Anantarika-karma

 ( Buddhist Philosophical Concepts ) 

Ānantarya karma (Sanskrit) or Ānantarika kamma (Pāli) are the most serious offences in Buddhism that, at death, through the overwhelming karmic strength of any single one of them, bring immediate disaster. Both Buddhists and non-Buddhists must avoid them at all costs. Such offenses prevent perpetrators from attaining any of the stages of enlightenment

and from ordaining into the Sangha. The offences are: Triplegem glossary

1. Killing one's mother
2. Killing one's father
3. Killing an Arhat
4. Wounding a Tathāgata
5. Creating schism in the SanghaCreating a division in the Sangha / dividing the Sangha in terms of Buddhist beliefs

Ānantarika kamma is considered so serious that even Amitabha Buddha abandoned all hope. His 18th Vow reads:

Those who have committed any of the five acts of Ānantarika kamma are said to be reborn in the naraka of Avīci, the very lowest of all the Hells of Buddhism.

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See also

• Ajatashatru
• Avijjā
• Buddhist views on sin
• Devadatta
• Icchantika
• Karma in Buddhism
• Merit (Buddhism)
• Moha (Buddhism)
• Pratitya-samutpada
• Samsara (Buddhism)
• Three Poisons
• Twelve Nidanas

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Further reading

• Silk, Jonathan A. (2007). Good and Evil in Indian Buddhism: The Five Sins of Immediate Retribution, Journal of Indian Philosophy 35 (3), 253–286

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