Dasa Akusala/Dasa Kusala – Basis of Buddha Dhamma – 2

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Dasa Akusala/Dasa Kusala – Basis of Buddha Dhamma – 2

June 27, 2018

This is the second post in a series. The first post: “Dasa Akusala/Dasa Kusala – Basis of Buddha Dhamma.”

1. Dasa kusala and dasa akusala are the foundations of Buddha Dhamma. Nature’s laws are based on them.

▪A wide variety of synonyms are given for dasa kusala and dasa akusala in a number of short suttā in Aṅguttara Nikāya; see, “Aṅguttara Nikāya – Suttā on Key Concepts.”

▪Dasa akusala corrupt a mind and they lead to sansāric suffering.

▪Dasa kusala purify a mind and they lead to permanent happiness (Nibbāna).

2. We can easily see connections to a number of key Pāli words and concepts with this information.

▪The most potent of the dasa akusala is micchā diṭṭhi, which basically corrupts the mind and lead to other nine types of akusala. As we have discussed, micchā diṭṭhi is of two types: 10 types of micchā diṭṭhi and being unaware of the deeper laws of Nature including Tilakkhaṇa (sometimes asubha nature is also included, in addition to the anicca, dukkha, anatta nature).

▪As one first starts getting rid of the 10 types of micchā diṭṭhi, one’s tendency to do other nine types of akusala will decrease. This is the same as saying that one will be cultivating samma diṭṭhi and the tendency to do other nine types of kusala will also increase.

▪One is fully on the mundane path when one gets rid of the 10 types of micchā diṭṭhi. One switches to the Noble Path when one starts comprehending Tilakkhaṇa.

3. This is why dasa kusala and dasa kusala are really the foundation of Buddha Dhamma. All deeper concepts like anatta are embedded in these; see, “Dasa Akusala and Anatta – The Critical Link.”

▪I had used the first two suttā (note that plural of sutta is suttā) listed below to point out the connection to anatta in that post.

▪The other suttā listed below involve several more of deeper concepts: Attho(Atto), Āsava, Sāvajja (Blamesworthy), Uppādetabba (should arise in a mind), Āsevitabba (to be associated with), Bhāvetabba (to be used), Bahulikatabba (to be used frequently), Anussaritabba (to be thought about or contemplated).

▪In the previous post I discussed suttā involving the following basic concepts: Dhamma/Adhamma, Ariya dhamma/Anariya dhamma, Saddhamma (beneficial dhamma)/Assaddhamma, Sappurisa (moral) dhamma /Asappurisa dhamma, Sādhu (praiseworthy)/Asādhu, Tapaniya (lead to a stressful mind) /Atapaniya, Acayagāmi (lead to rebirth)/Apacayagāmi, Dukkudrayo (lead to suffering) dhamma /Sukkudrayo dhamma, Ariyo magga/Anariya magga;

see, “Dasa Akusala/Dasa Kusala – Basis of Buddha Dhamma.”

▪In future posts I will discuss other suttā, showing connections to other concepts.

 

Pali

English

Attha Sutta (AN 10.181)

“Atthañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi anatthañca. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca: “katamo ca, bhikkhave, anattho? Pāṇātipāto, adinnādānaṁ, kāmesumicchācāro, musāvādo, pisuṇā vācā, pharusā vācā, samphappalāpo, abhijjhā, byāpādo, micchādiṭṭhi—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, anattho.
 
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, attho? Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī, adinnādānā veramaṇī, kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇī, musāvādā veramaṇī, pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇī, pharusāya vācāya veramaṇī, samphappalāpā veramaṇī, anabhijjhā, abyāpādo, sammādiṭṭhi—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, attho”ti.

Anattho (One without refuge/protection): taking a life, stealing, abusing sense pleasures, speaking untruth, slandering, harsh speech, gossiping, greed, ill-will, wrong views (defined in terms of dasa akusala).

 

 
Attho (One with refuge/protection): Opposites: see, "Dasa Akusala and Anatta – The Critical Link"

 

 

Attha Sutta (AN 10.137)

“Atthañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi anatthañca. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca: “katamo ca, bhikkhave, anattho? Micchādiṭṭhi, micchāsaṅkappo, micchāvācā, micchākammanto, micchāājīvo, micchāvāyāmo, micchāsati, micchāsamādhi, micchāñāṇaṁ, micchāvimutti—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, anattho.

