Role of Intention (Cetaana)
in Buddhist Ethical Doctrine of Kamma
Bhikkhu Thich Nhat-Tu
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It is no denying fact that the Buddha for the first time
in history of thought has laid stress on the importance of intention
or volition (cetanaa) in performing an act ethically. Cetanaa "refers
only to the self-centred, goal-directed and result-oriented volitional
disposition which impels the worldly individual (puthujjana)."(1)
Ethical good (kusala) or bad (akusala), merit (pu~n~na) or demerit (paapa)
leading to their perspective ethical consequences will be depended on
the level and quality of intention (cetanaa) of the ethical agent. If
the intention of performing an act is present in high level, the
result (vipaka) definitely bears the corresponding high level. If it
is absent, the result is lessened in quality of bearing fruit or may
not bear any fruit. Similarly, if the quality of intention is
ethically good, the acts having good intended intention bear wholesome
consequence; while the acts having evil intended will, bear
unwholesome consequence. This interpretation, however, should not be
confused with the statement that the Buddha’s theory of kamma is of
utilitarian type in the sense that it lays stress on the consequence.
It should be noted here that Buddhist ethics can be considered as
cetanaa-utilitarianism, which emphasizes the agent’s intention (cetanaa)
over the consequence of actions performed by him.The famous definition
of kamma attributed to the Buddha is read as: "Cetanaha"m bhikkhave
kamma"m vadaami; cetayitvaa kamma"m karoti kaayena vaacaaya manasaa,"(2)
literally means "Monks, intention or determinate thought,(3) I say, is
kamma. When intention is manifested, one acts by physical deed, speech
or thought."(4) This definition is reflected in the first twin-verse
of the Dhammapada, where it runs: "Mind is the fore-runner of all
mental states (and deeds) (dhammaa). All mental states (and deeds)
have mind as the command chief as well as their maker. If one acts or
speaks with an evil mind, dukkha follows him just as the wheel follows
the hoof-print of the ox that draws the cart . . . Similarly, if one
acts or speaks with a good mind, happiness follows him like a shadow
that never leaves him."(5) These two statements are of the same
emphasis that the taming and understanding the mind or intentional
motive is necessary to the ethical agent if moral practice and mental
training are to be cultivated in order to attain higher spirituality
or perfect enlightenment. It is, however, of great controversy in
giving interpretation to the above-mentioned definition. Before
proceeding to analysis of the relation between kamma and cetanaa, it
will be worthwhile to look at the interpretation given by scholars
then to turn briefly to a consideration of their use in the context
appeared.
Most of the Pali scholars are inclined to define "kamma as
exclusively cetanaa" (kammaha"m cetana"m vadaami). McDermott, thus,
writes: "In contrast to the Sarvaastivaadin opinion on this point, the
Pali schools consider all kamma to be cetanaa. Mental acts are pure
intentional impulse. Acts of body and voice are intentional impulses
which put the body and voice in motion, and not simply the actions
ensuant upon volition."(6) He further points out the common
translation of kamma as cetanaa that, "the Buddhist understanding of
kamma is what usually translated as "volition", "namely cetanaa."(7)
Poussin is perhaps the first thinker, who interprets kamma
as exclusively cetanaa: "Karma is volition and voluntary action,"(8)
and "Karma" is twofold:
1- Volition (cetanaa), or mental or spiritual action (maanasa),
and
2- What is born from volition, what is done by
volition.(9)
His reductive interpretation of kamma into cetanaa is seen
clearly when he writes:
-
"Buddhism, on the contrary, teaches that there is no Karman without
consciousness and even premeditation."(10)
In another passage, he does so when stressing the
importance of the concept of cetanaa coined by the Buddha:
- "We must consider this definition: "Karman is volition,
and bodily or verbal action which follows volitio", as one of the
steps in the history of the Indian thought."(11)
Halbfass is appeared to identify kamma with cetanaa
though he considers correctly the former is primary while the latter
secondary in nature:
- "A notion of agency which defines the act as rooted in,
or even as essentially identical with, volition and decision (cetanaa)
and interprets its vocal or physical implementation as a secondary
phenomenon."(12) The discussion of Krishan, in this regard, is found
precisely similar, "The Buddha for the first time propounded that
moral karma is essentially mental in its nature."(13) Karunaratna is,
in his scholarly article on cetanaa in the Encyclopaedia of
Buddhism,(14) of the view that cetanaa and kamma are synonymous in
denoting the idea of moral action in Buddhism. Thus he writes:
- "The all too brief definition states expressly,
precisely and concisely that cetanaa and kamma are equivalent, and
therefore, interchangeable as terms denoting the essential meaning of
moral action,"(15) or "Thus, cetanaa becomes one with kamma creating
consequences which serve to feed the further intensification of the
self-centred activity of the will."(16) On the basis of this equation,
he concludes that the path leading to the cessation of kamma is
identical with the path leading to the cessation of cetanaa and
saaakhaaraa.(17)
Von Glasenapp, in this regard, strongly claims that:
- ". . . The Buddha and the other sages have declared that
not the action itself, but exclusively the intention, the conscious
willing of the person acting (cetanaa), are of decisive
significance."(18)
Unlike Nyanatiloka (19) and others, Payutto carefully
defines kamma as cetanaa-kamma, rather than exclusively cetanaa, when
he writes:
- "Etymologically speaking, kamma means "work" or
"action". But in the context of Dhamma we define it more specifically
as "actions based on intention (cetanaa)" or "deeds willfully done".
