Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

And what is the teaching? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the teaching.”

“I will teach you the defiled principle and the undefiled. … And what is the defiled principle? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the defiled principle.

And what is the undefiled principle? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the undefiled principle.”

“I will teach you the blameworthy principle and the blameless. … And what is the blameworthy principle? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the blameworthy principle.

And what is the blameless principle? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the blameless principle.”

“I will teach you the mortifying principle and the unmortifying. … And what is the mortifying principle? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the mortifying principle.

And what is the unmortifying principle? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the unmortifying principle.”

“I will teach you the principle that leads to accumulation and that which leads to dispersal. … And what is the principle that leads to accumulation? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the principle that leads to accumulation.

And what is the principle that leads to dispersal? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the principle that leads to dispersal.”

“I will teach you the principle that has suffering as outcome, and that which has happiness as outcome. … And what is the principle whose outcome is suffering? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is the principle whose outcome is suffering.

And what is the principle whose outcome is happiness? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is the principle whose outcome is happiness.”

“I will teach you the principle that results in suffering and that which results in happiness. … And what is the principle that results in suffering? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the principle that results in suffering.

And what is the principle that results in happiness? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the principle that results in happiness.”

“I will teach you the noble path and the ignoble path. … And what is the ignoble path? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the ignoble path.

And what is the noble path? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the noble path.”

“I will teach you the dark path and the bright path. … And what is the dark path? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the dark path.

And what is the bright path? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the bright path.”

“I will teach you what is the true teaching and what is not the true teaching. … And what is not the true teaching? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called what is not the true teaching.

And what is the true teaching? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the true teaching.”

“Mendicants, I will teach you the teaching of the true persons and the teaching of the untrue persons. And what is the teaching of the untrue persons? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is the teaching of the untrue persons.

And what is the teaching of the true persons? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is the teaching of the true persons.”

“I will teach you the principle to activate and the principle not to activate. … And what is the principle not to activate? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the principle not to activate.

And what is the principle to activate? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the principle to activate.”

“I will teach you the principle to cultivate and the principle not to cultivate. … And what is the principle not to cultivate? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the principle not to cultivate.

And what is the principle to cultivate? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the principle to cultivate.”

“I will teach you the principle to develop and the principle not to develop. … Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak. And what is the principle not to develop? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the principle not to develop.

And what is the principle to develop? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the principle to develop.”

“I will teach you the principle to make much of and the principle not to make much of. … And what is the principle not to make much of? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the principle not to make much of.

And what is the principle to make much of? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the principle to make much of.”

“I will teach you the principle to recollect and the principle not to recollect. … And what is the principle not to recollect? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the principle not to recollect.

And what is the principle to recollect? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the principle to recollect.”

“I will teach you the principle to realize and the principle not to realize. … And what is the principle not to realize? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the principle not to realize.

And what is the principle to realize? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the principle to realize.”

“Mendicants, you should not associate with an individual who possesses ten qualities. What ten? They kill living creatures, steal, and commit sexual misconduct. They use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re covetous, malicious, with wrong view. You should not associate with an individual who possesses these ten qualities.

You should associate with an individual who possesses ten qualities. What ten? They don’t kill living creatures, steal, or commit sexual misconduct. They don’t use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. They’re contented, kind-hearted, with right view. You should associate with an individual who possesses these ten qualities.”

“Mendicants, you should not frequent an individual who possesses ten qualities … You should frequent …” “You should not pay homage … You should pay homage …” “You should not venerate … You should venerate …” “You should not praise … You should praise …” “You should not revere … You should revere …” “You should not defer to … You should defer to …” “Someone is not a success … Someone is a success …” “Someone is not pure … Someone is pure …” “Someone does not win over conceit … Someone wins over conceit …” “Someone does not grow in wisdom … Someone grows in wisdom …”

“An individual who possesses these ten qualities brims with much wickedness. … An individual who possesses these ten qualities brims with much merit. What ten? They don’t kill living creatures, steal, or commit sexual misconduct. They don’t use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. They’re contented, kind-hearted, with right view. An individual who possesses these ten qualities brims with much merit.”

“Someone with ten qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What ten? It’s when someone kills living creatures. They’re violent, bloody-handed, a hardened killer, merciless to all living beings.

They steal. With the intention to commit theft, they take the wealth or belongings of others from village or wilderness.

