The Buddha describes the two behaviors that lead to suffering and rebirth in hell if not abandoned.

ITI 48  Āpāyika sutta - Destined for Suffering

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Awakened One, as I have heard:

“Dveme, bhikkhave, āpāyikā nerayikā idamappahāya. Katame dve? Yo ca abrahmacārī brahmacāripaṭiñño, yo ca paripuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ carantaṁ amūlakena abrahmacariyena anuddhaṁseti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve āpāyikā nerayikā idamappahāyā”ti.

“|Bhikkhus,::::| there are two persons |destined for a state of loss::to be reborn in suffering; lit. gone away [āpāyika]|, destined for |hell::a place of intense suffering, lit. no good fortune [niraya]|, if they do not abandon this. What two? One who is not celibate but |pretends to be celibate::claims to be chaste [brahmacārī + paṭiñña]|, and one who falsely accuses a person genuinely living a complete and pure celibate life of unchastity. These|, bhikkhus,::::| are the two persons destined for a state of loss, destined for hell, if they do not abandon this.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:

“Abhūtavādī nirayaṁ upeti,
Yo vāpi katvā na karomi cāha;
Ubhopi te pecca samā bhavanti,
Nihīnakammā manujā parattha.

“One who speaks falsely falls into hell,
as does one who, having done a deed, claims, ‘I did not do it’;
both of them, having passed away, become alike,
people of base actions in the hereafter.

Kāsāvakaṇṭhā bahavo,
pāpadhammā asaññatā;
Pāpā pāpehi kammehi,
nirayaṁ te upapajjare.

Many who wear the |ochre::organic brown, color of Buddhist monk’s robes [kāsāva]| robe
are unrestrained and |evil-natured::one who has had a long association of harmful mental qualities - of negligence, laziness, having many wishes, irrational application of mind, lack of situational awareness, having bad friends, pursuing bad habits [pāpadhamma]|;
by performing |harmful::injurious, bad, or evil. Encompasses the deceptively alluring that is ultimately detrimental or ruinous [pāpaka]| deeds,
they |re-arise::is reborn [upapajjati]| in hell.

Seyyo ayoguḷo bhutto,
tatto aggisikhūpamo;
Yañce bhuñjeyya dussīlo,
raṭṭhapiṇḍamasaññato”ti.

Better it is to swallow an iron ball
blazing like a fiery flame,
than for an |unprincipled::without regard for ethical conduct [dussīla]| and unrestrained person
to consume alms given by the people.

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.

Qualities:

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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Non-restraint

Non-restraint

Failure to guard the sense doors. It occurs when attention chases after the signs and features of sense objects, allowing craving and aversion to invade the mind.

Also known as: unguarded in sense faculties, not watching the sense doors, grasping at prominent features or details of sense objects
Pāli: asaṁvara, asaṁyama
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Spiritual life

Spiritual life

A life of celibacy, contemplation, and ethical discipline lived for the sake of liberation; oriented toward inner development rather than sensual pleasures

Also known as: abstinence, celibacy, chastity, holy life, sexual restraint
Pāli: brahmacariya
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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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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Last updated on May 1, 2026