When the Five Aggregates Dissolve...

[Shi Da Dao]

The conception process 'pulls' the five aggregates together so that an individual being is generated. In the broad scientific sense. 'karma' can be said to be blind biochemical reactions driven by natural selection. This is one type of 'karma' as described by the Buddha as 'natural' - the karma of cause and effect driven by chance. This covers virtually all the material (mechanical) processes in the universe with are governed by the objective laws of physics. Another layer of 'karma' which appears to operate within the psychological and physical world is that of 'volitional' cause and effect. This type of 'karma' generates 'causes' and 'effects' that the Buddha states is a type of moral mirror. This means that how we think and act is reflected in the outer world we inhabit - and within the inner world that defines our personality. The Ch'an method cuts-through this conditioning and ends ALL volitional karma so that the present life makes no more future karma - and the results experienced here and now are greatly reduced in potential severity. A genuine Bodhisattva, however, although perfectly purified of any and all volitional karma - they have to 'contrive' the will to be re-born again to assist all beings in the universe! When the 'pulling' karma comes to an end which defines a single life - we must be reading to remain 'conscious' whilst we observe the conception process in reverse...