Ariyamaggasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.237

Numbered Discourses 4.237

24. Kammavagga

24. Deeds

Ariyamaggasutta

The Noble Path

“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, kammāni mayā sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā paveditāni.

“Mendicants, I declare these four kinds of deeds, having realized them with my own insight.

Katamāni cattāri?

What four?

Atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ;

There are dark deeds with dark results;

atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ;

bright deeds with bright results;

atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ;

dark and bright deeds with dark and bright results; and

atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati.

neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ?

And what are dark deeds with dark results?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco sabyābajjhaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ.

It’s when someone makes hurtful choices by way of body, speech, and mind. These are called dark deeds with dark results.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ?

And what are bright deeds with bright results?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco abyābajjhaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ.

It’s when someone makes pleasing choices by way of body, speech, and mind. These are called bright deeds with bright results.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ?

And what are dark and bright deeds with dark and bright results?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco sabyābajjhampi abyābajjhampi kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ.

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.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati?

And what are neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds?

Sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

Right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati.

These are called neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri kammāni mayā sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā paveditānī”ti.

These are the four kinds of deeds that I declare, having realized them with my own insight.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.