THE TEN UNWHOLESOME ACTIONS

THE TEN UNWHOLESOME ACTIONS

AN ILL – DISPOSED MIND IS THE GREATEST ENEMY – Dhammapada (Verse 42)

Whatever (harm) a foe may do to a foe, or a hater to a hater, an ill-directed mind can do one far greater harm.

Story;
While on a visit to a village in the kingdom of Kosala, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Nanda, the herdsman.
Nanda was a herdsman who looked after cows of Anathapindika. Although only a herdsman, he had some means of his own. Occasionally, he would go to the house of Anathapindika and there he sometimes met the Buddha and listened to his discourses. Nanda requested the Buddha to pay a visit to his house. But the Buddha did not go to Nanda’s house, immediately, saying that it was not yet time.

After sometime, while travelling with his followers, the Buddha went off his route to visit Nanda, knowing that the time had come for Nanda to receive his teaching properly. Nanda respectfully received the Buddha and his followers: he served them milk and milk products and other choice foods for seven days. On the last day after hearing the discourse given by the Buddha, Nanda attained Sothapatti Fruition. As the Buddha was leaving that day, Nanda carrying the bowl of the Buddha, followed him for some distance, paid obeisance and turned back to go home.

At that instant, a stray arrow shot by a hunter, killed him. Later the monks, who were following the Buddha, saw Nanda lying dead. They reported the matter to the Buddha, saying, "Venerable, because you came here, Nanda who made great offerings to you and accompanied you on your return was killed as he was turning back to go home.” To them, the Buddha replied, “Monks, whether I came here or not, there was no escape from death for him because of his previous karma.”
An ill directed mind- That is the mind directed towards the ten kinds of evil;

The Ten Unwholesome Actions/Deeds:

1. Killing

2. Stealing
3. Sexual misconduct
4. Lying
5. Slandering
6. Harsh speech
7. Vain talk
8. Covetousness (greed) desiring to have others belongings.
9. Ill-will - hatred -hoping death or unhappiness to conscious beings.
10. And false belief. Miccha Ditti - erroneous views - a person having wrong views does not believe in the good effects arising from charity, morality and mental culture.

There are three doors through which these actions are done. Namely: body, speech and thought. Those committed through the body are known as Kaya kamma. Those done through the door of speech are known as Vaci kamma and those done through the door of thought are known as Mano kamma.

One’s mind can be directed in the right manner. In such a situation the outcome is wholesome. When this happens, the well- directed proves to be one’s best friend. But when the direction given to the mind is wrong it can do greater harm to a person than even an enemy could.

*THE TEN WHOLESOME ACTIONS ARE THE OPPOSITES OF THE ABOVE TEN ACTIONS