Grammatical Analysis
Kammapatha: [m.] Course of action; pathway of karma. Formed by kamma (action, deed) + patha (path, course, road).
Orthodox Definition
A Kamma-patha represents a fully completed, volitional action that is strong enough to produce a rebirth-linking consciousness (paṭisandhi) in the next life.
The Buddha categorized these into ten unwholesome courses of action (akusala-kammapatha) and ten wholesome courses of action (kusala-kammapatha), operating through three “doors” (body, speech, and mind).
To constitute a completed kammapatha, specific conditions must be met. For example, the unwholesome course of “killing” is only complete if five factors are present: 1) a living being, 2) knowledge that it is living, 3) intention to kill, 4) the effort to kill, and 5) the death of the being as a result. If the attempt fails, it generates unwholesome karma, but it does not constitute a completed kammapatha and thus may not dictate the next rebirth.
Textual References
- Sutta: Sāleyyaka Sutta (MN 41) – The definitive discourse where the Buddha explains the ten unwholesome and ten wholesome courses of action to the Brahmin householders of Sālā.
- Canonical: Aṅguttara Nikāya (Dasaka Nipāta) – Extensive analyses of the results of walking these karmic paths.
- Commentary: Papañcasūdanī – The critical legal/ethical commentary defining the exact conditions required for each of the ten courses to be completed.