Mahakarma Vibhanga - Book Summary

This comprehensive summary synthesizes the information from the provided Jain text, "Mahakarmavibhanga" (also known as "Karma-Vibhanga" or the "Great Classification of Acts"), based on the French edition by Sylvain Lévi, focusing on its content, context, and significance as presented in the introductory and textual material.

Book Title: Mahakarmavibhanga (La Grande Classification des Actes) et Karmavibhangopadesa (Discussion sur le Mahā Karma Vibhanga) Author: Sylvain Lévi Publisher: Librairie Ernest Leroux, Paris Publication Year: 1932

Overview:

Sylvain Lévi's work presents the Sanskrit text of the Mahakarmavibhanga, a significant Jain text, along with its commentary (Karmavibhangopadesa). The publication is based on manuscripts sourced from Nepal and includes critical analysis, translation, and comparative studies with parallel texts in Pali, Tibetan, Chinese, and the Tocharian language. The book also features photographic reproductions of the Karma-Vibhanga depicted on the bas-reliefs of Borobudur in Java, highlighting the cross-cultural influence and widespread dissemination of this doctrine.

Historical and Scholarly Context:

Discovery: Lévi discovered the Karma-Vibhanga manuscript in Nepal in 1922. He was assisted by General Kaisar Sham Shere and the Rajguru Hemraj Sarman, whose expertise and dedication were crucial for obtaining accurate copies and translations.
Textual Variations: Lévi meticulously details the discovery and analysis of two primary Sanskrit manuscripts (A and B) which, while independent, offered complementary readings. He notes significant differences in vocabulary, style, and table of contents between these two recensions.
Canonical Status: The text is presented as a Sūtra, though with some unusual characteristics, such as an abrupt ending and the integration of extensive annotations that have become part of the text.
Comparative Literature: Lévi establishes parallels between the Mahakarmavibhanga and well-known Buddhist texts like the Cūla Kammavibhanga Sutta (Majjhima Nikāya, No. 135) and its Chinese version in the Madhyama Agama. He also explores connections with various Chinese translations (Chc, Cha, Chb, Cht, Chg), Tibetan texts (T), and Tocharian fragments (KB), underscoring the text's transmission across Central Asia and its importance in different Buddhist schools.
Borobudur Connection: A key aspect of Lévi's work is the identification of the Karma-Vibhanga's themes with the 160 panels of the lower gallery of the Borobudur monument in Java. This archaeological evidence vividly illustrates the practical application and visual representation of the doctrine of karma for devotees, further emphasizing the text's profound impact.

Core Content and Themes:

The Mahakarmavibhanga, at its core, is a detailed exploration of the Buddhist doctrine of karma, presenting a comprehensive classification of actions (karma) and their consequences (vipāka).

The Doctrine of Karma: The text elaborates on the principle "to each according to his deeds." It emphasizes that karmic results are not confined to a single lifetime but extend across a series of innumerable existences, unless the attainment of Nirvana interrupts the cycle of transmigration. Karma is understood as the result of actions performed through body, speech, and mind.
Classification of Acts: The text systematically categorizes actions based on their outcomes, linking specific types of karma to future rebirths and states of existence:
- Rebirth Destinations: It outlines karma leading to rebirth in hells, as animals, as hungry ghosts (pretas), as Asuras, as humans, and in various heavenly realms (Kāmāvacara, Rūpāvacara, Ārūpyāvacara).
- Quality of Life: It details how actions influence life's characteristics, such as lifespan (short/long), health (ill/healthy), appearance (ugly/beautiful), social standing (low/high caste), wealth (poor/rich), wisdom (stupid/wise), and the nature of experiences (happy/unhappy).
- Nature of Karma: The text distinguishes between karma that is "done" (kṛta), "aggravated" (upacita), or both, and how these factors influence the intensity and duration of karmic results, especially in relation to rebirth in hells.
- Specific Acts and Consequences: A significant portion of the text lists specific good and bad actions and their detailed consequences. These range from prohibitions against killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, harsh speech, slander, idle chatter, covetousness, malice, and wrong views, to the positive cultivation of generosity, ethical conduct, and spiritual understanding.
Merits of Virtuous Actions: The text enumerates specific merits derived from various virtuous acts, such as offering clothes, lamps, food, incense, flowers, seats, umbrellas, bells, and providing shelter. These merits are consistently linked to desirable rebirths, pleasant experiences, and ultimately, the attainment of Nirvana.
The Suka Story: The introductory narrative of the text revolves around the story of Suka, the son of Taudeya. The Buddha encounters Conque-Elephant, who is revealed to be Taudeya, Suka's father, reborn as a dog due to his impious thoughts towards the Buddha. This episode serves as a dramatic illustration of karma's workings and the importance of correct understanding and devotion.
Ethical Conduct and its Impact: The text stresses the profound impact of one's actions on their present and future lives. It highlights the significance of intention (citta), the purity of mind, and the importance of acting virtuously, serving parents, elders, and holy beings, and refraining from harmful actions. The relative merits of actions towards lay benefactors versus religious figures are also discussed, with a strong emphasis on venerating the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha as the highest path to merit.

Significance:

Comprehensive Karmic Framework: The Mahakarmavibhanga provides an exhaustive and systematic framework for understanding the intricate workings of karma, bridging the gap between ethical principles and lived experience.
Cross-Cultural Influence: Lévi's work demonstrates the widespread influence of this doctrine across Indian and Southeast Asian cultures, as evidenced by its presence in Buddhist canonical texts, Tibetan translations, Chinese traditions, and the monumental art of Borobudur.
Foundation for Buddhist Ethics: The text serves as a foundational text for Buddhist ethics, offering clear guidelines on actions that lead to suffering and those that lead to happiness and liberation.
Scholarly Contribution: Sylvain Lévi's edition and analysis remain a landmark in Buddhist and Indological studies, offering a critical edition and insightful commentary that has been invaluable for subsequent research.

In essence, the Mahakarmavibhanga, as presented by Sylvain Lévi, is a vital text that meticulously details the karmic causality of actions within the Buddhist framework. Its influence is demonstrated not only through its textual transmission but also through its vivid representation in art, making it a cornerstone for understanding the practical application of Buddhist teachings on karma across diverse cultures.