Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

akataṃ vata me pāpaṃ,

kataṃ me kalyāṇaṃ

As in previous chapters this respective short selection from the Vibhaṅgasutta introduces the basic principles of sammākammanto and expresses the need for someone, who aims for a healthy lifestyle, to avoid any undertaking of micchākammanto.¹

At the apparent level sammākammanto is accomplished by abstaining from any action that kills, hurts, steals, robs, takes away or indulges in sexual misconduct. While the explanations of the Sutta stress the avoidance of this triad of unwholesome actions of body, the Abhidhamma expositions put further emphasis on the effort that needs to be exerted:

Katamo tasmiṃ samaye sammākammanto hoti?

Yā tasmiṃ samaye tīhi kāyaduccaritehi ārati virati paṭivirati veramaṇī akiriyā akaraṇaṃ anajjhāpatti² velāanatikkamo³ setughāto⁴ sammākammanto maggaṅgaṃ maggapariyāpannaṃ – ayaṃ tasmiṃ samaye sammākammanto hoti.⁵

And how at that time it is right action?

If at that time the three evil actions by body are renounced, abstained and completely refrained from, there is abstinence, neither performing nor executing them, no committing of any offence nor traversing their limit and destruction of the causeway leading to them – then at that time it is sammākammanto, a path-component and included in the path!

When someone undergoes the training and makes it their life’s goal to fully maintain moral conduct according to the teaching of the Buddha, one is expected to take the vow to fulfill five precepts as a healthy foundation for further progress:

– Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī-sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.

– Adinnādānā veramaṇī-sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.

– Kāmesumicchācārā(abrahmacariyā) veramaṇī-sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.

– Musāvādā veramaṇī-sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.

– Surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇī-sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.

Under further reflection one realizes that the emphasis through the repetitive formula of ‘veramaṇī-sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi’ points out to the lifelong step-by step training of self-obligation one has to undergo! The literal translation: ‘I solemnly take upon myself the path of training of abstaining from…’ underlines this fact. For a practitioner on the path of the Buddha its implications become clear while walking this path – the vow needs to be pondered upon every moment of one’s life, the volition behind anything one aims to perform vocally or physically needs to be reflected on; one’s words, behavior and activities should be repeatedly mulled over.

Experiencing failure can motivate one to develop an awareness of their intentions and the mental processes behind them. This, in turn, helps one cultivate an understanding of their sole responsibility for their actions:

kammassakomhi, kammadāyādo kammayoni kammabandhu kammapaṭisaraṇo, yaṃ kammaṃ karissāmi – kalyāṇaṃ vā pāpakaṃ vā– tassa dāyādo bhavissāmī’ti.⁶

Pure confession of any shortcomings turns useless unless it is backed by the determination and exertion for future avoidance:

… satthari vā viññūsu vā sabrahmacārīsu desetabbaṃ, vivaritabbaṃ, uttānīkātabbaṃ; desetvā vivaritvā uttānīkatvā āyatiṃ saṃvaraṃ āpajjitabbaṃ!

… Then you should confess it, reveal it, and lay it open to the teacher or to a wise one or a companion in the holy life. Having confessed, revealed it and laid it open you should exercise restraint in the future!⁷