DHAMMA LOUNGE

VOLITIONAL FORMATION : ( sankhara, samskara in sanskrit)  refers to actions of body, speech and mind, which are accompanied by intention ( CETANA) .

It is this kamma  which gives rise to future rebirth or ' rebirth according to sahkhara'.  Certain beings arise in different realms according to their actions of body, speech or mind. These actions and reactions ( conditioned response)  can either be meritorious, demeritorious, and in- between.

According to the Buddha, " From delusion as condition, volitional formations [come to be]; from volitional formations as condition, consciousness; from consciousness as condition, name-and -form; from name-and-form as condition, the six sense bases; from the six sense bases as condition, contact; from contact as condition, feeling; from feeling as condition, craving; from craving as condition, clinging; from clinging as condition, existence; from existence as condition, birth; from birth as c...

The Buddha emphasizes that from harmlessness (virtue) one gets gladness, joy, tranquility, inner happiness, the bliss of jhana, and the freedom that flows from wisdom.  Theses are various forms of happiness occurring in a gradual and natural progression.  The process of renunciation , or ever-increasing happiness, culminates in seeing things as they truly are, which is enlightenment. In the Dhammacetiya Sutta, King Pasenadi remarked how much he enjoyed visiting the Jeta Grove monast...