Unprincipled ConductAdhammacariyāsutta

Then a certain brahmin went up to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him.Atha kho aññataro brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“What is the cause, worthy Gotama, what is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell?”“ko nu kho, bho gotama, hetu ko paccayo yena m’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjantī”ti?

“Unprincipled and immoral conduct is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.”“Adhammacariyāvisamacariyāhetu kho, brāhmaṇa, evam’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjantī”ti.

“But what is the cause, worthy Gotama, what is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm?”“Ko pana, bho gotama, hetu ko paccayo yena m’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjantī”ti?

“Principled and moral conduct is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.”“Dhammacariyāsamacariyāhetu kho, brāhmaṇa, evam’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjantī”ti.

“I don’t understand the detailed meaning of what the worthy Gotama has said in brief.“Na kho ahaṁ imassa bhoto gotamassa saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi. Please, worthy Gotama, teach me this matter so I can understand the detailed meaning.”Sādhu me bhavaṁ gotamo tathā dhammaṁ desetu yathāhaṁ imassa bhoto gotamassa saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājāneyyan”ti.

“Well then, brahmin, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”“Tena hi, brāhmaṇa, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, worthy sir,” the brahmin replied.“Evaṁ, bho”ti kho so brāhmaṇo bhagavato paccassosi. The Buddha said this:Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Brahmin, unprincipled and immoral conduct is threefold by way of body,“Tividhā kho, brāhmaṇa, kāyena adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti; fourfold by way of speech,catubbidhā vācāya adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti; and threefold by way of mind.tividhā manasā adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti.

And how is unprincipled and immoral conduct threefold by way of body? …Kathañca, brāhmaṇa, tividhā kāyena adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti …pe… That’s how unprincipled and immoral conduct is threefold by way of body.evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, tividhā kāyena adhammacariyā visamacariyā hoti.

And how is unprincipled and immoral conduct fourfold by way of speech? …Kathañca, brāhmaṇa, catubbidhā vācāya adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti …pe… That’s how unprincipled and immoral conduct is fourfold by way of speech.evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, catubbidhā vācāya adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti.

And how is unprincipled and immoral conduct threefold by way of mind? …Kathañca, brāhmaṇa, tividhā manasā adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti …pe… That’s how unprincipled and immoral conduct is threefold by way of mind.evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, tividhā manasā adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti. That’s how unprincipled and immoral conduct is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.Evaṁ adhammacariyāvisamacariyāhetu kho, brāhmaṇa, evam’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjanti.

Principled and moral conduct is threefold by way of body,Tividhā, brāhmaṇa, kāyena dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti; fourfold by way of speech,catubbidhā vācāya dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti; and threefold by way of mind.tividhā manasā dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti.

And how is principled and moral conduct threefold by way of body? …Kathañca, brāhmaṇa, tividhā kāyena dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti …pe… That’s how principled and moral conduct is threefold by way of body.evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, tividhā kāyena dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti.

And how is principled and moral conduct fourfold by way of speech? …Kathañca, brāhmaṇa, catubbidhā vācāya dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti …pe… That’s how principled and moral conduct is fourfold by way of speech.evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, catubbidhā vācāya dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti.

And how is principled and moral conduct threefold by way of mind? …Kathañca, brāhmaṇa, tividhā manasā dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti …pe… That’s how principled and moral conduct is threefold by way of mind.evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, tividhā manasā dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti. That’s how principled and moral conduct is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.”Evaṁ dhammacariyāsamacariyāhetu kho, brāhmaṇa, evam’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjantī”ti.

“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! …“Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.