<p>The teaching of 'good &amp; bad kamma' is not Buddhist but is merely a conventional &amp; universal understanding about '<em>personal</em>' behavior found in most cultures &amp; religions that is also part of Buddhism. The doctrine of kamma in Buddhism is called '<em>lokiya dhamma</em>', which means a 'mundane' or 'worldly' understanding based on the view of 'self' or 'persons'. </p>

<p>To the contrary, the suttas state (eg. MN 56) that the unique or special teaching of the Buddhas is the Four Noble Truths, which includes the Noble Eightfold Path that ends kamma (refer to AN 6.63). The Noble Eightfold Path ends kamma because its fruition renders all kamma as 'not-self' ('anatta'). Such understanding in Buddhism is called '<em>lokuttara dhamma</em>', meaning 'transcendent', 'supramundane' or 'beyond the world'. </p>

<p>Thus, according to '<em>lokuttara dhamma</em>', suffering is impersonally caused by the element of ignorance according to the process of Dependent Origination. </p>

<p>In short, the <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.017.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Acela Sutta</a> answers the question exactly. </p>

<p>Note: the <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.017x.wlsh.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Acela Sutta</a> states the view that suffering is 'self-caused' is a form of 'Eternalism' and the view that suffering is 'other-caused' is a form of 'Annihilationism'. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-21T01:49:08.493Z
2017-04-21T01:51:26.083Z
2017-04-21T01:51:26.083Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>According to <em>popular belief</em> of Karma, suffering is caused by oneself. I would like to know: </p>

<ol>
<li>Is one's own suffering caused by oneself? </li>
<li>Is one's own suffering caused by others? </li>
<li>Is one's own suffering caused by both oneself and others? </li>
<li>Is one's own suffering spontaneous? </li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-21T01:49:04.403Z
Maybe a related topic: [Can a Buddhist truthfully say, “You insulted / offended / angered / hurt me?”](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/11586/254)
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-21T01:54:25.850Z
@ChrisW thank you very much for the reference. By the way, the elected answer quotes the sutta which directly addresses this question.
Ravindranath Akila
<karma><suffering>
Is suffering caused by oneself, others, by both, or spontaneous?
# Is suffering caused by oneself, others, by both, or spontaneous?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-04-21)

According to *popular belief* of Karma, suffering is caused by oneself. I would like to know:

1. Is one's own suffering caused by oneself?
2. Is one's own suffering caused by others?
3. Is one's own suffering caused by both oneself and others?
4. Is one's own suffering spontaneous?

**Tags:** karma, suffering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Maybe a related topic: [Can a Buddhist truthfully say, “You insulted / offended / angered / hurt me?”](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/11586/254)  
> **username_0**: @username_1 thank you very much for the reference. By the way, the elected answer quotes the sutta which directly addresses this question.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-04-21. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

The teaching of 'good & bad kamma' is not Buddhist but is merely a conventional & universal understanding about '*personal*' behavior found in most cultures & religions that is also part of Buddhism. The doctrine of kamma in Buddhism is called '*lokiya dhamma*', which means a 'mundane' or 'worldly' understanding based on the view of 'self' or 'persons'.

To the contrary, the suttas state (eg. MN 56) that the unique or special teaching of the Buddhas is the Four Noble Truths, which includes the Noble Eightfold Path that ends kamma (refer to AN 6.63). The Noble Eightfold Path ends kamma because its fruition renders all kamma as 'not-self' ('anatta'). Such understanding in Buddhism is called '*lokuttara dhamma*', meaning 'transcendent', 'supramundane' or 'beyond the world'.

Thus, according to '*lokuttara dhamma*', suffering is impersonally caused by the element of ignorance according to the process of Dependent Origination.

In short, the [Acela Sutta](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.017.than.html) answers the question exactly.

Note: the [Acela Sutta](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.017x.wlsh.html) states the view that suffering is 'self-caused' is a form of 'Eternalism' and the view that suffering is 'other-caused' is a form of 'Annihilationism'.


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