THE LIGHT OF DHAMMA VOLUME X – PARIYATTI

What Kamma Is

Kamma is a Pali word meaning action. It is call Karma in Sanskrit. In its general sense Kamma means all good and bad actions. It covers all kinds of intentional actions whether mental, verbal or physical, thoughts, words and deeds. In its ultimate sense Kamma means all moral and immoral volition. The Buddha says: “Mental volition, O Bhikkhus, is what I call action (Kamma). Having volition one acts by body, speech and thought.” Anguttara Nikaya III 415.