[473] Bhikkhus, there are these three causes (nidāna) for the origination of kammas. What three? Greed (lobha) is a cause for the origination of kammas; hatred (dosa) is a cause for the origination of kammas; delusion (moha) is a cause for the origination of kammas.
Bhikkhus, whatever kamma is done out of greed, born of greed, with greed as its cause, with greed as its origin — wherever one's individual existence (attabhāva) is produced, there that kamma ripens; and where that kamma ripens, there one experiences the result of that kamma, whether in this very life, or upon rebirth, or on some subsequent occasion. Bhikkhus, whatever kamma is done out of hatred, born of hatred, with hatred as its cause, with hatred as its origin — wherever one's individual existence is produced, there that kamma ripens; and where that kamma ripens, there one experiences the result of that kamma, whether in this very life, or upon rebirth, or on some subsequent occasion. Bhikkhus, whatever kamma is done out of delusion, born of delusion, with delusion as its cause, with delusion as its origin — wherever one's individual existence is produced, there that kamma ripens; and where that kamma ripens, there one experiences the result of that kamma, whether in this very life, or upon rebirth, or on some subsequent occasion.
Suppose, bhikkhus, there were seeds — unbroken, unspoiled, undamaged by wind and sun, fertile, well stored — planted in a good field, in well-prepared soil, and the sky were to send down proper showers of rain: those seeds, bhikkhus, would come to growth, increase, and abundance. Even so, bhikkhus, whatever kamma is done out of greed, born of greed, with greed as its cause, with greed as its origin — wherever one's individual existence is produced, there that kamma ripens; and where that kamma ripens, there one experiences the result of that kamma, whether in this very life, or upon rebirth, or on some subsequent occasion. Whatever kamma is done out of hatred … whatever kamma is done out of delusion … or on some subsequent occasion. These, bhikkhus, are the three causes for the origination of kammas.
Bhikkhus, there are these three causes for the origination of kammas. What three? Non-greed (alobha) is a cause for the origination of kammas; non-hatred (adosa) is a cause for the origination of kammas; non-delusion (amoha) is a cause for the origination of kammas.
Bhikkhus, whatever kamma is done out of non-greed, born of non-greed, with non-greed as its cause, with non-greed as its origin — when greed has vanished, that kamma is thus abandoned, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, no longer subject to arising in the future. Bhikkhus, whatever kamma is done out of non-hatred, born of non-hatred, with non-hatred as its cause, with non-hatred as its origin — when hatred has vanished, that kamma is thus abandoned, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, no longer subject to arising in the future. Bhikkhus, whatever kamma is done out of non-delusion, born of non-delusion, with non-delusion as its cause, with non-delusion as its origin — when delusion has vanished, that kamma is thus abandoned, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, no longer subject to arising in the future.
Suppose, bhikkhus, there were seeds — unbroken, unspoiled, undamaged by wind and sun, fertile, well stored — and a man were to burn them with fire; having burned them with fire, he were to reduce them to ashes; having reduced them to ashes, he were to winnow them in a strong wind or let them be carried away by a swift-flowing river: those seeds, bhikkhus, would thus be cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, no longer subject to arising in the future. Even so, bhikkhus, whatever kamma is done out of non-greed, born of non-greed, with non-greed as its cause, with non-greed as its origin — when greed has vanished, that kamma is thus abandoned, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, no longer subject to arising in the future. Whatever kamma is done out of non-hatred … whatever kamma is done out of non-delusion … obliterated, no longer subject to arising in the future. These, bhikkhus, are the three causes for the origination of kammas.
Whatever kamma an unknowing person has done,
born of greed, born of hatred, and born of delusion,
whether little or much,
it is to be experienced right here:
no other ground exists for it.
Therefore a wise person, understanding greed,
hatred, and delusion as well,
a bhikkhu, arousing true knowledge (vijjā),
abandons all bad destinations.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.