Episode Details

Mahāli Sutta.

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling near Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Then Mahāli the Licchavi approached the Blessed One. Having approached and saluted the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Mahāli the Licchavi said this to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, what is the reason, what is the condition for the doing of bad deeds, for the arising of bad deeds?” “Greed, Mahāli, is the reason, greed is the condition for the doing of bad deeds, for the arising of bad deeds. Hatred, Mahāli, is the reason, hatred is the condition for the doing of bad deeds, for the arising of bad deeds. Delusion, Mahāli, is the reason, delusion is the condition for the doing of bad deeds, for the arising of bad deeds. Unwise attention, Mahāli, is the reason, unwise attention is the condition for the doing of bad deeds, for the arising of bad deeds. A wrongly placed mind, Mahāli, is the reason, a wrongly placed mind is the condition for the doing of bad deeds, for the arising of bad deeds. This, Mahāli, is the reason, this is the condition for the doing of bad deeds, for the arising of bad deeds.”

“But, venerable sir, what is the reason, what is the condition for the doing of good deeds, for the arising of good deeds?” “Non-greed, Mahāli, is the reason, non-greed is the condition for the doing of good deeds, for the arising of good deeds. Non-hatred, Mahāli, is the reason, non-hatred is the condition for the doing of good deeds, for the arising of good deeds. Non-delusion, Mahāli, is the reason, non-delusion is the condition for the doing of good deeds, for the arising of good deeds. Wise attention, Mahāli, is the reason, wise attention is the condition for the doing of good deeds, for the arising of good deeds. A rightly placed mind, Mahāli, is the reason, a rightly placed mind is the condition for the doing of good deeds, for the arising of good deeds. This, Mahāli, is the reason, this is the condition for the doing of good deeds, for the arising of good deeds. If these ten qualities were not found in the world, there would be no discernment here of unprincipled and immoral conduct, or of principled and moral conduct. But because these ten qualities are found in the world, there is discernment of unprincipled and immoral conduct, and of principled and moral conduct.”

But because these ten qualities are found in the world, there is discernment of unprincipled and immoral conduct, and of principled and moral conduct.”

Tipitaka Pali Reader