CH18: (Kamma)bhava — Becoming

At-a-glance: Present Cause • Kamma-vaṭṭa • C3 pivot

A. Definition & place in DO

• Bhava = becoming/existence; in DO here we stress (kamma)bhava—the active momentum of deeds that will project result.

• SN 12.2 enumeration: three becomings—kāma-bhava (sense-sphere), rūpa-bhava (form-sphere), arūpa-bhava (formless-sphere).

• Placement (Ch02): Present Cause, downstream of taṇhā → upādāna, upstream of jāti via C3.

• Round (Ch03): Kamma-vaṭṭa (action): consolidated intention/doing that seeds future experience.

• Function: channels clung-to aims into habit-energy that conditions future arising of the aggregates.

B. Mechanism (how (kamma)bhava conditions the next)

• Upstream build: Vedanā → Taṇhā → Upādāna → (Kamma)bhava. Craving leans, clinging locks, becoming drives.

• C3 hand-off: (Kamma)bhava → Jāti: present becoming projects a future effect—the arising of a new episode/stream of aggregates, with the dukkha suite (jarāmaraṇa … upāyāsa) following (SN 12.1).

• Modes of becoming (SN 12.2): actions and mental trainings aligned with kāma / rūpa / arūpa spheres shape where and how consciousness later arises.

• Cessation read (SN 12.1): when taṇhā cools, upādāna does not harden; with the cessation of upādāna, bhava ceases—thus jāti and dukkha wane.

C. Practice (micro-drills, 1–3 minutes)

1. One-Intention Ledger (90 sec)
   Name the urge that’s “about to become” (buy, snap back, binge-scroll). Write one line: “Intend → Act → Becomes (what kind of person/trajectory?).” Replace with a lighter intent (truth, kindness, restraint). Execute one tiny step now.

2. C3 Brake (2 min)
   When you feel momentum snowballing, say softly: “becoming building.” Take one slow breath; relax jaw/chest/hands. Ask: “If this becomes, what will jāti look like?” Choose not to feed it once. Notice the energy disperse.

3. Sphere Check (3 min)
   Scan the last hour: was your energy bent toward kāma (sensual pull), rūpa (refined form—calm/absorption forms), or arūpa (immaterial, formless pursuits)? Mark the dominant sphere. Add one wholesome re-aim (generosity, patience, clarity) that doesn’t stock more becoming.

D. Cross-links

• Ch16 Taṇhā and Ch17 Upādāna (upstream fuel).

• Ch19 Jāti (downstream projection via C3).

• Ch03 Three Rounds (kamma-vaṭṭa in context).

• Ch05 Two Truths (how samudaya powers becoming).

• Ch06 Three Connections (C3 spotlight).

Sources

SN 12.1; SN 12.2.

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QR Footer (left → right)

• Audio QR-CH18-AUD1 — “From clinging to becoming: a 3-step check.” (Alt: “QR to audio: (kamma)bhava practice”)

• Video QR-CH18-VID1 — C3 in action: (kamma)bhava → jāti. (Alt: “QR to video: C3 projection demo”)

• Slides QR-CH18-PPT1 — Present Cause map: taṇhā→upādāna→bhava. (Alt: “QR to slides: becoming teaching deck”)

• Prompt QR-CH18-PRM1 — One-Intention Ledger card. (Alt: “QR to prompt: intend→act→becomes cue”)

Next: Ch19 — Jāti (Birth).