Bad Kamma

How to Diminish the Effects of Bad Past Kamma
Sutta Study with Meditation Workshop

Conducted by Āyasmā Aggacitta, How to Diminish the Effects of Bad Past Kamma Sutta Study with Meditation Workshop was held in 19 locations in Malaysia and Singapore between April – July 2016 and attended by more than 1,150 people. The purpose of this website is to provide an opportunity for those who could not attend the live course and a review for those who attended.

This is a one-day sutta study with meditation workshop. The subject of kamma is a topic of perennial interest to all Buddhists, yet its scope is wide and its depth profound.

This Workshop only deals with the principles of kamma and the experiencing of its result and how to diminish the effects of bad past kamma. Participants shall base their discussions on what they can gather from the extracts of the Pāḷi suttas and commentaries found in the workbook.

The primary purpose of this Workshop is to go back to the roots by investigating what the Pāḷi suttas say. For example, certain important Pāli terms are not explicitly explained in the root sutta, so research is made into their occurrence and usage in other canonical sources in order to get a clearer idea of what they could mean. Participants are required to evaluate the reliability of the explanations found in the commentaries against what the canon says. Most importantly, participants can apply what they learn from the workshop to practise effectively to reduce and eventually end suffering.

There are 3 sections in the workbook:
1. Introduction: Kamma & Experiencing Its Result
2. Root Sutta: How the Effects of Bad Past Kamma Are Diminished
3. Cross-references: What Could “Developed in body, etc.” Mean?

Throughout the workshop, participants are urged to maintain an open-minded spirit of true enquiry while critically scrutinising the scriptural references and meditation technique presented here.

The format consists of discussion and presentation by the participants, followed by Āyasmā Aggacitta’s explanation. There are also Q&A sessions whenever appropriate. The practice of mindfulness is made practical by disrupting discussion with guided meditation. One of the most important take-backs for the participants is a proper methodology to assess the credibility and reliability of what anyone claims to be the Buddha’s teachings.

This section of the website provides a navigational structure for the videos of the workshop. It contains links to the YouTube videos in the same sequence as the workshop.

The video recording is mainly from the last workshop held at Bandar Utama Buddhist Society, Selangor, with relevant clips from those held at Sāsanārakkha Buddhist Sanctuary, Taiping; Nalanda Centre, Selangor; Sg Long Buddhist Society, Selangor; Kinrara Metta Buddhist Society, Selangor; Kong Meng San Phor Kark See, Singapore; and Subang Jaya Buddhist Association, Selangor between April – July 2016.

There is a menu under each of the tabs at the top of every page. Click Bad Kamma to go to the overview of that course. Hover over the menu item and a pop-up list shows BKW Section 1, etc. and How to Use. Click the relevant topic to get to the webpage. How to Use contains instructions for individuals and groups to get the most from the course, and links to materials which can be downloaded.