Actions that are free of intention are not considered to be kamma in
the Buddha’s teaching."(20)
In his well-known book, The Buddha and His Teaching,
Narada has already stated this interpretation earlier:
1- The Pali term kamma, literally means action or doing.
Any kind of intentional action whether mental, verbal or physical is
regarded as kamma. It covers all that is included in the phrase,
"though, word and deed." Generally speaking, all good and bad actions
constitute kamma.
2- In its ultimate sense, kamma means all moral and immoral volition.
Involuntary, unintentional or unconscious actions, though technically
deed, do not constitute kamma, because volition, the most important
factor in determining kamma, is absent.(21)
While partially agreeing with the first part of his
definition, that kamma is any intentional action whether mental,
verbal or physical, I do not think the second part of his definition
is tenable. For him, any action without intention does not bear its
fruit. Such an interpretation proves somewhat unsatisfactory in
analysis of kamma as mere cetanaa. The reduction of kamma into
exclusive cetanaa cannot be accepted because the Buddha does not deny
the existence of unintentional actions (acetanaa-kammaa) rather than
he stresses the important role of cetanaa in directing and determining
human ethical actions. Moreover, it should be noted here that "not
only the intentional stimulus, but the action itself is also
significant from the Buddhist point of view."(22)
Thus, the interpretation of kamma as mere cetanaa by
modern scholars is unsatisfactory. This interpretation is in fact
rooted from the commentary literature, especially in the Visuddhimagga
and the Dhammasa"nga.nii A.t.thakathaa of the great Pali commentator,
Buddhaghosa. It is relevant here to take note on his analysis on the
Buddha’s statement. Quoting the Buddha (Cetanaaha"m bhikkhave kamma"m
vadaami), Buddhaghosa identifies kamma as exclusively cetanaa.(23) He
inserts that "kamma means consciousness or intention of the good and
the bad, merit and demerit."(24) This finds support in the
Atthasaalinii, where kamma is defined as cetanaa and the mental states
associated with it.(25) He however comes very close to the point, when
he claims intention is the source of physical deed, verbal deed and
mental deed . . . mind is the door of mental action."(26) In this
direction, it is believed that Harivarman’s interpretation of the same
is more relevant to the statement of the Buddha, and therefore
agreeable. For instance, in his Satyasiddhi'saastra,(27) he appears to
claim that kamma is not only cetanaa but the action manifested from it
as well. This logically follows that action manifested from intention
would include physical, verbal and mental deeds, and those actions
unassociated with or not originated from intention including
unintentionally physical, verbal and mental deeds. On the same page,
he stresses the importance of the mind, when he writes, "ethical
qualities, good and evil, are controlled by the agent’s mind,"(28) or
"without the presence of the mind, ethical good and evil is
impossible."(29) He points further out that "actions whether ethical
good or bad depends on the state of the mind."(30) He sees that
unintentional action certainly produces its fruition, though it is
ethically lessened, when he stresses that "the non-intentional kamma
is not great sin."(31) This gets support from scriptural passage,
where it is stated "he (Naa.taputta) acted unintentionally (asa~ncetanikam)
and hence it is not a great sin or crime."(32)
Among the modern scholars, Poussin, as I believe, rightly
points out that the Buddhist definition of kamma as "intention
together with the action", which follows upon it, to be one of the
steps in the history of Indian thought.(33) The emphasis in Buddhist
theory of kamma on goal-oriented intentional motive behind the action
is to bring out the forceful importance of ethical orientation, and
this in turn gives rise to deed-direction and tendencies, which affect
or determine the future states and conditions of the ethical agent.
