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[Full title: Six Conditions for the Development of Welfare (5) Practicing Ten Meritorious Deeds or Wholesome Actions (Ten Sucarita)]

Here, always practicing ten meritorious deeds by avoiding ten demeritorious deeds or unwholesome actions is similar to practicing ten meritorious deeds. In order to able to practicing them, we need distinguishably to know ten wholesome actions and ten unwholesome actions.

“There are ten wholesome actions also known as “ten sucaritas�, meaning “ten types of good conduct�. They are also divided into three groups in accordance with three types of kamma.

A. Kusala-°ìÄå²â²¹-kamma (Wholesome of bodily action)

There are three wholesome bodily actions:

1 ±ÊÄå²ÔÄå³Ù¾±±èÄå³ÙÄå-±¹¾±°ù²¹³Ùī–avoidance of killing,
2 ´¡»å¾±²Ô²ÔÄå»åÄå²ÔÄå-±¹¾±°ù²¹³Ùī–avoidance of stealing;
3 °­²¹³¾±ð²õ³Ü-³¾¾±³¦³¦³óÄ峦Äå°ùÄå-±¹¾±°ù²¹³Ùī–avoidance of sexual misconduct.

B. Kusala-±¹²¹³¦Ä«-kamma (wholesome verbal action) There are four wholesome vocal actions:

4 ²Ñ³Ü²õÄå±¹Äå»åÄå-±¹¾±°ù²¹³Ùī–avoidance of lying,
5 ±Ê¾±²õ³Ü²Ô²¹±¹Ä峦Äå-±¹¾±°ù²¹³Ùī–avoidance of slandering,
6 ±Ê³ó²¹°ù³Ü²õ²¹±¹Ä峦Äå-±¹¾±°ù²¹³ÙÄ« ī–avoidance of harsh speech,
7 ³§²¹³¾±è³ó²¹±è±è²¹±ôÄå±è²¹-virati–avoidance of vain talk.

In other words, one should make use of true speech, conciliatory speech, mild speech and wise speech.

C. Kusala-mano-kamma (wholesome mental action) There are three wholesome mental actions:

8 ´¡²Ô²¹²ú³ó¾±ÂáÂá³óÄå–absence of covetousness (unselfishness),
9 ´¡±¹²âÄå±èÄå»å²¹â€“g´Ç´Ç»å-·É¾±±ô±ô;
10 ³§²¹³¾³¾Äå-»å¾±á¹­á¹­³ó¾±â€�right view."^[1]

Reciprocally, "The unwholesome actions may be divided into three groups in accordance with three types of kamma.

A. Akusala-°ìÄå²â²¹-kamma (Unwholesome mental action) There are three unwholesome bodily actions:

1 ±ÊÄå²ÔÄå³Ù¾±±èÄå³ÙÄå–killing any living being,
2 ´¡»å¾±²Ô²ÔÄå»åÄå²ÔÄå–stealing or taking other’s property unlawfully,
3 °­²¹³¾±ð²õ³Ü-³¾¾±³¦³¦³óÄ峦°ùÄå–sexual misconduct such as unlawful sexual intercourse or sexual misconduct.

B. Akusala-±¹²¹³¦Ä«-kamma (unwholesome verbal action) There are four unwholesome vocal actions:

4 ²Ñ³Ü²õÄå±¹Äå»åÄå–l²â¾±²Ô²µ,
5 ±Ê¾±²õ³Ü²Ô²¹±¹Ä峦Äå–s±ô²¹²Ô»å±ð°ù¾±²Ô²µ,
6 ±Ê³ó²¹°ù³Ü²õ²¹±¹Ä峦Äå–rude or harsh speech,
7 ³§²¹³¾±è³ó²¹±è±è²¹±ôÄå±èÄå–vain talk or foolish babble.

C. Akusala-mano-kamma (unwholesome mental action) There are three unwholesome mental actions:

8 ´¡²ú³ó¾±ÂáÂá³óÄå–c´Ç±¹±ð³Ù´Ç³Ü²õ²Ô±ð²õ²õ,
9 ³Õ²âÄå±èÄå»å²¹â€“i±ô±ô-·É¾±±ô±ô;
10 Micch-»å¾±á¹­á¹­³ó¾±â€“wrong view;

The ten unwholesome actions are also called “ten ducaritas�, meaning “evil conduct.�^[2]

According to law of cause and effect, wholesome has the characteristic of giving good consequence and unwholesome has that of bad consequence. So, it is sure that if one commits unwholesome actions, he will suffer the bad consequence of his action in present life or after life. Similarly, if one practices wholes actions, he will actually experience his good action (kamma). This is the principles of cause and effect or law of Kamma. No one can destroy or damage law of Kamma. We will experience or suffer of the result our good or bad actions.

The one who commits unwholesome action, his owns or properties can be decreased or damaged by his bad action. It can damage his social welfare. It can damage his community or society. It is the disturbance of his society. It is the least bad consequence of his bad action. His bad consequence may be big or small depending on his bad committing action. He may suffer the bad consequence of the life of hell, animal, ghost and demon, etc. depending on his big or small offence.

Reciprocally, if he avoids unwholesome actions, it is likely to be practicing wholesome actions and he will surely experience good result of his Kamma. At any rate, it is sure that practicing ten wholesome actions can make our environment happy and harmonious. Therefore, practicing wholesome actions is one of the fundamental causes of social development.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

The Essence of Buddha Abhidhamma, P. 214.

[2]:

The essence of Buddha Abhidhamm, P. 213.