
There are, Bhikkhus, beings performing unwholesome actions of body, unwholesome actions of speech, unwholesome actions of mind. If these beings were to repeatedly consider this fact this unwholesomeness would fully be eliminated or at least partly reduced. This, Bhikkhus, is the reason that any woman, man, householder and recluse should repeatedly consider: ‘Kamma is my only possession, I am heir to my kamma, I am born from my kamma, kamma is my relative, kamma is my reconciliation, whatever kamma I perform, wholesome or unwholesome, I will be the heir thereof.’ …
… And also, Bhikkhus, a noble disciple should consider in the same way thus:
‘I am not the only one who is bound to kamma as his only possession, who is heir to his kamma, is born from his kamma, has kamma as his relative and kamma as his reconciliation, whatever kamma I perform, wholesome or unwholesome, I will be the heir thereof. Wherever there are beings coming and going, passing away and getting born, all these beings are in the same way bound to kamma as their only possession, are heir to their kamma, are born from their kamma, have kamma as their relative and kamma as their reconciliation, whatever kamma they perform, wholesome or unwholesome, they will be the heir thereof.’
And while he reconsiders thus, the path comes into existence. Thus he follows up the path, develops it and increases it. In associating with the path, in developing it and increasing it the binding fetters loosen and the impurities get extinguished.
*Abhiṇhapaccavekkhitabbaṭhānasuttaṃ: abhiṇha + paccavekkhitabba + ṭhāna + suttaṃ: repeatedly + should be considered + grounds + sutta