Aṅguttara Nikāya
The Book of the Threes
34 Causes
“Bhikkhus, there are these three
causes for the origination of kamma. What three? Greed is a cause
for the origination of kamma; hatred is a cause for the origination
of kamma; delusion is a cause for the origination of
kamma.
(1) “Any
kamma, bhikkhus, fashioned through greed, born of greed, caused by
greed, originated by greed, ripens wherever the individual is
reborn. Wherever that kamma ripens, it is there that one
experiences its result, either in this very life, or in the
next
rebirth, or on some subsequent occasion.
(2) “Any kamma
fashioned through hatred, born of hatred, caused by hatred,
originated by hatred, ripens wherever the individual is reborn.
Wherever that kamma ripens, it is there that one experiences its
result, either in this very life, or in the next
rebirth, or on some subsequent occasion.
(3) “Any kamma
fashioned through delusion, born of delusion, caused by delusion,
originated by delusion, ripens wherever the individual is reborn.
Wherever that kamma ripens, an.i.135 it is there that one
experiences its result, either in this very life, or in the
next
rebirth, or on some subsequent occasion.
“Suppose, bhikkhus, seeds that are
intact, unspoiled, not damaged by wind and the sun’s heat, fecund,
well preserved, were deposited in well-prepared ground in a good
field and receive proper rainfall: in this way, those seeds would
grow, increase, and mature. So too, any kamma that is fashioned
through greed … hatred … delusion, born of delusion, caused by
delusion, originated by delusion, ripens wherever the individual is
reborn. Wherever that kamma ripens, it is there that one
experiences its result, either in this very life, or in the
next
rebirth, or on some subsequent occasion.
“These are the three causes for the
origination of kamma.
“Bhikkhus, there are these three
other
causes for the origination of kamma. What three? Non-greed is a
cause for the origination of kamma; non-hatred is a cause for the
origination of kamma; non-delusion is a cause for the origination
of kamma.
(1) “Any
kamma, bhikkhus, fashioned through non-greed, born of non-greed,
caused by non-greed, originated by non-greed, is abandoned when
greed has vanished; it is cut off at the root, made like a palm
stump, obliterated so that it is no more subject to future
arising.
(2) “Any kamma
fashioned through non-hatred, born of non-hatred, caused by
non-hatred, originated by non-hatred, is abandoned when hatred has
vanished; it is cut off at the root, made like a palm stump,
obliterated so that it is no more subject to future
arising.
(3) “Any kamma
fashioned through non-delusion, born of non-delusion, caused by
non-delusion, originated by non-delusion, is abandoned when
delusion has vanished; it is cut off at the root, made like a palm
stump, obliterated so that it is no more subject to future
arising.
“Suppose, bhikkhus, there are seeds
that are intact, unspoiled, an.i.136 not damaged by wind and the
sun’s heat, fecund, well preserved. Then a man would burn them in a
fire, reduce them to ashes, and winnow the ashes in a strong wind
or let them be carried away by the swift current of a river. In
this way, those seeds would be cut off at the root, made like a
palm stump, obliterated so that they are no more subject to future
arising. So too, any kamma that is fashioned through non-greed …
non-hatred … non-delusion, born of non-delusion, caused by
non-delusion, originated by non-delusion, is abandoned when
delusion has vanished; it is cut off at the root, made like a palm
stump, obliterated so that it is no more subject to future
arising.”
“These, bhikkhus, are the three
causes for the origination of kamma.”
Whatever kamma an ignorant person has
done
born of greed, hatred, and delusion,
whether what was fashioned by him be little or much,
it is to be experienced right here:
there exists no other site for
it.
Therefore a wise person should abandon
any
deed born of greed, hatred, and delusion.
A bhikkhu, giving rise to knowledge,
should abandon all bad destinations.