{"id":"an3.69","title":"Unskillful Roots","languageCodes":["en","pi"],"languageNotes":{"en":"Bhikkhu Sujato · CC0","pi":"Mahāsaṅgīti edition · SuttaCentral"},"chapters":[{"id":"an3.69","title":"Unskillful Roots","units":[{"id":"an3.69:0","sourceIds":["an3.69:0.1","an3.69:0.2","an3.69:0.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.69\n7. Mahāvagga\nAkusalamūlasutta","en":"Numbered Discourses 3.69\n7. The Great Chapter\nUnskillful Roots"}},{"id":"an3.69:1","sourceIds":["an3.69:1.1","an3.69:1.2","an3.69:1.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, akusalamūlāni.\nKatamāni tīṇi?\nLobho akusalamūlaṁ, doso akusalamūlaṁ, moho akusalamūlaṁ.","en":"“Mendicants, there are these three unskillful roots.\nWhat three?\nGreed, hate, and delusion."}},{"id":"an3.69:2","sourceIds":["an3.69:2.1","an3.69:2.2","an3.69:2.3","an3.69:2.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Yadapi, bhikkhave, lobho tadapi akusalamūlaṁ;\nyadapi luddho abhisaṅkharoti kāyena vācāya manasā tadapi akusalaṁ;\nyadapi luddho lobhena abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi tadapi akusalaṁ.\nItissame lobhajā lobhanidānā lobhasamudayā lobhapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti.","en":"Greed is a root of the unskillful.\nWhen a greedy person chooses to act by way of body, speech, or mind, that too is unskillful.\nWhen a greedy person, overcome by greed, causes another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’, that too is unskillful.\nAnd so these many bad, unskillful things are produced in them, born, sourced, originated, and conditioned by greed."}},{"id":"an3.69:3","sourceIds":["an3.69:3.1","an3.69:3.2","an3.69:3.3","an3.69:3.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Yadapi, bhikkhave, doso tadapi akusalamūlaṁ;\nyadapi duṭṭho abhisaṅkharoti kāyena vācāya manasā tadapi akusalaṁ;\nyadapi duṭṭho dosena abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi tadapi akusalaṁ.\nItissame dosajā dosanidānā dosasamudayā dosapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti.","en":"Hate is a root of the unskillful.\nWhen a hateful person chooses to act by way of body, speech, or mind, that too is unskillful.\nWhen a hateful person, overcome by hate, causes another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’, that too is unskillful.\nAnd so these many bad, unskillful things are produced in them, born, sourced, originated, and conditioned by hate."}},{"id":"an3.69:4","sourceIds":["an3.69:4.1","an3.69:4.2","an3.69:4.3","an3.69:4.4","an3.69:4.5"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Yadapi, bhikkhave, moho tadapi akusalamūlaṁ;\nyadapi mūḷho abhisaṅkharoti kāyena vācāya manasā tadapi akusalaṁ;\nyadapi mūḷho mohena abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi tadapi akusalaṁ.\nItissame mohajā mohanidānā mohasamudayā mohapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti.\nEvarūpo cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo vuccati akālavādītipi, abhūtavādītipi, anatthavādītipi, adhammavādītipi, avinayavādītipi.","en":"Delusion is a root of the unskillful.\nWhen a deluded person chooses to act by way of body, speech, or mind, that too is unskillful.\nWhen a deluded person, overcome by delusion, causes another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’, that too is unskillful.\nAnd so these many bad, unskillful things are produced in them, born, sourced, originated, and conditioned by delusion.\nSuch an individual is said to have speech that’s ill-timed, false, meaningless, not in line with the teaching and training."}},{"id":"an3.69:5","sourceIds":["an3.69:5.1","an3.69:5.2","an3.69:5.3","an3.69:5.4","an3.69:5.5"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Kasmā cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, evarūpo puggalo vuccati akālavādītipi, abhūtavādītipi, anatthavādītipi, adhammavādītipi, avinayavādītipi?\nTathāhāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi.\nBhūtena kho pana vuccamāno avajānāti, no paṭijānāti;\nabhūtena vuccamāno na ātappaṁ karoti, tassa nibbeṭhanāya itipetaṁ atacchaṁ itipetaṁ abhūtanti.\nTasmā evarūpo puggalo vuccati akālavādītipi, abhūtavādītipi, anatthavādītipi, adhammavādītipi, avinayavādītipi.","en":"Why is this?\nThis individual causes another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’.\nSo when someone makes a valid criticism, they’re scornful and admit nothing.\nWhen someone makes a baseless criticism, they make no effort to explain, ‘This is why that’s untrue, this is why that’s false.’\nThat’s why such an individual is said to have speech that’s ill-timed, false, meaningless, not in line with the teaching and training."}},{"id":"an3.69:6","sourceIds":["an3.69:6.1","an3.69:6.2"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Evarūpo, bhikkhave, puggalo lobhajehi pāpakehi akusalehi dhammehi abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto diṭṭhe ceva dhamme dukkhaṁ viharati, savighātaṁ saupāyāsaṁ sapariḷāhaṁ.\nKāyassa ca bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā.","en":"Such an individual—overcome with bad, unskillful qualities born of greed, hate, and delusion—suffers in this very life, with distress, anguish, and fever.\nAnd when the body breaks up, after death, they can expect to be reborn in a bad place."}},{"id":"an3.69:7","sourceIds":["an3.69:7.1","an3.69:7.2","an3.69:7.3","an3.69:7.4","an3.69:7.5","an3.69:7.6"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Dosajehi …pe…\nmohajehi pāpakehi akusalehi dhammehi abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto diṭṭhe ceva dhamme dukkhaṁ viharati, savighātaṁ saupāyāsaṁ sapariḷāhaṁ.\nKāyassa ca bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā.\nSeyyathāpi, bhikkhave, sālo vā dhavo vā phandano vā tīhi māluvālatāhi uddhasto pariyonaddho anayaṁ āpajjati, byasanaṁ āpajjati, anayabyasanaṁ āpajjati;\nevamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, evarūpo puggalo lobhajehi pāpakehi akusalehi dhammehi abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto diṭṭhe ceva dhamme dukkhaṁ viharati, savighātaṁ saupāyāsaṁ sapariḷāhaṁ.\nKāyassa ca bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā.","en":"Suppose a sal, axlewood, or sandan tree was choked and enveloped by three camel’s foot creepers. It would fall to ruin and disaster.\nIn the same way, such an individual—overcome with bad, unskillful qualities born of greed, hate, and delusion—suffers in this very life, with distress, anguish, and fever.\nAnd when the body breaks up, after death, they can expect to be reborn in a bad place."}},{"id":"an3.69:8","sourceIds":["an3.69:8.1","an3.69:8.2","an3.69:8.3","an3.69:8.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Dosajehi …pe…\nmohajehi pāpakehi akusalehi dhammehi abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto diṭṭhe ceva dhamme dukkhaṁ viharati savighātaṁ saupāyāsaṁ sapariḷāhaṁ.\nKāyassa ca bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā.\nImāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi akusalamūlānīti.","en":"These are the three unskillful roots."}},{"id":"an3.69:9","sourceIds":["an3.69:9.1","an3.69:9.2","an3.69:9.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, kusalamūlāni.\nKatamāni tīṇi?\nAlobho kusalamūlaṁ, adoso kusalamūlaṁ, amoho kusalamūlaṁ.","en":"There are these three skillful roots.\nWhat three?\nContentment, love, and understanding."}},{"id":"an3.69:10","sourceIds":["an3.69:10.1","an3.69:10.2","an3.69:10.3","an3.69:10.