They commit sexual misconduct. They have relations with women who have their mother, father, both mother and father, brother, sister, relatives, or clan as guardian. They have relations with a woman who is protected on principle, or who has a husband, or whose violation is punishable by law, or even one who has been garlanded as a token of betrothal.

They lie. They’re summoned to a council, an assembly, a family meeting, a guild, or to the royal court, and asked to bear witness: ‘Please, my man, say what you know.’ Not knowing, they say ‘I know.’ Knowing, they say ‘I don’t know.’ Not seeing, they say ‘I see.’ And seeing, they say ‘I don’t see.’ So they deliberately lie for the sake of themselves or another, or for some trivial worldly reason.

They backbite. They repeat in one place what they heard in another so as to divide people against each other. And so they divide those who are harmonious, supporting division, delighting in division, loving division, speaking words that promote division.

They speak harshly. They use the kinds of words that are cruel, nasty, hurtful, offensive, bordering on anger, not leading to immersion.

They talk nonsense. Their speech is untimely, and is neither factual nor beneficial. It has nothing to do with the teaching or the training. Their words have no value, and are untimely, unreasonable, rambling, and pointless.

They’re covetous. They covet the wealth and belongings of others: ‘Oh, if only their belongings were mine!’

They have ill will and malicious intentions: ‘May these sentient beings be killed, slaughtered, slain, destroyed, or annihilated!’

They have wrong view. Their perspective is distorted:

‘There’s no meaning in giving, sacrifice, or offerings. There’s no fruit or result of good and bad deeds. There’s no afterlife. There’s no such thing as mother and father, or beings that are reborn spontaneously. And there’s no ascetic or brahmin who is rightly comported and rightly practiced, and who describes the afterlife after realizing it with their own insight.’ Someone with these ten qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Someone with ten qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there. What ten? It’s when someone gives up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. They’re scrupulous and kind, living full of sympathy for all living beings.

They give up stealing. They don’t, with the intention to commit theft, take the wealth or belongings of others from village or wilderness.

They give up sexual misconduct. They don’t have relations with women who have their mother, father, both mother and father, brother, sister, relatives, or clan as guardian. They don’t have relations with a woman who is protected on principle, or who has a husband, or whose violation is punishable by law, or even one who has been garlanded as a token of betrothal.

They give up lying. They’re summoned to a council, an assembly, a family meeting, a guild, or to the royal court, and asked to bear witness: ‘Please, my man, say what you know.’ Not knowing, they say ‘I don’t know.’ Knowing, they say ‘I know.’ Not seeing, they say ‘I don’t see.’ And seeing, they say ‘I see.’ So they don’t deliberately lie for the sake of themselves or another, or for some trivial worldly reason.

They give up backbiting. They don’t repeat in one place what they heard in another so as to divide people against each other. Instead, they reconcile those who are divided and support those who are united, delighting in harmony, loving harmony, speaking words that promote harmony.

They give up harsh speech. They speak in a way that’s mellow, pleasing to the ear, endearing, going to the heart, polite, and likable and agreeable to the people.

They give up talking nonsense. Their words are timely, true, and meaningful, in line with the teaching and training. They say things at the right time which are valuable, reasonable, succinct, and beneficial.

They’re content. They don’t covet the wealth and belongings of others: ‘Oh, if only their belongings were mine!’

They have a kind heart and loving intentions: ‘May these sentient beings live free of enmity and ill will, untroubled and happy!’

They have right view, an undistorted perspective: ‘There is meaning in giving, sacrifice, and offerings. There are fruits and results of good and bad deeds. There is an afterlife. There are such things as mother and father, and beings that are reborn spontaneously. And there are ascetics and brahmins who are rightly comported and rightly practiced, and who describe the afterlife after realizing it with their own insight.’

Someone with these ten qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

“Someone with ten qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What ten? It’s when someone kills living creatures. They’re violent, bloody-handed, a hardened killer, merciless to all living beings.

They steal. … They commit sexual misconduct. … They lie. … They backbite. … They speak harshly. … They talk nonsense. … They’re covetous. … They have cruel intentions. … They have wrong view. … Someone with these ten qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Someone with ten qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there. What ten? It’s when someone gives up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. They’re scrupulous and kind, living full of sympathy for all living beings.

