Sutta 1: The Karmic Consequences of Unwholesome Deeds

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

Ekottara Āgama, Roll 44

Translated by Tripiṭaka Master [瞿曇僧伽提婆 [qu tan seng jia ti po], Gautama Saṅghadeva] of Kasmira during the Eastern Jin Dynasty

Ten Unwholesome Deeds, Chapter 48

zēng yī ā hán jīng juǎn dì sì shí sì

dōng jìn jì bīn sān cáng qú tán sēng jiā tí pó yì

shí bù shàn pǐn dì sì shí bā

zeng yi a han jing juan di si shi si

dong jin ji bin san cang qu tan seng jia ti po yi

shi bu shan pin di si shi ba

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0785c24] Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was staying in [舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園 [she wei guo qi shu gei gu du yuan], Jetavana-Anāthapiṇḍada Garden] in [舍衛國 [she wei guo], Śrāvastī].

[0785c24] wén rú shì:

yī shí, fú zài shě wèi guó qí shù gěi gū dú yuán.

[0785c24] wen ru shi:

yi shi, fu zai she wei guo qi shu gei gu du yuan.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0785c25] At that time, the World-Honored One addressed the [比丘 [bi qiu], bhikṣus], "Among sentient beings, those who practice killing and widely promote killing sow the seeds for hellish realms, hungry ghost realms, and animal realms; if they are born among humans, their lifespan will be extremely short. The reason for this is that they have harmed the lives of others.

[0785c25] ěr shí, shì zūn gào zhū bǐ qiū: “qí yǒu zhòng shēng, xiū xíng shā shēng, guǎng bù shā shēng, zhǒng de yù zuì, è guǐ,, chù shēng xíng； ruò shēng rén zhōng, shòu mìng jí duǎn. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, yóu hài tā mìng.

[0785c25] er shi, shi zun gao zhu bi qiu: "qi you zhong sheng, xiu xing sha sheng, guang bu sha sheng, zhong de yu zui, e gui,, chu sheng xing; ruo sheng ren zhong, shou ming ji duan. suo yi ran zhe, you hai ta ming.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0785c27] "If there are sentient beings who steal the property of others, they sow the seeds for the three evil paths; if they are born among humans, they will constantly suffer from poverty, with insufficient food and clothing. This is all due to stealing, as those who rob others essentially sever their life-roots.

[0785c27] “ruò yǒu zhòng shēng dào tā wù zhě, zhǒng sān è dào zhī zuì； ruò shēng rén zhōng, héng zāo pín guì, shí bù chōng kǒu, yī bù gài xíng. jiē yóu dào gù, jié duó wù zhě, jí duàn tā mìng gēn.

[0785c27] "ruo you zhong sheng dao ta wu zhe, zhong san e dao zhi zui; ruo sheng ren zhong, heng zao pin gui, shi bu chong kou, yi bu gai xing. jie you dao gu, jie duo wu zhe, ji duan ta ming gen.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0786a01] "If there are sentient beings who delight in lust and craving, they sow the seeds for the three evil paths; if they are born among humans, their family will not be virtuous, and they will engage in secret theft and illicit sexual acts.

[0786a01] “ruò yǒu zhòng shēng, hǎo xǐ tān yì, zhǒng sān è dào； ruò shēng rén zhōng, mén bù zhēn liáng, qiè dào yín yì.

[0786a01] "ruo you zhong sheng, hao xi tan yi, zhong san e dao; ruo sheng ren zhong, men bu zhen liang, qie dao yin yi.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0786a03] "If there are sentient beings who lie, they sow the seeds for hellish realms; if they are born among humans, they will be despised by others, their words will not be believed, and they will be looked down upon. The reason for this is all due to their past lies.

[0786a03] “ruò yǒu zhòng shēng wàng yǔ zhě, zhǒng de yù zuì； ruò shēng rén zhōng, wèi rén suǒ qīng, yán bù xìn shòu, wèi rén suǒ jiàn. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, jiē yóu qián shì wàng yǔ suǒ zhì.

[0786a03] "ruo you zhong sheng wang yu zhe, zhong de yu zui; ruo sheng ren zhong, wei ren suo qing, yan bu xin shou, wei ren suo jian. suo yi ran zhe, jie you qian shi wang yu suo zhi.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0786a05] "If there are sentient beings who engage in double-tongued speech, they sow the seeds for the three evil paths; even if they are born among humans, their minds will always be unsettled, constantly filled with sorrow and worry. The reason for this is that such people spread false rumors on both sides.

[0786a05] “ruò yǒu zhòng shēng liǎng shé zhě, zhǒng sān è dào zhī zuì； shè shēng rén zhōng, xīn héng bù dìng, cháng huái chóu yōu. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, yóu bǐ rén liǎng tóu chuán xū yán gù.

[0786a05] "ruo you zhong sheng liang she zhe, zhong san e dao zhi zui; she sheng ren zhong, xin heng bu ding, chang huai chou you. suo yi ran zhe, you bi ren liang tou chuan xu yan gu.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0786a08] "If there are sentient beings who speak harsh words, they sow the seeds for the three evil paths; if they are born among humans, they will be ugly and prone to cursing and shouting. The reason for this is due to their unrighteous speech in the past.

[0786a08] “ruò yǒu zhòng shēng cū yán zhě, zhǒng sān è dào zhī zuì； ruò shēng rén zhōng, wèi rén chǒu bì, cháng xǐ mà hū. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, yóu bǐ rén yán bù zhuān zhèng zhī suǒ zhì yě.

