Vipāka

Vipāka (Sanskrit and Pāli) is a Jain and Buddhist term for the ripening or maturation of karma (Pāli kamma), or intentional actions. The theory of karmic action and result (kamma-vipāka) is a central belief within the Buddhist tradition.

Alternate translations

The term vipaka is translated as:

• effect (Ven. D. Mahinda Thera)
• maturation (Keown, 2000, loc 810–813)
• ripening (Harvey, 1990, p. 39)
• result

This is the meaning given for "Vipaka" in tipitaka.lk / dictionary: please find text copied from it directly, given below Vipaka (විපාක) :පු ඵලය, විපාකය, ආනිසංසය. විපාක ND'kamma-result', is any kammically (morally) neutral mental phenomenon (e.g. bodily agreeable or painful feeling, sense-consciousness, etc. ), which is the result of wholesome or unwholesome volitional action (kamma, q.v.) through body, speech or mind, done either in this or some previous life. Totally wrong is the belief that, according to Buddhism, everything is the result of previous action. Never, for example, is any kammically wholesome or unwholesome volitional action the result of former action, being in reality itself kamma. On this subject s. titthāyatana, kamma, Tab. I; Fund II. Cf. A. III, 101; Kath. 162 (Guide, p. 80).

Kamma-produced (kammaja or kamma-samuṭṭhāna) corporeal things are never called kamma-vipāka, as this term may be applied only to mental phenomena. (Vipaka)විපාක PTS [fr. vi+pac] fruit, fruition, product; always in pregnant meaning of "result, effect, consequence (of one's action)," either as good & meritorious (;kusala or bad & detrimental (;akusala). Hence "retribution (kamma˚;), reward or punishment. See on term e. g Dhs. trsln introd.2 xciii; Cpd. 43. 249. -- D iii.150, 160 176 sq.; S i.34, 57, 92 (kammassa); ii.128 (compar vipākatara), 255 (id.); iv.186 sq., 348 sq.; A i.48, 97 (sukha˚, dukkha˚), 134 (kamma˚), 263; ii.34 (agga), 80 112; iii.35, 172 (dānassa), 410 sq. (kāmānaṁ etc.), 436 iv. 303 (kamma˚); v.251; Sn 653 (kamma˚); Ps ii.79 (dukkha˚); Pv i.91; i.107 & passim; Pug 13, 21; Dhs 431, 497, 987; Vbh 16 sq., 73, 319, 326 sq., 334 (sukha˚) Kvu 353 sq., 464 (kamma & vipāka); Nett 99, 161 180 sq.; Tikp 27 (fourfold), 44, 48, 50, 292 (a˚ & sa˚) 328 sq. (˚tika), 350 sq.; Dukp 17; Vism 177, 454 (fourfold), 456 (˚viññāṇa), 538 (˚paccaya), 545 sq.; VbhA 17, 150 sq. (kusala˚ & akusala), 144, 177, 391; PvA 50 73, 77; Sdhp 12, 73, 197, 235.

Within the discourses

The Samyutta Nikaya states:

According to the seed that’s sown,
So is the fruit you reap therefrom,
Doer of good will gather good,
Doer of evil, evil reaps,
Down is the seed and thou shalt taste the fruit thereof.

— Saṃyutta Nikāya

See also

• Karma in Buddhism
• Phala
• Rebirth

Sources

• Ajahn Sucitto (2010), Turning the Wheel of Truth: Commentary on the Buddha's First Teaching, Shambhala
• Geshe Tashi Tsering (2005), The Four Noble Truths: The Foundation of Buddhist Thought, Volume I, Wisdom, Kindle Edition
• Gethin, Rupert (1998), Foundations of Buddhism, Oxford University Press
• Harvey, Peter (1990), Introduction to Buddhism, Cambridge University Press
• Keown, Damien (2000), Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, Kindle Edition

External links

• Anguttara Nikaya, Chakka Nipata, Mahavagga, Nibbedhika Sutta, p. 359, 6th Syn. Edn.
• Samyutta Nikaya. Nidana-samyutta, Bhumija Sutta, p. 275, 6th Syn. Edn