They give up stealing. … They give up sexual misconduct. … They give up lying. … They give up backbiting. … They give up harsh speech. … They give up talking nonsense. … They’re content. … They’re kind hearted. … They have right view. … Someone with these ten qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

“A lady with ten qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What ten? She kills living creatures. … She steals. … She commits sexual misconduct. … She lies. … She backbites. … She speaks harshly. … She indulges in talking nonsense. … She’s covetous. … She has cruel intentions. … She has wrong view. … A lady with these ten qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

A lady with ten qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there. What ten? She doesn’t kill living creatures. … She doesn’t steal. … She doesn’t commit sexual misconduct. … She doesn’t lie. … She doesn’t backbite. … She doesn’t speak harshly. … She doesn’t indulge in talking nonsense. … She’s content. … She’s kind hearted. … She has right view. … A lady with these ten qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

“A laywoman with ten qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What ten? She kills living creatures. … She has wrong view. … A laywoman with these ten qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

A laywoman with ten qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there. What ten? She doesn’t kill living creatures. … She has right view. … A laywoman with these ten qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

“A laywoman living at home with these ten qualities is not self-assured. What ten? She kills living creatures. … She has wrong view. … A laywoman living at home with these ten qualities is not self-assured.

A laywoman living at home with these ten qualities is self-assured. What ten? She doesn’t kill living creatures. … She has right view. … A laywoman living at home with these ten qualities is self-assured.”

“Mendicants, I will teach you an exposition of the teaching on creepy creatures. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“What is the exposition of the teaching on creepy creatures? Sentient beings are the owners of their deeds and heir to their deeds. Deeds are their womb, their relative, and their refuge. They shall be the heir of whatever deeds they do, whether good or bad.

Take a certain someone who kills living creatures. They’re violent, bloody-handed, a hardened killer, merciless to all living beings. They’re creepy in body, speech, and mind. Doing crooked deeds by way of body, speech, and mind, their destiny and rebirth are crooked.

Someone whose destiny and rebirth is crooked is reborn in one of two places, I say: in an absolutely painful hell, or among the species of creepy animals. And what are the species of creepy animals? Snakes, scorpions, centipedes, mongooses, cats, mice, owls, or whatever other species of animal that creep away when they see humans. This is how a being is born from a being. For your deeds determine your rebirth, and when you’re reborn contacts strike you. This is why I say that sentient beings are heirs to their deeds.

Take someone else who steals … commits sexual misconduct … lies … backbites … speaks harshly … indulges in talking nonsense … is covetous … has cruel intentions … has wrong view … They’re creepy in body, speech, and mind. Doing crooked deeds by way of body, speech, and mind, their destiny and rebirth are crooked.

Someone whose destiny and rebirth is crooked is reborn in one of two places, I say: in an absolutely painful hell, or among the species of creepy animals. And what are the species of creepy animals? Snakes, scorpions, centipedes, mongooses, cats, mice, owls, or whatever other species of animal that creep away when they see humans. This is how a being is born from a being. For your deeds determine your rebirth, and when you’re reborn contacts strike you. This is why I say that sentient beings are heirs to their deeds. Sentient beings are the owners of their deeds and heir to their deeds. Deeds are their womb, their relative, and their refuge. They shall be the heir of whatever deeds they do, whether good or bad.

Take a certain someone who gives up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. They’re scrupulous and kind, living full of sympathy for all living beings. They’re not creepy in body, speech, and mind. Doing virtuous deeds by way of body, speech, and mind, their destiny and rebirth is virtuous.

Someone whose destiny and rebirth is virtuous is reborn in one of two places, I say: in a heaven of absolute happiness, or in an eminent well-to-do family of aristocrats, brahmins, or householders—rich, affluent, and wealthy, with lots of gold and silver, lots of property and assets, and lots of money and grain. This is how a being is born from a being. For your deeds determine your rebirth, and when you’re reborn contacts strike you. This is why I say that sentient beings are heirs to their deeds.

Take someone else who gives up stealing … sexual misconduct … lying … backbiting … harsh speech … talking nonsense … They’re content … kind hearted … they have right view … They’re not creepy in body, speech, and mind. Doing virtuous deeds by way of body, speech, and mind, their destiny and rebirth is virtuous.

Someone whose destiny and rebirth is virtuous is reborn in one of two places, I say: in a heaven of absolute happiness, or in an eminent well-to-do family of aristocrats, brahmins, or householders—rich, affluent, and wealthy, with lots of gold and silver, lots of property and assets, and lots of money and grain. This is how a being is born from a being. For your deeds determine your rebirth, and when you’re reborn contacts strike you. This is why I say that sentient beings are heirs to their deeds.

