Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

In his advice to Cunda, the Buddha explained the tenfold ways a person can become impure and, conversely, how they can purify themselves. This selection focuses specifically on the three types of bodily action (tividhaṃ kāyena).¹ The passage emphasizes that with effort, determination, and endurance, anyone can achieve these purifying effects, regardless of external challenges or internal hindrances:

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.²

Avoid the unwholesome, 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, Bhikkhus!’

But because it is possible, that unwholesome actions can be left behind, therefore I say: ‘Avoid the unwholesome, Bhikkhus!’ If this avoidance of unwholesome actions, Bhikkhus, was to result in disadvantage and misery, I wouldn’t tell you: ‘Avoid the unwholesome, Bhikkhus!’

But because abandoning unwholesome actions results in welfare and happiness, I tell you: ‘Avoid the unwholesome, 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.

Develop the wholesome, 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, Bhikkhus!’

But because it is possible, that wholesome actions can be developed, therefore I say: ‘Develop the wholesome, Bhikkhus!’ If by developing wholesome actions, Bhikkhus, disadvantage and misery were the result, I wouldn’t tell you: ‘Develop the wholesome, Bhikkhus!’

But because developing of wholesome actions results in welfare and happiness, I tell you: ‘Develop the wholesome, Bhikkhus!’

Therefore, let one develop the wholesome by purifying one’s sīla:

Ādi sīlaṃ patiṭṭhā³ ca, kalyāṇānañca mātukaṃ;⁴
Pamukhaṃ sabbadhammānaṃ, tasmā sīlaṃ visodhaye.
Velā⁵ ca saṃvaraṃ sīlaṃ, cittassa abhihāsanaṃ;⁶
Titthañca sabbabuddhānaṃ, tasmā sīlaṃ visodhaye.⁷

Sīla is the beginning, the support, origin and foremost cause of everything wholesome,
Therefore let one purify one’s sīla!
Sīla is the edge, restraint, the fountain of mental mirth,
the ford of all the Buddhas,
Therefore let one purify one’s sīla!