Anantarika-karma

Ānantarya karma (Sanskrit) or Ānantarika kamma (Pāli)[1] are the most serious offences in Buddhism that, at death, through the overwhelming karmic strength of any single one of them, bring immediate disaster.

Such offenses prevent perpetrators from attaining any of the stages of enlightenment[4] and from ordaining into the Sangha.

The offences are:[5][6][7] Ānantarika kamma is considered so serious that even Amitabha Buddha abandoned all hope.

His 18th Vow reads:[9] If I attain Buddhahood and a sentient being aspires with faith and joy to be reborn in my Sukhavati Pure Land: if they recite my name just ten times and, in spite of this, are not reborn there, then may I myself not attain enlightenment [in the first place].

Two exceptions to this solemn promise are in respect of, firstly, those who have committed the five terrible offences and, secondly, of those who have vilified the Sublime Dharma because such people cannot be reborn in Sukhavati.