 

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, attho? Sammādiṭṭhi, sammāsaṅkappo, sammāvācā sammākammanto, sammāājīvo, sammāvāyāmo, sammāsati, sammāsamādhi, sammāñāṇaṁ, sammāvimutti—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, attho”ti.

Anattho (One w/o refuge or protection):: Wrong views, wrong thoughts, wrong speech, wrong actions, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindset, wrong samadhi, wrong understanding, wrong vimutti (defined in terms of micchā path).

 

 
Attho (One with refuge/protection): Opposites in the Noble Eightfold Path.

 

 

We see that attho/anattho can be defined in two ways (dasa akusala/dasa kusala or micchā path/Noble Path), as shown by the above two suttā. The same is true for all other terms discussed below. However, in order to save space, I will just provide the name of the sutta on the right that gives the definition in terms of micchā path/Noble Path.

 

 

Āsava Sutta (AN 10.183) and Sāsava Sutta (AN 10.139)

“Sāsavañca vo, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desessāmi anāsavañca. Taṁ suṇātha … pe … katamo ca, bhikkhave, sāsavo dhammo? Pāṇātipāto … pe … micchādiṭṭhi—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sāsavo dhammo.
 
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, anāsavo dhammo? Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī … pe … sammādiṭṭhi— ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, anāsavo dhammo”ti.

Sāsava Dhamma (that help cultivate āsava): Wrong views, wrong thoughts, wrong speech, wrong actions, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindset, wrong samadhi, wrong understanding, wrong vimutti (defined in terms of micchā path).
Anāsava Dhamma (that remove āsava): Opposites in the Noble Eightfold Path.

 

 

Sāvajja Sutta (AN 10.184) AND Sāvajja Sutta (AN 10.140)

“Sāvajjañca vo, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desessāmi anavajjañca. Taṁ suṇātha … pe … katamo ca, bhikkhave, sāvajjo dhammo? Pāṇātipāto … pe … micchādiṭṭhi—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sāvajjo dhammo.
 
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, anavajjo dhammo? Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī … pe … sammādiṭṭhi— ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, anavajjo dhammo”ti.

Sāvajja Dhammo (blamesworthy): taking a life, stealing, abusing sense pleasures, speaking untruth, slandering, harsh speech, gossiping, greed, ill-will, wrong views.
Anavajjo dhammo (praiseworthy): Opposites: see, "Kilesa – Relationship To Akusala, Kusala, And Puñña Kamma"

 

 

Uppā­detab­ba­dham­ma Sutta (AN 10.193) AND Uppādetabba Sutta (AN 10.149)

“Uppādetabbañca vo, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desessāmi na uppādetabbañca. Taṁ suṇātha … pe … katamo ca, bhikkhave, na uppādetabbo dhammo? Pāṇātipāto … pe … micchādiṭṭhi—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, na uppādetabbo dhammo.
 
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, uppādetabbo dhammo? Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī … pe … sammādiṭṭhi—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, uppādetabbo dhammo”ti.

na Uppādetabbo Dhammo (dhamma that should not arise): taking a life, stealing, abusing sense pleasures, speaking untruth, slandering, harsh speech, gossiping, greed, ill-will, wrong views.
Uppādetabba Dhammo (dhamma that should arise): Opposites: see, "Kilesa – Relationship To Akusala, Kusala, And Puñña Kamma"

 

 

Āsevitab­ba­dhamma Sutta (AN 10.194) and Āsevitabba Sutta (AN 10.150)

“Āsevitabbañca vo, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desessāmi nāsevitabbañca. Taṁ suṇātha … pe … katamo ca, bhikkhave, nāsevitabbo dhammo? Pāṇātipāto … pe … micchādiṭṭhi— ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nāsevitabbo dhammo.
 
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, āsevitabbo dhammo? Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī … pe … sammādiṭṭhi—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, āsevitabbo dhammo”ti.

