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Numbered Discourses · AN 4.237

  • Numbered Discourses 4.237Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.237
  • 24. Deeds24. Kammavagga

The Noble PathAriyamaggasutta

“Mendicants, I declare these four kinds of deeds, having realized them with my own insight.“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, kammāni mayā sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā paveditāni. What four?Katamāni cattāri?

  1. There are dark deeds with dark results;Atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ;
  2. bright deeds with bright results;atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ;
  3. dark and bright deeds with dark and bright results; andatthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ;
  4. neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds.atthi, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati.

And what are dark deeds with dark results?Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ? It’s when someone makes hurtful choices by way of body, speech, and mind. These are called dark deeds with dark results.Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco sabyābajjhaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ.

And what are bright deeds with bright results?Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ? It’s when someone makes pleasing choices by way of body, speech, and mind. These are called bright deeds with bright results.Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco abyābajjhaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ.

And what are dark and bright deeds with dark and bright results?Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ? It’s when someone makes both hurtful and pleasing choices by way of body, speech, and mind. These are called dark and bright deeds with dark and bright results.Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco sabyābajjhampi abyābajjhampi kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ.

And what are neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds?Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati? Right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.Sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi. These are called neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds.Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati.

These are the four kinds of deeds that I declare, having realized them with my own insight.”Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri kammāni mayā sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā paveditānī”ti.

Similar passages elsewhere

Found by meaning, not by citation: the passages in other texts whose wording sits closest to a passage here.

  1. AN 4.235 Training Rules (1st) 1.00near 5.4These are the four kinds of deeds that I declare, having realized them with my own insight.”…
  2. AN 4.233 Deeds in Detail 0.88near 0.1Numbered Discourses 4.233 24. Deeds Deeds in Detail “Mendicants, I declare these four kinds of deeds, having realized them with my own insight. What four? There are dark deeds with dark results; bright deeds with bright…
  3. AN 4.236 Training Rules (2nd) 0.80near 0.1It’s the intention to give up dark deeds with dark results, bright deeds with bright results, and both dark and bright deeds with both dark and bright results. These are called neither dark nor bright deeds with neither…
  4. AN 4.232 Deeds In Brief 0.53near 5.4Numbered Discourses 4.232 24. Deeds Deeds In Brief “Mendicants, I declare these four kinds of deeds, having realized them with my own insight. What four? There are dark deeds with dark results. There are bright deeds wit…