Sarvastivadins consider karma doctrine profound and almost beyond words.
Sourced by Mahavibhasa Sastra:
1 - karma is general sense of an action or deed
2 - used to regulate affairs of Sangha
3 - effect of a moral action that can be classified as desirable or not
Relates to rebirth - realm, as well as circumstances
3 Types of Karma
- mental
- bodily
- vocal
Originates based on 3 causes
- originating cause
- intrinsic nature
- supporting basis
Different Classes of Karma
- volitional
- bodily, vocal, mental
- informative and non-informative
- skillful and unskillful
- with and without outflow
- meritorious, non-meritorious, and immovable
- black, white, black-white, and non-black-white
- karma conducive to pleasant, unpleasant, and neither experiences
- experiencible in this life and the next life
- determinate and indeterminate
Paths of Karma
- used to assist in describing most wholesome life towards enlightenment
- indicate paths of volition, causing karma
- precepts
1 - taking life
2 - stealing
3 - sexual misconduct
4 - false speech
5 - malicious speech
6 - harsh speech
7 - frivolous speech
8 - covetousness
9 - hatred
10 - false view
Vaibhasika, Sautrantika, and Sammitiya Sarvastivada Theories
Vaibhasika >> Avijnapti = unmanifested or latent karma, based on tri-temporal existence.
Sammitiya >> Avipranasa = analogous to document and debt.
Sautrantika >> Karmas perfume the flowing mind and become seeds that later sprout
Theravada >> anatta and paticcasamuppada