Verified
Overview
In the mechanism of kamma, these five specific acts are considered the absolute darkest deeds a human being can commit. They are called Ānantarika (immediate) because they are “weighty kamma” (garuka kamma). If a person commits even one of these, it blocks all spiritual progress in this life (they cannot attain jhānas or path-moments) and guarantees immediate rebirth in the deepest hell (Avīci) at the moment of death, with no other kamma able to intervene.
The List
- Mātughāta - Matricide: Intentionally killing one’s own biological mother.
- Pitughāta - Patricide: Intentionally killing one’s own biological father.
- Arahantaghāta - Killing an Arahat: Intentionally depriving a fully awakened being of life.
- Lohituppāda - Shedding the blood of a Buddha: With malicious intent, causing a Fully Awakened Buddha to bleed (a Buddha cannot be killed, so this is the closest equivalent).
- Saṅghabheda - Causing a schism in the Saṅgha: Deliberately dividing the harmonious community of monastics by presenting false dhamma as true and initiating separate Uposatha ceremonies.
Quote
Mātughātako ānantariko pitughātako ānantariko arahantaghātako ānantariko ruhiruppādako ānantariko saṅghabhedako ānantariko, natthi puthujjanassa ñāṇaṃ, natthi nirayesu nirayapālā, atthi devesu tiracchānagatā, pañcaṅgiko maggo, dvādasavatthukaṃ ñāṇaṃ lokuttaranti.
One who kills their mother is an ānantarika, one who kills their father is an ānantarika, one who kills an arahant is an ānantarika, one who sheds the blood is an ānantarika, one who causes a schism in the Sangha is an ānantarika; there is no knowledge for a worldling; there are no hell-wardens in the hells; there are animals among the devas; the path is fivefold; the knowledge with twelve bases is supramundane.
Textual References
- Canonical: Parikuppa Sutta (AN 5.129) – The Buddha explicitly states that anyone who commits these actions is incurably bound for hell for the duration of the eon. Devadatta famously committed the 4th and 5th.