The Goals

Kamma and Skilful Means

Kamma• Kamma means ‘action’• It is the natural law of cause and effect• Every action is determined by something• Every action has an effect / consequence• These consequences can have either negative

or positive kammic effects• Kammic effects may not be felt straight away• The ‘balance’ of kamma at the end of one life

determines the ‘state’ of the next life• The aim is to build up positive kamma to gain a

better rebirth and become closer to the ultimate goal of nibbana

Skilful Means / Skill in Means

• Upaya Kausala = skilful means• This is using different strategies to ‘teach’

your audience, e.g. football rules will be taught differently to a five year old, and someone on the school team.

•Skilful Means is using wisdom to use the appropriate method at the appropriate time•The Buddha used upaya kausala all the time – it is the message of the teaching that is important, not the method.•See parable of burning house / story of raft