The Cessation of DeedsKammanirodhasutta

“Mendicants, I will teach you old deeds, new deeds, the cessation of deeds, and the practice that leads to the cessation of deeds.“Navapurāṇāni, bhikkhave, kammāni desessāmi kammanirodhaṁ kammanirodhagāminiñca paṭipadaṁ. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak. …Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmīti.

And what is old deeds?Katamañca, bhikkhave, purāṇakammaṁ?

The eye is old deeds. It should be seen as produced by choices and intentions, as something to be felt.Cakkhu, bhikkhave, purāṇakammaṁ abhisaṅkhataṁ abhisañcetayitaṁ vedaniyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ …pe…

The ear … nose … tongue … body …jivhā purāṇakammā abhisaṅkhatā abhisañcetayitā vedaniyā daṭṭhabbā …pe… mind is old deeds. It should be seen as produced by choices and intentions, as something to be felt.mano purāṇakammo abhisaṅkhato abhisañcetayito vedaniyo daṭṭhabbo.

This is called old deeds.Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, purāṇakammaṁ.

And what is new deeds?Katamañca, bhikkhave, navakammaṁ?

The deeds you currently perform by way of body, speech, and mind.Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, etarahi kammaṁ karoti kāyena vācāya manasā,

These are called new deeds.idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, navakammaṁ.

And what is the cessation of deeds?Katamo ca, bhikkhave, kammanirodho?

When you experience freedom due to the cessation of deeds by body, speech, and mind.Yo kho, bhikkhave, kāyakammavacīkammamanokammassa nirodhā vimuttiṁ phusati,

This is called the cessation of deeds.ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammanirodho.

And what’s the practice that leads to the cessation of deeds?Katamā ca, bhikkhave, kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā?

It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ— right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.sammādiṭṭhi, sammāsaṅkappo, sammāvācā, sammākammanto, sammāājīvo, sammāvāyāmo, sammāsati, sammāsamādhi—

This is called the practice that leads to the cessation of deeds.ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā.

So, mendicants, I’ve taught you old deeds, new deeds, the cessation of deeds, and the practice that leads to the cessation of deeds.Iti kho, bhikkhave, desitaṁ mayā purāṇakammaṁ, desitaṁ navakammaṁ, desito kammanirodho, desitā kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā.

Out of sympathy, I’ve done what a teacher should do who wants what’s best for their disciples.Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, satthārā karaṇīyaṁ sāvakānaṁ hitesinā anukampakena anukampaṁ upādāya, kataṁ vo taṁ mayā. Here are these roots of trees, and here are these empty huts. Practice absorption, mendicants! Don’t be negligent! Don’t regret it later! This is my instruction to you.”Etāni, bhikkhave, rukkhamūlāni, etāni suññāgārāni. Jhāyatha, bhikkhave, mā pamādattha; mā pacchāvippaṭisārino ahuvattha. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.