http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.033.than.html
AN 3.33
PTS: A i 134
Thai 3.34; BJT 3.34
Nidana Sutta: Causes
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
© 2001–2012
"Monks, these three are causes for the origination of actions.
Which three? Greed is a cause for the origination of actions.
Aversion is a cause for the origination of actions. Delusion is a
cause for the origination of actions.
"Any action performed with greed — born of greed, caused by greed,
originating from greed: wherever one's selfhood turns up, there
that action will ripen. Where that action ripens, there one will
experience its fruit, either in this very life that has arisen or
further along in the sequence.
"Any action performed with aversion — born of aversion, caused by
aversion, originating from aversion: wherever one's selfhood turns
up, there that action will ripen. Where that action ripens, there
one will experience its fruit, either in this very life that has
arisen or further along in the sequence.
"Any action performed with delusion — born of delusion, caused by
delusion, originating from delusion: wherever one's selfhood turns
up, there that action will ripen. Where that action ripens, there
one will experience its fruit, either in this very life that has
arisen or further along in the sequence.
"Just as when seeds are not broken, not rotten, not damaged by wind
& heat, capable of sprouting, well-buried, planted in
well-prepared soil, and the rain-god would offer good streams of
rain. Those seeds would thus come to growth, increase, &
abundance. In the same way, any action performed with greed...
performed with aversion... performed with delusion — born of
delusion, caused by delusion, originating from delusion: wherever
one's selfhood turns up, there that action will ripen. Where that
action ripens, there one will experience its fruit, either in this
very life that has arisen or further along in the sequence.
"These are three causes for the origination of actions.
"Now, these three are [further] causes for the origination of
actions. Which three? Non-greed is a cause for the origination of
actions. Non-aversion is a cause for the origination of actions.
Non-delusion is a cause for the origination of actions.
"Any action performed with non-greed — born of non-greed, caused by
non-greed, originating from non-greed: When greed is gone, that
action is thus abandoned, its root destroyed, made like a palmyra
stump, deprived of the conditions of development, not destined for
future arising.
"Any action performed with non-aversion — born of non-aversion,
caused by non-aversion, originating from non-aversion: When
aversion is gone, that action is thus abandoned, destroyed at the
root, made like a palmyra stump, deprived of the conditions of
development, not destined for future arising.
"Any action performed with non-delusion — born of non-delusion,
caused by non-delusion, originating from non-delusion: When
delusion is gone, that action is thus abandoned, its root
destroyed, made like a palmyra stump, deprived of the conditions of
development, not destined for future arising.
"Just as when seeds are not broken, not rotten, not damaged by wind
& heat, capable of sprouting, well-buried, planted in
well-prepared soil, and a man would burn them with fire and,
burning them with fire, would make them into fine ashes. Having
made them into fine ashes, he would winnow them before a high wind
or wash them away in a swift-flowing stream. Those seeds would thus
be destroyed at the root, made like a palmyra stump, deprived of
the conditions of development, not destined for future
arising.
"In the same way, any action performed with non-greed... performed
with non-aversion... performed with non-delusion — born of
non-delusion, caused by non-delusion, originating from
non-delusion: When delusion is gone, that action is thus abandoned,
its root destroyed, made like a palmyra stump, deprived of the
conditions of development, not destined for future arising.
"These, monks, are three causes for the origination of
action."
A person unknowing: the actions performed by him, born of greed,
born of aversion, & born of delusion, whether many or few, are
experienced right here: no other ground is found.[1] So a monk,
knowing, sheds greed, aversion, & delusion; giving rise to
clear knowledge, he sheds all bad destinations.[2]
Notes
1.
According to the Commentary, "right here" means
within the stream of one's own "selfhood" (attabhava), i.e., one's
own chain of rebirth. "No other ground is found" means that the
fruit of the action is not experienced by any other person's chain
of rebirth.
2.
The Commentary notes that this verse refers to
the attainment of arahantship, and that an arahant — in reaching
nibbana — sheds not only bad destinations, but also good
ones.
The word "sheds" acts as a "lamp" in this verse
— it appears only once, but functions in two phrases, as I have
rendered it in the translation. On the use of the lamp as a
literary figure of speech, see the Introduction to Dhammapada: A
Translation.
See also: SN 42.8; AN 3.99.