Nāsevitabba ­dhammo (dhamma that one should not be associated with): taking a life, stealing, abusing sense pleasures, speaking untruth, slandering, harsh speech, gossiping, greed, ill-will, wrong views.
Āsevitab­ba­dha ­dhammo (dhamma that one should be associated with): Opposites: see, "Kilesa – Relationship To Akusala, Kusala, And Puñña Kamma"

 

 

Bhāve­tabba­dhamma Sutta (AN 10.195) AND Bhāvetabba Sutta (AN 10.151)

“Bhāvetabbañca vo, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desessāmi na bhāvetabbañca. Taṁ suṇātha … pe … katamo ca, bhikkhave, na bhāvetabbo dhammo? Pāṇātipāto … pe … micchādiṭṭhi—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, na bhāvetabbo dhammo.
 
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, bhāvetabbo dhammo? Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī … pe … sammādiṭṭhi—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhāvetabbo dhammo”ti.

Dhamma thould not be used (na bhāvetabbo dhammo): taking a life, stealing, abusing sense pleasures, speaking untruth, slandering, harsh speech, gossiping, greed, ill-will, wrong views.
Dhamma that should be used (bhāvetabbo dhammo): Opposites: see, "Kilesa – Relationship To Akusala, Kusala, And Puñña Kamma"

 

 

Bahu­līkā­tab­ba Sutta (AN 10.196) AND Bahulīkattabba Sutta (AN 10.152)

“Bahu­līkā­tab­bañca vo, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desessāmi na bahu­līkā­tab­bañca. Taṁ suṇātha … pe … katamo ca, bhikkhave, na bahulīkātabbo dhammo? Pāṇātipāto … pe … micchādiṭṭhi—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, na bahulīkātabbo dhammo.
 
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, bahulīkātabbo dhammo? Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī … pe … sammādiṭṭhi—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bahulīkātabbo dhammo”ti.

Dhamma that should not be frequently associated with (na bahulīkātabbo dhammo): taking a life, stealing, abusing sense pleasures, speaking untruth, slandering, harsh speech, gossiping, greed, ill-will, wrong views.
Dhamma that should be frequently associated with (bahulīkātabbo dhammo): Opposites: see, "Kilesa – Relationship To Akusala, Kusala, And Puñña Kamma"

 

 

Sacchi­kātab­ba Sutta (AN 10.198) AND Sacchikātabba Sutta (AN 10.154)

 

“­Sacchi­kātab­bañca vo, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desessāmi na ­sacchi­kātab­bañca. Taṁ suṇātha … pe … katamo ca, bhikkhave, na sacchikātabbo dhammo? Pāṇātipāto … pe … micchādiṭṭhi—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, na sacchikātabbo dhammo.
 
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sacchikātabbo dhammo? Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī … pe … sammādiṭṭhi—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sacchikātabbo dhammo”ti.

Dhamma that should not be experienced (na sacchikātabbo dhammo Dhammo): taking a life, stealing, abusing sense pleasures, speaking untruth, slandering, harsh speech, gossiping, greed, ill-will, wrong views.
(Dhamma that should be experienced (sacchikātabbo dhammo): Opposites: see, "Kilesa – Relationship To Akusala, Kusala, And Puñña Kamma"

 

 

Anussaritabbadhamma Sutta (AN 10.197) AND Anussaritabba Sutta (AN 10.153)

“Anus­sari­tab­bañca vo, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desessāmi ­nānus­sari­tab­bañca. Taṁ suṇātha … pe … katamo ca, bhikkhave, nānussaritabbo dhammo? Pāṇātipāto … pe … micchādiṭṭhi—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nānussaritabbo dhammo.
 
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, anussaritabbo dhammo? Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī … pe … sammādiṭṭhi—ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, anussaritabbo dhammo”ti.

Dhamma that should not be thought about (na anussaritabbo dhammo): taking a life, stealing, abusing sense pleasures, speaking untruth, slandering, harsh speech, gossiping, greed, ill-will, wrong views.

 
Dhamma that should be thought about (anussaritabbo dhammo): Opposites: see, "Kilesa – Relationship To Akusala, Kusala, And Puñña Kamma"