What should be noted here is that by declaring "cetanaaha"m bhikkhave
kamma"m vadaami," the Buddha fundamentally lays great stress on the
importance of intention (cetanaa) behind the action as a major factor
in producing an ethical act leading to moral consequence, good or bad.
Having stressed the decisiveness of intention in determining the
tendency and the fruition of an act, the Buddha does not, in this
context, deny the existence of the other three kinds of kamma, namely
unintentional acts of body (acetanaa-kaaya-kamma), unintentional acts
of speech (acetanaa-vacii-kamma), and unintentional acts of mind (acetanaa-mano-kamma).
Because from three main modes of kamma, viz., bodily act, verbal act
and mental act, we can divide them into two sub-modes of actions,
namely intentional actions and unintentional actions. Of the first
group, there are intentional bodily action, intentional verbal action
and intentional mental action, which bears greatly ethical result,
good or bad. Belonging to the second, there are unintentional bodily
action, unintentional verbal action and unintentional mental action,
which bear lessened or minimized ethical result. The Buddha does not
reduce all kammas to cetanaa-kamma, as the scholars did. The emphasis
on the role of cetanaa no doubt is the Buddha’s contribution to not
only the theory of kamma but also to the ethical tendencies as well
its understanding leading to the specific ethical effects. Ch’en
states that the stress on cetanaa was a significant point added by the
Buddha to the prevailing views concerning karma.(34)
McDermott impressively writes:
- "What is unique with Gotama and his followers is the
importance which he places on the role of intention. Only in Buddhism
could the intentional impulse (cetanaa) be defined as kamma."(35) It
is here of significance to observe that the Buddha’s statement "cetanaaha"m
bhikkhave kamma"m vadaami" does not amount to the statement that "kamma
is exclusively cetanaa" (kammaha"m cetanaa"m vadaami), because kamma
is of ‘twofold category’ to which cetanaa or cetanaa-kamma as a
variety of this twofold category belongs, and the other being
acetanaa-kamma. The logical distinction between the subject, kamma,
and the predicate, cetanaa, should not confuse the reader that they
are mutually "identical".
Employing the term "analytic statement and synthetic
statement" coined by Kant, we can accordingly put the Buddha’s
statement in this way:
1- Cetanaa is kamma; this is of the form of analytic
proposition, like that of "Si"m'sapaa is a tree". Here cetanaa is a
variety of kamma, and
2- Kamma is purely cetanaa; it has the form of synthetic
proposition, like that of "This tree is a "Si"m'sapaa".
Here the Buddha’s analytic statement "cetanaa is kamma"
does not amount to the synthetic statement as misinterpreted by
scholars that "kamma is exclusively cetanaa." In the context of the
Buddha’s statement, the analytic proposition is meant that the subject
cetanaa is contained in the predicate kamma. This statement does not
discuss something new instead of repeating that cetanaa is a kind, the
most important kind, of kamma. The repetition here, however, makes
significance that is more ethical to agent’s will in performance of
any action.Furthermore, given the logically faultless inference form
‘a=b’ to ‘b=a’ we cannot proceed from the statement, "cetanaa is kamma"
to the statement "kamma is exclusively cetanaa", for the first is
logically true while the second false. This wrong identification is
sound similar to the statement "everything is identical with
something" mistakenly identified with "something is identical with
everything", for the concept "everything" is a greater category
whereas the concept "something" smaller, which should be contained in
the former instead of being identified with the former. The same holds
true with kamma and cetanaa.Moreover, one should pay attention not
only to the first part of the Buddha’s statement "cetanaaha"m
bhikkhave kamma"m vadaami," but also to the second part of the
statement following the first "cetayitvaa kamma"m karoti kaayena
vaacaaya manasaa,"(36) which makes the context more ethical clearly.