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Yadapi, bhikkhave, alobho tadapi kusalamūlaṁ;\nyadapi aluddho abhisaṅkharoti kāyena vācāya manasā tadapi kusalaṁ;\nyadapi aluddho lobhena anabhibhūto apariyādinnacitto na parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi tadapi kusalaṁ.\nItissame alobhajā alobhanidānā alobhasamudayā alobhapaccayā aneke kusalā dhammā sambhavanti.","en":"Contentment is a root of the skillful.\nWhen a contented person chooses to act by way of body, speech, or mind, that too is skillful.\nWhen a contented person, not overcome by greed, doesn’t cause another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’, that too is skillful.\nAnd so these many skillful things are produced in them, born, sourced, originated, and conditioned by contentment."}},{"id":"an3.69:11","sourceIds":["an3.69:11.1","an3.69:11.2","an3.69:11.3","an3.69:11.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Yadapi, bhikkhave, adoso tadapi kusalamūlaṁ;\nyadapi aduṭṭho abhisaṅkharoti kāyena vācāya manasā tadapi kusalaṁ;\nyadapi aduṭṭho dosena anabhibhūto apariyādinnacitto na parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi tadapi kusalaṁ.\nItissame adosajā adosanidānā adosasamudayā adosapaccayā aneke kusalā dhammā sambhavanti.","en":"Love is a root of the skillful.\nWhen a loving person chooses to act by way of body, speech, or mind, that too is skillful.\nWhen a loving person, not overcome by hate, doesn’t cause another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’, that too is skillful.\nAnd so these many skillful things are produced in them, born, sourced, originated, and conditioned by love."}},{"id":"an3.69:12","sourceIds":["an3.69:12.1","an3.69:12.2","an3.69:12.3","an3.69:12.4","an3.69:12.5"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Yadapi, bhikkhave, amoho tadapi kusalamūlaṁ;\nyadapi amūḷho abhisaṅkharoti kāyena vācāya manasā tadapi kusalaṁ;\nyadapi amūḷho mohena anabhibhūto apariyādinnacitto na parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi tadapi kusalaṁ.\nItissame amohajā amohanidānā amohasamudayā amohapaccayā aneke kusalā dhammā sambhavanti.\nEvarūpo cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo vuccati kālavādītipi, bhūtavādītipi, atthavādītipi, dhammavādītipi, vinayavādītipi.","en":"Understanding is a root of the skillful.\nWhen an understanding person chooses to act by way of body, speech, or mind, that too is skillful.\nWhen an understanding person, not overcome by delusion, doesn’t cause another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’, that too is skillful.\nAnd so these many skillful things are produced in them, born, sourced, originated, and conditioned by understanding.\nSuch an individual is said to have speech that’s well-timed, true, meaningful, in line with the teaching and training."}},{"id":"an3.69:13","sourceIds":["an3.69:13.1","an3.69:13.2","an3.69:13.3","an3.69:13.4","an3.69:13.5","an3.69:13.6"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Kasmā cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, evarūpo puggalo vuccati kālavādītipi, bhūtavādītipi, atthavādītipi, dhammavādītipi, vinayavādītipi?\nTathāhāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo na parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi.\nBhūtena kho pana vuccamāno paṭijānāti no avajānāti;\nabhūtena vuccamāno ātappaṁ karoti tassa nibbeṭhanāya:\n‘itipetaṁ atacchaṁ, itipetaṁ abhūtan’ti.\nTasmā evarūpo puggalo vuccati kālavādītipi, atthavādītipi, dhammavādītipi, vinayavādītipi.","en":"Why is this?\nThis individual doesn’t cause another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’.\nSo when someone makes a valid criticism, they admit it and aren’t scornful.\nWhen someone makes a baseless criticism, they make an effort to explain,\n‘This is why that’s untrue, this is why that’s false.’\nThat’s why such an individual is said to have speech that’s well-timed, true, meaningful, in line with the teaching and training."