The Buddha teaches on with mahāli, presenting a tenfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 10.47 With Mahāli

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Atha kho mahāli licchavi yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahāli licchavi bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā”ti?

“Lobho kho, mahāli, hetu, lobho paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā. Doso kho, mahāli, hetu, doso paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā. Moho kho, mahāli, hetu, moho paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā. Ayoniso manasikāro kho, mahāli, hetu, ayoniso manasikāro paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā. Micchāpaṇihitaṁ kho, mahāli, cittaṁ hetu, micchāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyāti. Ayaṁ kho, mahāli, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā”ti.

“Ko pana, bhante, hetu ko paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā”ti?

“Alobho kho, mahāli, hetu, alobho paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā. Adoso kho, mahāli, hetu, adoso paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā. Amoho kho, mahāli, hetu, amoho paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā. Yoniso manasikāro kho, mahāli, hetu, yoniso manasikāro paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā. Sammāpaṇihitaṁ kho, mahāli, cittaṁ hetu, sammāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā. Ayaṁ kho, mahāli, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā. Ime ca, mahāli, dasa dhammā loke na saṁvijjeyyuṁ, nayidha paññāyetha adhammacariyāvisamacariyāti dhammacariyāsamacariyāti vā. Yasmā ca kho, mahāli, ime dasa dhammā loke saṁvijjanti, tasmā paññāyati adhammacariyāvisamacariyāti dhammacariyāsamacariyāti vā”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Atha kho mahāli licchavi yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahāli licchavi bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Mahāli the Licchavi went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā”ti?

“What is the cause, sir, what is the reason for doing bad deeds, for performing bad deeds?”

“Lobho kho, mahāli, hetu, lobho paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā.

“Greed is a cause, Mahāli, greed is a reason for doing bad deeds, for performing bad deeds.

Doso kho, mahāli, hetu, doso paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā.

Hate is a cause of bad deeds …

Moho kho, mahāli, hetu, moho paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā.

Delusion is a cause of bad deeds …

Ayoniso manasikāro kho, mahāli, hetu, ayoniso manasikāro paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā.

Irrational application of mind gives rise to bad deeds …

Micchāpaṇihitaṁ kho, mahāli, cittaṁ hetu, micchāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyāti.

A wrongly directed mind is a cause of bad deeds …

Ayaṁ kho, mahāli, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā”ti.

This is the cause, Mahāli, this is the reason for doing bad deeds, for performing bad deeds.”

“Ko pana, bhante, hetu ko paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā”ti?

“What is the cause, sir, what is the reason for doing good deeds, for performing good deeds?”

“Alobho kho, mahāli, hetu, alobho paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā.

“Contentment is a cause, Mahāli, contentment is a reason for doing good deeds, for performing good deeds.

Adoso kho, mahāli, hetu, adoso paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā.

Love is a cause of good deeds …

Amoho kho, mahāli, hetu, amoho paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā.

Understanding is a cause of good deeds …

Yoniso manasikāro kho, mahāli, hetu, yoniso manasikāro paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā.

Rational application of mind gives rise to good deeds …

Sammāpaṇihitaṁ kho, mahāli, cittaṁ hetu, sammāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā.

A rightly directed mind is a cause of good deeds …

Ayaṁ kho, mahāli, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā.

This is the cause, Mahāli, this is the reason for doing good deeds, for performing good deeds.

Ime ca, mahāli, dasa dhammā loke na saṁvijjeyyuṁ, nayidha paññāyetha adhammacariyāvisamacariyāti dhammacariyāsamacariyāti vā.

If these ten things were not found in the world, we wouldn’t see either unprincipled and immoral conduct, or principled and moral conduct.

Yasmā ca kho, mahāli, ime dasa dhammā loke saṁvijjanti, tasmā paññāyati adhammacariyāvisamacariyāti dhammacariyāsamacariyāti vā”ti.

But since these ten things are found in the world, we see both unprincipled and immoral conduct, and principled and moral conduct.”

Sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

Contentment

Contentment

The quality of being satisfied with the requisites one has and with the present conditions, resulting in having few desires and being free from agitation.

Also known as: fewness of wishes, having few desires, satisfaction, sense of ease
Pāli: santutthi, appicchatā, tuṭṭha, tosana
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Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
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Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Merit

Merit

Wholesome result of good conduct, generosity, and right intention. Merit brightens the mind and supports happiness and favorable conditions for practice.

Also known as: good deeds, spiritual wealth
Pāli: puñña, kalyāṇa
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Unprincipled conduct

Unprincipled conduct

Conduct that disregards moral restraint and ignores the consequences of harm done to oneself or others through body or speech. Such behavior clouds the mind and leads to regret and further decline.

Also known as: lacking in moral principles, lacking in ethics, immoral, wrong action
Pāli: dussīlya, micchākammanta
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026