Grammatical Analysis
Diṭṭhadhammika: [adj.] Belonging to the present life; visible here and now. Formed by diṭṭha (seen, visible) + dhamma (phenomenon, life, state) + ika (adjective suffix).
Orthodox Definition
Diṭṭhadhammika is a temporal classification used to describe benefits, dangers, or karmic results (vipāka) that ripen and are experienced exclusively in this current lifetime.
When teaching laypeople, the Buddha often divided his advice into two categories: welfare for the present life (diṭṭhadhammika-attha) and welfare for the next life (samparāyika-attha). Present-life welfare involves practical economics and ethics, such as earning wealth through energetic effort (uṭṭhāna-sampadā), protecting that wealth (ārakkha-sampadā), associating with good friends, and living a balanced livelihood.
In karmic terms, Diṭṭhadhammika-kamma refers to a specific, highly potent volition (usually the very first javana-citta in a cognitive series) that ripes in the same lifetime it was committed. If it does not find the right conditions to ripen before death, it becomes defunct (ahosi-kamma).
Textual References
- Sutta: Dīghajāṇu Sutta (AN 8.54) – The Buddha explicitly teaches the layman Vyagghapajja the four conditions that lead to happiness and benefit in the present life (diṭṭhadhammika attha).
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapter XIX) – The technical Abhidhammic classification of immediately effective kamma.