Grammatical Analysis
Kāyadhamma: [m.] Bodily phenomenon; bodily action; bodily states. Formed by kāya (body) + dhamma (phenomenon, state, doctrine). Often used synonymously with Kāyakamma (bodily action).
Orthodox Definition
In the context of the courses of action (kammapatha), Kāyadhamma refers to volitional actions executed through the physical door of the body.
There are three unwholesome bodily kammas:
- Pāṇātipātā (Killing living beings).
- Adinnādānā (Taking what is not given / stealing).
- Kāmesu micchācārā (Sexual misconduct).
Conversely, there are three wholesome bodily kammas, which are the deliberate, volitional abstentions from those three unwholesome acts. In Theravāda ethics, merely not killing because one is asleep does not generate wholesome bodily karma; the wholesome karma is generated at the moment the mind actively decides to refrain from harming when the opportunity arises.
Textual References
- Sutta: Kukkuravatika Sutta (MN 57) – The Buddha explains how bodily actions (like behaving like a dog or a cow) ripen into specific rebirth destinations.
- Sutta: Sāleyyaka Sutta (MN 41) – Outlining the three bodily courses of action.