15. Intention （一五）思经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Śrāvastī, staying at the Jeta Grove Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma.

At that time, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus: "If one intentionally commits an action, I say that one will definitely experience its retribution, either in this life or the next. If one does not intentionally commit an action, I say that one may not necessarily experience its retribution. Among them, the three unwholesome bodily actions and the three unwholesome mental actions, which produce suffering as their fruit, will experience the retribution of suffering.

What are the three unwholesome bodily actions that produce suffering as their fruit and experience the retribution of suffering? First, killing living beings, extremely evil and bloodthirsty, wishing to harm and not compassionate toward sentient beings, even insects. Second, taking what is not given, taking others' property with the intention to steal. Third, sexual misconduct, such as having sexual relations with a woman who is protected by her father, mother, parents, sisters, brothers, husband's parents, relatives, or clan, or who is married, or who is subject to punishment and fear, or who is a nominal wife, a hired wife, or a wife by flower garland. These are called the three unwholesome bodily actions that produce suffering as their fruit and experience the retribution of suffering.

What are the four unwholesome verbal actions that produce suffering as their fruit and experience the retribution of suffering? First, false speech, such as when in an assembly, among relatives, or in the king's court, if asked about something one knows, one says one knows, and if asked about something one does not know, one says one does not know, or if asked about something one has seen, one says one has seen, and if asked about something one has not seen, one says one has not seen, for oneself, for others, or for wealth, one speaks falsely. Second, divisive speech, wishing to separate others, hearing this from someone, one wishes to break this apart, hearing that from someone, one wishes to break that apart, those who are united one wishes to separate, those who are separated one wishes to separate further, forming factions, delighting in factions, praising factions. Third, harsh speech, if one speaks words that are harsh, coarse, evil-sounding, unpleasant to the ear, disliked by many, unloved by many, causing others suffering, preventing them from attaining concentration, speaking such words. Fourth, meaningless speech, speaking at the wrong time, speaking untruthfully, speaking without meaning, speaking unlawfully, speaking without cessation, and also praising things that do not cease, going against the time and not teaching well, nor rebuking well. These are called the four unwholesome verbal actions that produce suffering as their fruit and experience the retribution of suffering.

What are the three unwholesome mental actions that produce suffering as their fruit and experience the retribution of suffering? First, covetousness, seeing others' wealth and various necessities, always coveting and hoping to obtain them for oneself. Second, ill-will, harboring hatred and jealousy, thinking: 'Those sentient beings should be killed, bound, imprisoned, exiled, or expelled,' wishing for them to suffer immeasurable pain. Third, wrong views, holding inverted views and saying: 'There is no giving, no observance, no incantations, no good or bad karma, no retribution for good or bad karma, no this world or the next world, no father or mother, no true person in the world who goes to a good place, goes well, or goes in a good direction, in this world or the next world, who knows for oneself, awakens for oneself, and attains for oneself.' These are called the three unwholesome mental actions that produce suffering as their fruit and experience the retribution of suffering.

"The well-versed noble disciple abandons unwholesome bodily actions and cultivates wholesome bodily actions, abandons unwholesome verbal and mental actions and cultivates wholesome verbal and mental actions. The well-versed noble disciple, thus endowed with diligence and virtue, accomplishes pure bodily actions, accomplishes pure verbal and mental actions, is free from anger and disputes, removes sleepiness, is free from arrogance, cuts off doubts, crosses over conceit, has right mindfulness and right knowledge, is free from delusion, their mind is filled with loving-kindness, pervading one direction, accomplishing and dwelling. Thus, in the second, third, and fourth directions, in the four intermediate directions, above and below, everywhere, their mind is filled with loving-kindness, without knots, without resentment, without anger, without disputes, extremely vast, extremely great, immeasurable, well cultivated, pervading the entire world, accomplishing and dwelling. They think: 'Previously, my mind was not well cultivated in this way, but now my mind is well cultivated in this way.' The well-versed noble disciple, thus well cultivating their mind in this way, if they previously followed bad friends and engaged in heedless conduct, creating unwholesome actions, they cannot be taken away, cannot be defiled, and will not follow them again. If there are young boys and girls who are born and immediately able to practice the liberation of loving-kindness, would they later create unwholesome actions with their body, speech, and mind?"

"The monk replied: "No, World-Honored One! Why is that? Since one does not create unwholesome actions oneself, how can unwholesome actions arise?

"Therefore, whether lay or ordained, one should always diligently cultivate the liberation of loving-kindness. If lay or ordained people cultivate the liberation of loving-kindness, they will not take this body to the next world, but will go according to the mind. The monk should think: 'Previously, I was heedless and created unwholesome actions. All of this can be experienced now, and will not be experienced in the next life.' If one cultivates the liberation of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity in this way, one will definitely attain the state of non-returner, or even higher. Thus, with equanimity, free from knots, resentment, anger, and disputes, extremely vast, extremely great, immeasurable, well cultivated, pervading the entire world, accomplishing and dwelling, one thinks: 'Previously, my mind was not well cultivated in this way, but now my mind is well cultivated in this way.' The well-versed noble disciple, thus well cultivating their mind in this way, if they previously followed bad friends and engaged in heedless conduct, creating unwholesome actions, they cannot be taken away, cannot be defiled, and will not follow them again. If there are young boys and girls who are born and immediately able to practice the liberation of equanimity, would they later create unwholesome actions with their body, speech, and mind?"

"The monk replied: "No, World-Honored One! Why is that? Since one does not create unwholesome actions oneself, how can unwholesome actions arise?

"Therefore, whether lay or ordained, one should always diligently cultivate the liberation of equanimity. If lay or ordained people cultivate the liberation of equanimity, they will not take this body to the next world, but will go according to the mind. The monk should think: 'Previously, I was heedless and created unwholesome actions. All of this can be experienced now, and will not be experienced in the next life.' If one cultivates the liberation of equanimity in this way, one will definitely attain the state of non-returner, or even higher."

The Buddha spoke thus. Those bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and upheld them.