Sentient beings are the owners of their deeds and heir to their deeds. Deeds are their womb, their relative, and their refuge. They shall be the heir of whatever deeds they do, whether good or bad. This is the exposition of the teaching on creepy creatures.”

“Mendicants, I don’t say that intentional deeds that have been performed and accumulated are eliminated without being experienced. And that may be in this very life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period. But in any case, there is no making an end of suffering without experiencing intentional deeds that have been performed and accumulated, I say.

Now, there are three kinds of corruption and failure of bodily action that have unskillful intention, with suffering as their outcome and result. There are four kinds of corruption and failure of verbal action that have unskillful intention, with suffering as their outcome and result. There are three kinds of corruption and failure of mental action that have unskillful intention, with suffering as their outcome and result.

And what are the three kinds of corruption and failure of bodily action? It’s when someone kills living creatures. They’re violent, bloody-handed, a hardened killer, merciless to all living beings.

They steal. With the intention to commit theft, they take the wealth or belongings of others from village or wilderness.

They commit sexual misconduct. They have relations with women who have their mother, father, both mother and father, brother, sister, relatives, or clan as guardian. They have relations with a woman who is protected on principle, or who has a husband, or whose violation is punishable by law, or even one who has been garlanded as a token of betrothal.

These are the three kinds of corruption and failure of bodily action.

And what are the four kinds of corruption and failure of verbal action? It’s when someone lies. They’re summoned to a council, an assembly, a family meeting, a guild, or to the royal court, and asked to bear witness: ‘Please, my man, say what you know.’ Not knowing, they say ‘I know.’ Knowing, they say ‘I don’t know.’ Not seeing, they say ‘I see.’ And seeing, they say ‘I don’t see.’ So they deliberately lie for the sake of themselves or another, or for some trivial worldly reason.

They backbite. They repeat in one place what they heard in another so as to divide people against each other. And so they divide those who are harmonious, supporting division, delighting in division, loving division, speaking words that promote division.

They speak harshly. They use the kinds of words that are cruel, nasty, hurtful, offensive, bordering on anger, not leading to immersion.

They talk nonsense. Their speech is untimely, and is neither factual nor beneficial. It has nothing to do with the teaching or the training. Their words have no value, and are untimely, unreasonable, rambling, and pointless.

These are the four kinds of corruption and failure of verbal action.

And what are the three kinds of corruption and failure of mental action? It’s when someone is covetous. They covet the wealth and belongings of others: ‘Oh, if only their belongings were mine!’

They have ill will and malicious intentions: ‘May these sentient beings be killed, slaughtered, slain, destroyed, or annihilated!’

They have wrong view. Their perspective is distorted: ‘There’s no meaning in giving, sacrifice, or offerings. There’s no fruit or result of good and bad deeds. There’s no afterlife. There’s no such thing as mother and father, or beings that are reborn spontaneously. And there’s no ascetic or brahmin who is rightly comported and rightly practiced, and who describes the afterlife after realizing it with their own insight.’

These are the three kinds of corruption and failure of mental action.

When their body breaks up, after death, sentient beings are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell because of these three kinds of corruption and failure of bodily action, these four kinds of corruption and failure of verbal action, or these three kinds of corruption and failure of mental action that have unskillful intention, with suffering as their outcome and result.

It’s like throwing sure-bet dice: they always fall the right side up. In the same way, when their body breaks up, after death, sentient beings are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell because of these three kinds of corruption and failure of bodily action, these four kinds of corruption and failure of verbal action, or these three kinds of corruption and failure of mental action that have unskillful intention, with suffering as their outcome and result.

I don’t say that intentional deeds that have been performed and accumulated are eliminated without being experienced. And that may be in this very life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period. But in any case, there is no making an end of suffering without experiencing intentional deeds that have been performed and accumulated, I say.

Now, there are three kinds of successful bodily action that have skillful intention, with happiness as their outcome and result. There are four kinds of successful verbal action that have skillful intention, with happiness as their outcome and result. There are three kinds of successful mental action that have skillful intention, with happiness as their outcome and result.

And what are the three kinds of successful bodily action? It’s when someone gives up killing living creatures. They renounce the rod and the sword. They’re scrupulous and kind, living full of sympathy for all living beings.