AN10.216 — Karajakāyavagga

Disciples, I will teach you the discourse on the Saṁsappanīya, a discourse on the Dhamma. Listen carefully, pay close attention, and I will speak.

Yes, venerable sir, the disciples replied to the Blessed One.

The Blessed One said this: And what is the discourse on the Saṁsappanīya, the discourse on the Dhamma? Beings are owners of their actions, heirs to their actions, born of their actions, related through their actions, and have their actions as their refuge. Whatever actions they perform, whether good or evil, they will be the heirs to those actions.

Here someone is a killer of living beings, cruel, with blood-stained hands, given to violence and killing, without compassion for all living beings. He engages in misconduct by body, speech, and mind. His bodily actions are crooked, his verbal actions are crooked, his mental actions are crooked, his path is crooked, and his rebirth is crooked. For one with a crooked path and crooked rebirth, I declare that there are two destinations: either the realms of intense suffering, the hells, or the animal realm characterized by creeping.

And what is the animal realm characterized by creeping? Snakes, scorpions, centipedes, mongoose, cats, mice, owls, and any other creatures in the animal realm that creep away upon seeing humans. Thus beings are reborn according to their actions. They are reborn according to what they do. Upon rebirth, they are touched by the contacts they have made. Thus, I say that beings are heirs to their actions.

Here someone is a thief, ... engages in sexual misconduct, ... is a liar, ... speaks divisively, ... speaks harshly, ... engages in idle chatter, ... is covetous, ... has a mind of ill will, ... holds wrong views, with a distorted vision, thinking there is no giving, ... ..., up to one attains realization through direct knowing. He engages in misconduct by body, speech, and mind. His bodily actions are crooked, his verbal actions are crooked, his mental actions are crooked, his path is crooked, and his rebirth is crooked. For one with a crooked path and crooked rebirth, I declare that there are two destinations: either the realms of intense suffering, the hells, or the animal realm characterized by creeping.

Whatever one does, by that one is reborn. Upon being reborn, one is touched by contacts. Thus, I say beings are heirs to their actions. Beings are owners of their actions, heirs to their actions, born of their actions, related through their actions, and have their actions as their refuge. Whatever actions they perform: whether good or evil: they become heirs to those actions.

Here a certain person, having abandoned the taking of life, abstains from taking life. He lays down the rod and weapon, is conscientious, full of kindness, and dwells with compassion for all living beings. He does not engage in bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, or mental misconduct. His bodily actions are upright, his verbal actions are upright, his mental actions are upright, his path is upright, and his rebirth is upright. For one with an upright path and upright rebirth I declare one of two destinations: either the entirely blissful heavens or those noble families of high birth, whether they be noble warrior families, great Brahmin families, or great householder families, wealthy, with great riches, great wealth, abundant gold and silver, abundant possessions, abundant wealth and grain.

Thus the being is reborn according to their actions. Whatever one does, by that one is reborn. Upon being reborn, one is touched by contacts. Thus, I say beings are heirs to their actions.

Here again a certain person, having abandoned taking what is not given, abstains from taking what is not given... abstains from sexual misconduct... abstains from false speech... abstains from divisive speech... abstains from harsh speech... abstains from idle chatter... is free from covetousness... is free from ill will... has right view, with unperverted vision, knowing and declaring that there is giving... and those who, having directly known and realized this world and the other world, declare it.

He does not engage in bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, or mental misconduct. His bodily actions are upright, his verbal actions are upright, his mental actions are upright, his path is upright, and his rebirth is upright. For one with an upright path and upright rebirth I declare one of two destinations: either the entirely blissful heavens or those noble families of high birth, whether they be noble warrior families, great Brahmin families, or great householder families, wealthy, with great riches, great wealth, abundant gold and silver, abundant possessions, abundant wealth and grain.

Thus the being is reborn according to their actions.