Here the Buddha does confirm not only that intention (cetanaa) is a
special kind of kamma in moral judgment, tendency and ethical
performance, but also link it with the bodily action (kaayakamma),
verbal action (vaciikamma), and mental action (manokamma) to make
significantly the role of intention. According to the most popular
threefold classification of kamma (37) made by the Buddha into acts of
body (kaayakamma), acts of speech (vaciikamma), and acts of mind (manokamma),
each of these acts produces consequences: "All kamma whether good or
evil bears consequence. There is no kamma, no matter how small, which
is void of consequence."(38) However, among these three kinds of kamma,
mental kind is the most important, as it is stated in the following
passage:
- "Listen, of these three kamma classified by me, I say
that mental kamma (manokamma) has the heaviest consequences for the
committing of evil deeds, for the existence of evil deeds, not action
s of the body or speech."(39)
It is clear that, according to McFarlane, "the emphasis on
the psychology of intentions in traditional ethical teaching and
spiritual practice should not lead to the undermining of physical
behaviour and actual consequences." He further explains that "It would
be incorrect to say that the intention or will to perform an
unwholesome act, which was not actually carried out, would produce the
same effect as the actual performance of such an act."(40)
In reality, there are actions, which are not sprung from
intention or devoid of motive proved, harmful or beneficial to the
ethical agent as well as to others. Both the doer and the recipient
are to experience its fruition, more or less suffered or pleasant
through unwitting actions performed. Take an example the case of being
shot death by mistake. The deceased, who has no intention or willing
to be died, is certainly suffered as a result of wrong identification
or mistake by unintentional agent. The unintentional shooter without
motive of killing anyone is responsible for his carelessly ethical
action, say wrong shooting, being produced in the court and then to be
put in prison. Because of being in the prison, he may lost his job or
stopped his habitual work unwittingly. An encounter example can be
seen in the case of a person who keeps away scraps of food without any
intention to give it to anyone.(41) But then a hungry dog comes by and
has a delicious meal out of it. His scraps of food were helpful and
beneficial to the life of the dog. When the time to come for that
unintentionally helpful kamma to mature, he will enjoy its fruit, even
ethically lessened comparatively to that of intention feeding the dog,
say being helped by someone incidentally, as it has been happened in
the real.
This idea would be clear with the help of the following
analysis. Actual murder with evil intention no doubt has greater
effect; with no evil intention still has effect, though ethically
minor; and even the mere thought of murder unaccompanied by any
performance is ethically wrong, from the Buddhist standpoint. That is
to say, mental action unaccompanied with outward performance and that
the performance of the physical deeds, either accompanied with
intention or not, is considered to produce specific kammic effects, at
least on two respects, namely on the planning-doer himself and on the
recipient. So far as the part of the ethical agent is concerned, even
the ‘mere’ intention, whether wholesome or unwholesome, will give some
effect, say disturbing the peacefulness of the mind of the
planning-doer, who plans to make his intention possible. With respect
to the recipient, let us say for instance, the destructive intention
may either give rise to the feeling of being disturbed by intentional
violence of the planning-doer, or even he is facing death due to being
killed unintentionally by the evil-doer, respectively. In the Buddha’s
statement, there is obviously intention (cetanaa). On the other hand,
there is crucially also ‘what is born from intention,’ namely bodily
action (kaayakamma), vocal action (vaciikamma) and mental action (manokamma).
If kamma were merely cetanaa there should be no other actions named
bodily action (kaayakamma), vocal action (vaciikamma) and mental
action (manokamma).(42) In fact, these actions obviously exist. The
reducing identification of kamma as exclusive cetanaa is, therefore,
untenable.In the teachings of the Buddha, the relationship between the
levels of intention and performance of that intention should be
suitably acknowledged. As the motive force or guiding manager,
intention is conductive to performing an act after having conscious
choice of objects of preference by the nature of an awareness-mind.
Where there is intention, there may be tendency to make it possible.
