4: The Book of the Fours
XXIV. Deeds — AN 4.237: The Noble Path
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato. (More copyright information)
1“Mendicants, I declare these four kinds of deeds, having realized them with my own insight. What four?
- There are dark deeds with dark results;
- bright deeds with bright results;
- dark and bright deeds with dark and bright results; and
- neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds.
2And what are dark deeds with dark results? It’s when someone makes hurtful choices by way of body, speech, and mind. These are called dark deeds with dark results.
3And what are bright deeds with bright results? It’s when someone makes pleasing choices by way of body, speech, and mind. These are called bright deeds with bright results.
4And what are dark and bright deeds with dark and bright results? It’s when someone makes both hurtful and pleasing choices by way of body, speech, and mind. These are called dark and bright deeds with dark and bright results.
5And what are neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds? Right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. These are called neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds.
These are the four kinds of deeds that I declare, having realized them with my own insight.”
1"Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, kammāni mayā sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā paveditāni. Katamāni cattāri?
Atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ; atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ; atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ; atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati.
2Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco sabyābajjhaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti … pe … idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ.
3Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco abyābajjhaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti … pe … idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ.
4Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco sabyābajjhampi abyābajjhampi kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti … pe … idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ.
5Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati? Sammādiṭṭhi … pe … sammāsamādhi. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati.
Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri kammāni mayā sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā paveditānī"ti.
Chaṭṭhaṁ.