With the Destruction of Craving Comes the Destruction of Unwholesome Kamma

Monks, develop the path and the way that leads to the destruction of craving.

And what is the path and the way that leads to the destruction of craving?

It is The Seven Factors of Enlightenment.

What seven?

The Enlightenment factor of mindfulness, the Enlightenment factor of investigation, the Enlightenment factor of energy, the Enlightenment factor of joy, the Enlightenment factor of tranquility, the Enlightenment factor of concentration, and the Enlightenment factor of equanimity.

When this was said, the Venerable Udāyi asked The Perfectly Enlightened One: ‘Venerable Sir, how are The Seven Factors of Enlightenment developed and cultivated so that they lead to the destruction of craving?’

Here, Udāyi, a Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness, which is based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings and elimination, maturing in release; which is immense, superb, measureless, without ill will. When he develops the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness, which is based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings and elimination, maturing in release; which is immense, superb, measureless, without ill will, craving is abandoned. With the abandoning of craving, unwholesome Kamma is abandoned. With the abandoning of unwholesome Kamma, discontentedness is abandoned…

(All of The Seven Factors of Enlightenment are explained in the same way to include the Enlightenment factor of investigation, energy, joy, tranquility, and concentration with the final factor being described in the same way as in the below.)

He develops the Enlightenment factor of equanimity, which is based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings and elimination, maturing in release; which is immense, superb, measureless, without ill will. When he develops the Enlightenment factor of equanimity, which is based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings and elimination, maturing in release; which is immense, superb, measureless, without ill will, craving is abandoned. With the abandoning of craving, unwholesome Kamma is abandoned. With the abandoning of unwholesome Kamma, discontentedness is abandoned.

Thus, Udāyi,

With the destruction of craving comes the destruction of unwholesome Kamma;

With the destruction of unwholesome Kamma comes the destruction of discontentedness.

(Reference: SN 46:26)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how through practicing The Seven Factors of Enlightenment a Practitioner is able to eliminate craving. Craving, anger (ill will), and ignorance (unknowing of true reality) is the origin of all unwholesome Kamma.

Through the elimination of craving, anger (ill will), and ignorance (unknowing of true reality), all unwholesome Kamma production is eliminated.

Through the elimination of craving and all unwholesome Kamma production, discontentedness is eliminated.

The mind experiences Enlightenment where it is peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy - permanently.

He further discusses how a Practitioner who develops The Seven Factors of Enlightenment leads to freedom from strong feelings and elimination, “maturing in release”.

“Maturing in release” is the experience one may have that as they deeply develop the mind, they may experience the bodily sensation of specific cravings/desires/attachments and/or specific taints/fetters being “released” from the mind.

The more one develops The Eight Fold Path starting with Right View (The Four Noble Truths) the mind can develop the ability to readily, and in some cases, instantly eliminate specific craving/desire/attachments and/or specific taints/fetters from the mind. There is much learning, reflecting, and practicing of these Teachings that is required as a prerequisite to developing this aspect of the mind.

Gotama Buddha is explaining the bodily sensation experienced upon the elimination of these pollutions of the mind as “maturing in release”.