Similarly, where there is an increase of intensity of mental activity
or intention to an unbearable level, the tendency of performance of
something would be transformed into external activities, namely,
either bodily action (kaayakamma), vocal action (vaciikamma) or mental
action (manokamma). In other words, not every intention will lead to
the actual performance. Depending on the levels of intentional motive,
some dynamically become physical or verbal activities while some
remains mental activities only. In the case of being mental
activities, the effect of the intention on both the planing-doer and
the recipient is ethically lessened or minimized,(43) whereas with
regard to intention having transformed into outward performance, the
effect is ethically serious. Take the "initial thought of destroying
life" and the ‘"actual act of destroying life" as an example. The
intentional thought, "I want to kill A" is unwholesome thought in
nature. This may produce some unfortunate result, if the intentional
doer is not remorseful or till in hoping so doing. In the case of
someone wishing to kill A with the plan of murder, the effect of being
unfortunate here and hereafter is more serious. If the murder is
actually happened after having evilly willed with careful planning and
acting, the effect becomes most serious comparatively with the first
two cases. Thus, in the Buddha’s teaching generally and in the context
of the Buddha’s statement particularly, kamma cannot be exclusively
identified with cetanaa because if it were so, the effect of "wishing
to perform something" and the "actual performance of that something"
is one and the same thing.(44) Then there should be no enlightenment
at all because no one is absolutely pure and perfect in his
intention-history; or one may have at least once thought of
unwholesome deed.(45) Similarly, there should be no need of moral
practice and spiritual training for enlightenment, for the mere
wishing of becoming enlightened would be enough to make it
possible.(46) These statements are found irrational, just because
"intentional thought of doing something unwholesome" is exclusively
mistakenly identified with the "sin of performance that act", and in
the same manner, "wishing to be enlightened" with "enlightenment" or
moral practice and mental development for attaining that
enlightenment, respectively.
In the Nikaaya, we do find passages supporting the idea
that not only intention is responsible for determining kamma-vipaaka,
the action, physical or vocal, as well:
- "If one does not think (ceteti), nor arrange (pakappeti),
but dwell on (anuseti) (something), this become a cause for the
persistence of consciousness . . . (And) in the future birth and
death, sorrow, lamentation, suffering, grief and tribulation
arise."(47) This is so because, one is responsible for his
ignorance,(48) as McDermott comments "although a misdeed done in
ignorance is not as serious in its effects as a deed done
intentionally, it is nonetheless not without efforts of its own, for
man is culpable for his continued ignorance."(49)
Notes
1- EB. IV. s.v. cetanaa: 86b.
2- A. III, 415.
3- This render is first used by E.M. Hare in his GS. III.
294.
4- Here quoted are different translations made by scholars.
Payutto translates this as "Bhikkhu! Intention, I say, is kamma.
Having willed, we create kamma through body, speech and mind." Payutto
(1993): 6. Narada renders it as "I declare, O Bhikkhus, that volition
(cetanaa) is kamma. Having willed one acts by body, speech and
thought." (196). McDermott also renders it similarly "I say, monks,
that cetanaa is kamma; having intended (cetayitvaa), one does a deed
by body, word or thought." (1984: 26). McFarlane renders cetanaa as
choice translating the sentence as "It is choice or intention that I
call karmaÐ mental workÐ for having chosen, a man acts by body, speech
and mind." (1994: 27).
5- Manopubba"ngamaa dhammaa/ manose.t.thaa manomayaa/
manasaa ce padu.t.thena/ bhaasati vaa karoti vaa/ tato na"m
dukkhamanveti/ cakka"mva vahato pada"m. (Dhp. 1). Translation is
adopted with modification from Tin (1990): 1-2.
6- McDermott (1984): 12-3. For argument on this point, see
Poussin (1927): 124-5.
7- McDermott (1984): 26.
8- Poussin (1982): 57. This book was first published in
1917.
9- Poussin (1982): 68.
10- Poussin (1982): 67.
11- Poussin (1982): 70.
12- Halbfass (1998): 214-5.
13- Krishan (1997): 62, 209.
14- EB. IV. s.v. cetanaa: 86-97.
15- EB. IV. s.v. cetanaa: 89a.
16- EB. IV. s.v. cetanaa: 91a.
17- EB. IV. s.v. cetanaa: 92b.
18- Von Glasenapp (1963): 29. Emphasis added.
19- BD. s.v karma: 91-4.
20- Payutto (1993): 6.
21- Narada (1973): 195. Numbering added.
22- McDermott (1984): 28.
23- DhsA. 88.
24- Kamma naama kusalaakusalacetanaa. Visuddhimagga, p.
614. This sentence literally means kamma is the name of moral and
immoral intention or consciousness.
25- Asl. p. 88.
26- Cetanaa kaayakamma"m naama . . . cetanaa vaacikamma
naama . . . cetanaa manokamma"m . . .citta"m manokammadvaaram naama,
p. 96.
27- Satyasiddhi'saastra 3. 100.
28- Pu.nya"m paapa"m sarva"m cittaadhaaniiam.
29- Na cittavyatirikta"m pu.nyam paapam astiiti.
