Overview
At the exact moment of death, the mind grasps at an object that will determine the next rebirth. Which of the thousands of actions a person has committed will step forward to dictate that rebirth? The Abhidhamma outlines a strict hierarchy of priority.
The List
- Garuka kamma - Weighty Kamma: Extremely powerful kamma that absolutely takes priority over all others. If unwholesome (e.g., the five heinous crimes), it guarantees immediate rebirth in hell. If wholesome (e.g., attainment of the jhānas), it guarantees immediate rebirth in the Brahma worlds.
- Āsanna kamma - Death-Proximate Kamma: If there is no Weighty Kamma, whatever action or thought is vividly remembered or done just before the moment of death takes priority and conditions the rebirth.
- Āciṇṇa kamma - Habitual Kamma: If there is no proximate kamma, the action that a person did repeatedly, constantly, and habitually throughout their life steps forward to dictate rebirth.
- Kaṭattā kamma - Reserve / Cumulative Kamma: If none of the above are present, any forgotten, seemingly insignificant action from the vast reserve of the past saṃsāric history steps in to provide the rebirth-link.
Quote
abhidhammatthasaṅgaho
kammacatukkaṃ
50. janakaṃ upatthambhakaṃ upapīḷakaṃ upaghātakañceti kiccavasena.
Kamma is fourfold according to function: generative, supportive, counteractive, and destructive.
51.āciṇṇaṃ kaṭattākammañceti pākadānapariyāyena.
It is fourfold according to the order of yielding results: weighty, proximate, habitual, and residual kamma.
Textual References
- Commentary: The Abhidhammatthasaṅgaho details the sequential queue of how kammic seeds compete for expression at the death-moment.