The Buddha teaches that bad unskillful qualities arise only with a basis—whether as cause, condition, or the aggregates of form, feeling, perception, and consciousness—and cease when that basis is given up.

AN 2.77-86 The Chapter with a Basis

77

“Sanimittā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no animittā. Tasseva nimittassa pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

78

“Sanidānā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no anidānā. Tasseva nidānassa pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

79

“Sahetukā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no ahetukā. Tasseva hetussa pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

80

“Sasaṅkhārā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no asaṅkhārā. Tesaṁyeva saṅkhārānaṁ pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

81

“Sappaccayā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no appaccayā. Tasseva paccayassa pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

82

“Sarūpā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no arūpā. Tasseva rūpassa pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

83

“Savedanā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no avedanā. Tassāyeva vedanāya pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

84

“Sasaññā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no asaññā. Tassāyeva saññāya pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

85

“Saviññāṇā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no aviññāṇā. Tasseva viññāṇassa pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

86

“Saṅkhatārammaṇā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no asaṅkhatārammaṇā. Tasseva saṅkhatassa pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

Sanimittavaggo tatiyo.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

2.77

“Sanimittā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no animittā.

“Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with a basis, not without a basis.

Tasseva nimittassa pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

By giving up that basis, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

2.78

“Sanidānā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no anidānā.

“Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with a source, not without a source.

Tasseva nidānassa pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

By giving up that source, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

2.79

“Sahetukā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no ahetukā.

“Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with a cause, not without a cause.

Tasseva hetussa pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

By giving up that cause, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

2.80

“Sasaṅkhārā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no asaṅkhārā.

“Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with conditions, not without conditions.

Tesaṁyeva saṅkhārānaṁ pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

By giving up those conditions, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

2.81

“Sappaccayā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no appaccayā.

“Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with a reason, not without a reason.

Tasseva paccayassa pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

By giving up that reason, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

2.82

“Sarūpā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no arūpā.

“Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with form, not without form.

Tasseva rūpassa pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

By giving up that form, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

2.83

“Savedanā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no avedanā.

“Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with feeling, not without feeling.

Tassāyeva vedanāya pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

By giving up that feeling, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

2.84

“Sasaññā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no asaññā.

“Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with perception, not without perception.

Tassāyeva saññāya pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

By giving up that perception, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

2.85

“Saviññāṇā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no aviññāṇā.

“Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with consciousness, not without consciousness.

Tasseva viññāṇassa pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

By giving up that consciousness, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

2.86

“Saṅkhatārammaṇā, bhikkhave, uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā dhammā, no asaṅkhatārammaṇā.

“Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with a conditioned basis, not without a conditioned basis.

Tasseva saṅkhatassa pahānā evaṁ te pāpakā akusalā dhammā na hontī”ti.

By giving up that conditioned basis, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

Sanimittavaggo tatiyo.

Qualities:

Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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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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Unwholesome

Unwholesome

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

Also known as: blameworthy, unhealthy, unskillful, unbeneficial, karmically unprofitable
Pāli: akusala
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026