30- Karma.na"m cittabalaat pu.nya paapa vibhaaga.h.
31- Asa~ncentanika"m karma na mahaasaavadyam.
Satyasiddhi'saastra. 2. 84.
32- Quoted in Krishan (1997): 64.
33- Quoted from McDermott (1984): 29. Emphasis added.
34- Ch’en (1968): 32f.
35- McDermott (1984): 29.
36- A. III, 415.
37- See, for example, this division at A. III. 415; M. I.
206.
38- J. IV. 390.
39- M. I. 373.
40- McFarlane (1994): 27.
41- This is adopted from Indasara (1988): 18-9. I however
disagree with him when he contradictorily says that the mistake in the
example is only a kind of ‘kattaka-kamma’ bearing no fruit.
42- Mental action (manokamma) is identified with cetanaa
in some specific context. See, for example, the sentence "manasaa ce
padu.t.thena" of twin-verse 1-2 of the Dhammapada. Cf. Tin (1990): 1
n.2.
43- This is different from the spiritual state of
enlightenment of an Arahat or the Buddha.
44- Karunaratna is however of diverse point of view, when
he give an interpretation on the passage of Budhaghosa as quoted
below: "for instance the mere harboring of criminal intent to kill
amounts to kamma, and that by ill-will, not by actual life-taking" (Manodvaare
pana cadhakacetanaaya uppannamattaaya eva kammapathabhedo hoti, so va
kho vyaapaadavasena na paa.naatipaatavasena. Asl., p. 90). Here he
does not differentiate the mental act ‘ill-will’ with the bodily
action manifested from ill-will, namely killing, in terms of
life-taking. These two acts, in fact, cannot be considered identical
equally ethical wrong, and therefore their level of criminal cannot be
identified as the same. EB. IV. 94b.
45- This argument is derived from the passage where the
Buddha criticizes past-action determination (pubbekatahetuvaada) along
with theistic determination (issaranimmaanahetuvaada) and
accidentalism (ahetu-apaccayavaada) as immoral theories. A. I. 137; M.
II. 214-222; Cf. Vbh. 367.
46- This argument is derived from the passage where the
Buddha addresses to the householders who want to gain longevity,
status, happiness, rank and rebirth in heaven must observe the
practice leading to the same. A mere wish or prayer will not work. A.
III. 47.
47- S. II. 65. Translation quoted in McDermott (1984): 28.
48- Dhp. 1-2, 161.
49- McDermott (1984): 28.
References
(The references to the Pali texts and their translations
are to the Pali text society standard edition.)
Ch’en, Kenneth K.S. (1968) Buddhism: the Light of Asia.
New York: Barron’s Educational Series.Halbfass, Wilhelm. (1992).
Tradition and Reflection: Explorations in Indian Thought. Delhi: Sri
Satguru Publications.
Indasara,Wasin (1988a) Theravada Buddhist Principles, vol.
I. Bangkok: Mah makut Buddhist University.
Indasara,Wasin (1988b) Theravada Buddhist Principles, vol.
II. Bangkok: Mah makut Buddhist University.
Krishan, Yuvraj. (1997). The Doctrine of Karma. Delhi:
Motilal Banarsidass.
McDermott, James Paul. (1984) Development in the Early
Buddhist Concept of Kamma/Karma. Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal.
McFarlane, Stewart (1994) "Buddhism" in Jean Holm & John
Bowker (ed.) Making Moral Decisions. London: Pinter Publishers.
Narada, Mahathera. (1973) The Buddha and His Teaching.
Singapore: Singapore Buddhist Meditation Center.
Payutto, Bhikkhu P. A. (1993) Good, Evil and Beyond Kamma
in the Buddha’s Teaching. Bangkok: Buddhadhamma Foundation.Poussin, L.
de la Valleùe. (1927) La Morale Bouddhique. Paris: Nouvelle Librairie
Nationale.
Poussin, L. de la Valleùe. (1982). The Way to Nirv Ï a.
Delhi: Sri Satguru Publications, 1st ed. 1917.
Tin, Daw Mya. (tr.) (1990). The Dhammpada: Verses and
Stories. Sarnath: Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, 1st Ed.
1985.
Von Glasenapp, Helmuth. (1963) Immortality and Salvation
in Indian Religions tr. E.F.J. Payne. Calcutta: Susil Gupta India Ltd,
Indian reprint.
Source : www.buddhismtoday.com
Update : 01-12-2001
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