Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

While the previous Upālisuttaṃ dwelled on the aspect of vārittaṃ sikkhāpada of sammākammanto this second part¹ of the Cundasuttaṃ points out the purifying aspects and effects of unwholesome and wholesome actions that are performed through the respective doors of body.

That these purifying effects can be achieved by anyone – in spite of challenges occurring in the outside world and hindrances from inside – is pointed out by the Buddha²:

“Avoid the unwholesome, O’Bhikkhus! It is possible, Bhikkhus to avoid the unwholesome. Because if it wasn’t possible, that unwholesome actions can be left behind, I wouldn’t say: ‘Avoid the unwholesome, O’Bhikkhus!’ But because it is possible, that unwholesome actions can be left behind, therefore I say: ‘Avoid the unwholesome, O’Bhikkhus!’ If this avoidance of unwholesome actions, Bhikkhus, was to result in disadvantage and misery, I wouldn’t tell you: ‘Avoid the unwholesome, O’Bhikkus!’ But because abandoning unwholesome actions results in welfare and happiness, I tell you: ‘Avoid the unwholesome, O’Bhikkhus!’ - ‘‘Akusalaṃ, bhikkhave, pajahatha. Sakkā, bhikkhave, akusalaṃ pajahituṃ. No cedaṃ, bhikkhave, sakkā abhavissa akusalaṃ pajahituṃ, nāhaṃ evaṃ vadeyyaṃ – ‘akusalaṃ, bhikkhave, pajahathā’ti. Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, sakkā akusalaṃ pajahituṃ tasmāhaṃ evaṃ vadāmi – ‘akusalaṃ, bhikkhave, pajahathā’ti. Akusalañca hidaṃ, bhikkhave pahīnaṃ ahitāya dukkhāya saṃvatteyya nāhaṃ evaṃ vadeyyaṃ – ‘akusalaṃ, bhikkhave, pajahathā’ti. Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, akusalaṃ pahīnaṃ hitāya sukhāya saṃvattati tasmāhaṃ evaṃ vadāmi – ‘akusalaṃ, bhikkhave, pajahathā’’’ti.

“Develop the wholesome, O’Bhikkhus! It is possible, Bhikkhus to develop the wholesome. Because if it wasn’t possible, that wholesome actions can be developed, I wouldn’t say: ‘Develop the wholesome, O’Bhikkhus!’ But because it is possible, that wholesome actions can be developed, therefore I say: ‘Develop the wholesome, O’Bhikkhus!’ If by developing wholesome actions, Bhikkhus, disadvantage and misery were the result, I wouldn’t tell you: ‘Develop the wholesome, O’Bhikkhus!’ But because developing of wholesome actions results in welfare and happiness, I tell you:‘ Develop the wholesome, O’Bhikkhus!’ -

‘‘Kusalaṃ, bhikkhave, bhāvetha. Sakkā, bhikkhave, kusalaṃ bhāvetuṃ. No cedaṃ, bhikkhave, sakkā abhavissa kusalaṃ bhāvetuṃ, nāhaṃ evaṃ vadeyyaṃ – ‘kusalaṃ, bhikkhave, bhāvethā’ti. Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, sakkā kusalaṃ bhāvetuṃ tasmāhaṃ evaṃ vadāmi – ‘kusalaṃ, bhikkhave, bhāvethā’ti. Kusalañca hidaṃ, bhikkhave, bhāvitaṃ ahitāya dukkhāya saṃvatteyya, nāhaṃ evaṃ vadeyyaṃ – ‘kusalaṃ, bhikkhave, bhāvethā’ti. Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, kusalaṃ bhāvitaṃ hitāya sukhāya saṃvattati tasmāhaṃ evaṃ vadāmi – ‘kusalaṃ, bhikkhave, bhāvethā’’’ti.

Therefore let one purify one’s sīla:


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