Collected by the Bodhisattva Aśvaghoṣa
Translated by Imperial Command by the Translation Tripiṭaka Master of the Western Heaven, Court Attendance Grand Master, Probationary Deputy Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, Sanskrit Declaration Master, Granted the Purple, His Majesty’s Śramaṇa Servant Ri Cheng
These ten unwholesome courses of action, in their essential nature, are karmic offenses. Those who aspire to the Buddha Way should distance themselves from these faults and should understand them in this manner.
What are these ten? They are three of bodily action, four of verbal action, and three of mental action. The meaning of these should now be explained. The three of the body are killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct. The four of speech are false speech, frivolous speech, divisive speech, and harsh speech. The three of the mind are greed, anger, and wrong view.
What is killing? It refers to, with regard to sentient beings, first seeing them, then recognizing and identifying them, generating a definite intention to kill, and then setting the body in motion to carry it out, thereby cutting off their life. When these five conditions are successively complete, the karmic offense of killing is constituted, and one will certainly experience the corresponding retribution.
What is stealing? It refers to, with regard to the property of others, first observing and noticing it, then examining and considering it, deciding to take it, and setting the body in motion to act, thereby appropriating the object. When five conditions are complete, the karmic offense of stealing is constituted.
What is sexual misconduct? Within this offense there are four kinds, namely improper place, improper time, improper manner, and improper object.
Improper place refers to engaging in sexual conduct in locations where the sūtras or images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are present, in places where one’s preceptor, ācārya or parents reside, or in places adjacent to such locations. In all these, sexual conduct should not be performed.
Improper time refers to engaging in sexual conduct during the daytime, during menstruation, during pregnancy, or immediately after childbirth, at times when the other party has no desire, or when they are ill and afflicted, or when one is observing the Eight Precepts of pure dwelling. At such times, sexual conduct is inappropriate.
Improper manner refers to acts involving the mouth or non-proper passages, with young boys or young girls, or self-manipulation. All such actions should not be done.
Improper object refers to engaging with another’s spouse, with bhikṣuṇīs, with those who are related by kinship, with beings of different kinds, or with ones who sell sex, as well as creating such conditions oneself and performing non-Brahma conduct. All such actions are unreasonable. One should understand it in this way.
What is false speech? It refers to, regarding objects one has seen or items lost by others, first examining and knowing the matter clearly, deciding to take them, and when others come seeking them, speaking false words. When these five conditions are complete, the karmic offense of false speech is constituted.
What is frivolous speech? It refers to, toward others, with a defiled mind, embellishing and exaggerating their faults and speaking of them.
What is divisive speech? It refers to, regarding the hidden matters of others and the like, using unreasonable words to create separation.
What is harsh speech? It refers to, concerning matters joined through desire, speaking with confused and defiled words, uttered in a severe and forceful tone.
What is greed? It refers to, regarding the wealth of others and the things they enjoy, giving rise to attachment and delight, and unreasonably wishing to obtain them.
What is anger? It refers to, toward sentient beings, giving rise to thoughts of resentment and rage, and carrying out acts of harm, disturbance, or even striking.
What is wrong view? It refers to holding that there is no giving, no future life, no acts of offering, no Buddha the World-Honored One, no Śrāvakas, no Pratyekabuddhas, no wrongdoing, no merit, no karma that is created, and no retribution that is experienced.
As stated in The Foundations of Mindfulness of the True Dharma and other sūtras, these ten unwholesome courses of action are causes for falling into the hell realms. One should cultivate the ten wholesome courses of action; in this way, one will not fall into the evil destinies.
Dharma Torch 