[0786a08] "ruo you zhong sheng cu yan zhe, zhong san e dao zhi zui; ruo sheng ren zhong, wei ren chou bi, chang xi ma hu. suo yi ran zhe, you bi ren yan bu zhuan zheng zhi suo zhi ye.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0786a10] "If there are sentient beings who incite discord between others, they sow the seeds for the three evil paths; even if they are born among humans, they will have many enemies and resentment, and their relatives will be scattered. The reason for this is all due to their past instigation of discord.

[0786a10] “ruò yǒu zhòng shēng dòu luàn bǐ cǐ, zhǒng sān è dào zhī zuì； shè shēng rén zhōng, duō zhū yuàn zēng, qīn qīn lí sàn. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, jiē yóu qián shì dòu luàn zhī suǒ zhì yě.

[0786a10] "ruo you zhong sheng dou luan bi ci, zhong san e dao zhi zui; she sheng ren zhong, duo zhu yuan zeng, qin qin li san. suo yi ran zhe, jie you qian shi dou luan zhi suo zhi ye.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0786a13] "If there are sentient beings who are jealous, they sow the seeds for the three evil paths; if they are born among humans, they will lack clothing. The reason for this is due to their past greed and jealousy.

[0786a13] “ruò yǒu zhòng shēng jí dù zhě, zhǒng sān è dào； ruò shēng rén zhōng, fá zhū yī shang. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, yóu bǐ rén qǐ tān jí gù.

[0786a13] "ruo you zhong sheng ji du zhe, zhong san e dao; ruo sheng ren zhong, fa zhu yi shang. suo yi ran zhe, you bi ren qi tan ji gu.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0786a15] "If there are sentient beings who harbor harmful intentions, they sow the seeds for the three evil paths; even if they are born among humans, they will constantly be deluded, unable to comprehend the ultimate truth, and their minds will be restless and unstable. The reason for this is all due to their past anger and lack of compassion.

[0786a15] “ruò yǒu zhòng shēng qǐ hài yì, zhǒng sān è dào； shè shēng rén zhōng, héng duō xū wàng, bù jiě zhì lǐ, xīn luàn bù dìng. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, jiē yóu qián shì huì nù suǒ zhì yě, wú yǒu cí rén.

[0786a15] "ruo you zhong sheng qi hai yi, zhong san e dao; she sheng ren zhong, heng duo xu wang, bu jie zhi li, xin luan bu ding. suo yi ran zhe, jie you qian shi hui nu suo zhi ye, wu you ci ren.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0786a18] "If there are sentient beings who hold wrong views, they sow the seeds for the three evil paths; if they are born among humans, they will be in remote borderlands, not born in the central kingdom, unable to see the teachings of the [三尊道法 [san zun dao fa], Three Jewels], or they may be deaf, blind, mute, or have deformed bodies, unable to understand the paths of wholesome and unwholesome deeds. The reason for this is all due to their lack of faith-roots in past lives, and their disbelief in [沙門 [sha men], śramaṇas], [婆羅門 [po luo men], brāhmaṇas], parents, and siblings.

[0786a18] “ruò yǒu zhòng shēng, xíng xié jiàn zhě, zhǒng sān è dào； ruò shēng rén zhōng, nǎi zài biān de, bù shēng zhōng guó, bù dǔ sān zūn dào fǎ zhī yì, huò fù lóng máng yīn yǎ, shēn xíng bù zhèng, bù jiě shàn fǎ,, è fǎ zhī qù. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, jiē yóu qián shì wú xìn gēn gù, yì bù xìn shā mén,, pó luó mén,, fù mǔ,, xiōng dì.

[0786a18] "ruo you zhong sheng, xing xie jian zhe, zhong san e dao; ruo sheng ren zhong, nai zai bian de, bu sheng zhong guo, bu du san zun dao fa zhi yi, huo fu long mang yin ya, shen xing bu zheng, bu jie shan fa,, e fa zhi qu. suo yi ran zhe, jie you qian shi wu xin gen gu, yi bu xin sha men,, po luo men,, fu mu,, xiong di.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0786a22] "[比丘 [bi qiu], Bhikṣus], know this: these ten unwholesome deeds lead to such calamities. Therefore, [比丘 [bi qiu], bhikṣus]! You must abandon the ten unwholesome deeds and cultivate right view. Thus, [比丘 [bi qiu], bhikṣus]! You should train yourselves in this way."

[0786a22] “bǐ qiū zhī zhī, yóu cǐ shí è zhī bào, zhì cǐ yāng xìn. shì gù, bǐ qiū! dāng lí shí è, xiū xíng zhèng jiàn. rú shì, bǐ qiū! dāng zuò shì xué.”

[0786a22] "bi qiu zhi zhi, you ci shi e zhi bao, zhi ci yang xin. shi gu, bi qiu! dang li shi e, xiu xing zheng jian. ru shi, bi qiu! dang zuo shi xue."

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0786a24] At that time, the [比丘 [bi qiu], bhikṣus] heard what the Buddha said and happily put it into practice.

[0786a24] ěr shí, zhū bǐ qiū wén fú suǒ shuō, huān xǐ fèng xíng.

[0786a24] er shi, zhu bi qiu wen fu suo shuo, huan xi feng xing.