THE LAWS OF
COSMIC ORDER
Although Buddhism teaches that Kamma is the chief cause of the
inequalities in the world yet it does not teach fatalism or the
doctrine of predestination, for it does not hold the view that
everything is due to past actions. The law of cause and effect
(Kamma) is only one of the twenty-four causes described in Buddhist
philosophy (see Compendium of Philosophy, p. 191), or one of the
five orders (Niyamas) which are laws in themselves and operate in
the universe. They are:
1. Utu Niyama, physical
inorganic order, e.g., seasonal phenomena of winds and rains. The
unerring order of seasons, characteristic seasonal changes and
events, causes of winds and rains, nature of heat, etc., belong to
this group
2. Bija Niyama, order of
germs and seeds (physical organic order), e.g., rice produced from
rice seed, sugary taste from sugarcane or honey, peculiar
characteristics of certain fruits, etc. The scientific theory of
cells and genes and physical similarity of twins may be ascribed to
this order.
3. Kamma Niyama, order of
act and result, e.g., desirable and undesirable acts produce
corresponding good and bad results. As surely as water seeks its
own level so does Kamma, given opportunity, produce its inevitable
result, not in the form of a reward or punishment but as an innate
sequence. This sequence of deed and effect is as natural and
necessary as the way of the moon and stars.
4. Dhamma Niyama, order of
the norm, e.g., the natural phenomena occurring at the advent of a
Bodhisatta in his last birth. Gravitation and other similar laws of
nature, the reason for being good, and so forth may be included in
this group.
5. Citta Niyama. order of
mind, of psychic law, e.g., processes of consciousness, arising and
perishing of consciousness, constituents of consciousness, power of
mind, etc. Telepathy, telesthesia, retro-cognition, premonition,
clairvoyance, clairaudience, thought reading, all psychic phenomena
which are inexplicable to modern science are included in this
class. (Abhidhammavatara.).
These five orders embrace everything in the world and every mental
or physical phenomenon could be explained by them. They being laws
in themselves, require no lawgiver and Kamma as such is only one of
them.