Unskillful ThoughtsAkusalavitakkasutta

At one time one of the mendicants was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove.Ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro bhikkhu kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

Now at that time that mendicant, during their day’s meditation, was thinking bad, unskillful thoughts, that is,Tena kho pana samayena so bhikkhu divāvihāragato pāpake akusale vitakke vitakketi, seyyathidaṁ— sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts.kāmavitakkaṁ, byāpādavitakkaṁ, vihiṁsāvitakkaṁ. The deity haunting that forest had sympathy for that mendicant, and wanted what’s best for them. So they approached that mendicant wanting to stir them up, and addressed them in verse:Atha kho yā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā tassa bhikkhuno anukampikā atthakāmā taṁ bhikkhuṁ saṁvejetukāmā yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

“Because of irrational application of mind,“Ayoniso manasikārā, you’re consumed by your thoughts.so vitakkehi khajjasi; When you’ve given up irrationality,Ayoniso paṭinissajja, make sure your thoughts are rational.yoniso anucintaya.

Thinking about the Teacher, the teaching,Satthāraṁ dhammamārabbha, the Saṅgha, and your own ethics,saṅghaṁ sīlāni attano; you’ll find gladness,Adhigacchasi pāmojjaṁ, and rapture and bliss as well, no doubt.pītisukhamasaṁsayaṁ; And when you’re full of joy,Tato pāmojjabahulo, you’ll make an end to suffering.”dukkhassantaṁ karissasī”ti.

Impelled by that deity, that mendicant was struck with a sense of urgency.Atha kho so bhikkhu tāya devatāya saṁvejito saṁvegamāpādīti.