The Buddha teaches on unskillful, presenting a threefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 3.146 Unskillful

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Katamehi tīhi? Akusalena kāyakammena, akusalena vacīkammena, akusalena manokammena

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge. Katamehi tīhi? Kusalena kāyakammena, kusalena vacīkammena, kusalena manokammena

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

“Someone with three qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Akusalena kāyakammena, akusalena vacīkammena, akusalena manokammena

Unskillful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

Someone with these three qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge.

Someone with three qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Kusalena kāyakammena, kusalena vacīkammena, kusalena manokammena

Skillful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.

Someone with these three qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

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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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