}},{"id":"an3.69:14","sourceIds":["an3.69:14.1","an3.69:14.2","an3.69:14.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Evarūpassa, bhikkhave, puggalassa lobhajā pāpakā akusalā dhammā pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.\nDiṭṭheva dhamme sukhaṁ viharati avighātaṁ anupāyāsaṁ apariḷāhaṁ.\nDiṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyati.","en":"For such an individual, bad unskillful qualities born of greed, hate, and delusion are cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.\nIn this very life they’re happy, free of distress, anguish, and fever,\nand they’re also extinguished in this very life."}},{"id":"an3.69:15","sourceIds":["an3.69:15.1","an3.69:15.2","an3.69:15.3","an3.69:15.4","an3.69:15.5","an3.69:15.6","an3.69:15.7","an3.69:15.8","an3.69:15.9","an3.69:15.10","an3.69:15.11","an3.69:15.12"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Dosajā …pe…\nparinibbāyati.\nMohajā …pe…\nparinibbāyati.\nSeyyathāpi bhikkhave, sālo vā dhavo vā phandano vā tīhi māluvālatāhi uddhasto pariyonaddho.\nAtha puriso āgaccheyya kudālapiṭakaṁ ādāya.\nSo taṁ māluvālataṁ mūle chindeyya, mūle chetvā palikhaṇeyya, palikhaṇitvā mūlāni uddhareyya, antamaso usīranāḷimattānipi.\nSo taṁ māluvālataṁ khaṇḍākhaṇḍikaṁ chindeyya, khaṇḍākhaṇḍikaṁ chetvā phāleyya, phāletvā sakalikaṁ sakalikaṁ kareyya, sakalikaṁ sakalikaṁ karitvā vātātape visoseyya, vātātape visosetvā agginā ḍaheyya, agginā ḍahitvā masiṁ kareyya, masiṁ karitvā mahāvāte vā ophuṇeyya nadiyā vā sīghasotāya pavāheyya.\nEvamassa tā, bhikkhave, māluvālatā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.\nEvamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, evarūpassa puggalassa lobhajā pāpakā akusalā dhammā pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.\nDiṭṭheva dhamme sukhaṁ viharati avighātaṁ anupāyāsaṁ apariḷāhaṁ.\nDiṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyati.","en":"Suppose a sal, axlewood, or sandan tree was choked and enveloped by three camel’s foot creepers.\nThen along comes a person with a spade and basket.\nThey’d cut the creeper out by the roots, dig them up, and pull them out, down to the fibers and stems.\nThen they’d split the creeper apart, cut up the parts, and chop it into splinters. They’d dry the splinters in the wind and sun, burn them with fire, and reduce them to ashes. Then they’d whisk away the ashes in a strong wind, or glide them down a swift stream.\nSo those camel’s foot creepers would be cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, and obliterated, unable to arise in the future.\nIn the same way, for such an individual, bad unskillful qualities born of greed, hate, and delusion are cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.\nIn this very life they’re happy, free of  distress, anguish, and fever,\nand they’re also extinguished in this very life."}},{"id":"an3.69:16","sourceIds":["an3.69:16.1","an3.69:16.2","an3.69:16.3","an3.69:16.4","an3.69:16.5","an3.69:16.6"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Dosajā …pe…\nmohajā pāpakā akusalā dhammā pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.\nDiṭṭheva dhamme sukhaṁ viharati avighātaṁ anupāyāsaṁ apariḷāhaṁ.\nDiṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyati.\nImāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi kusalamūlānī”ti.\nNavamaṁ.","en":"These are the three skillful roots.”"}}]}],"sourceRevision":"afdafa92450cfe7573b280da50382888323666d2","sourceUrl":"https://suttacentral.net/an3.69/en/sujato","licence":"CC0 1.0","licenceUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/","editionNote":"Full supplied source file; inherited abbreviations are preserved. Not a reconstructed expansion of every repetition. No Malay or Mandarin translation is implied."}