The Most Reprehensible for the Performance of Unwholesome Actions

Then the Nigantha Dīgha Tapassi asked The Perfectly Enlightened One:

‘And you, friend Gotama, how many kinds of rod do you describe for the performance of unwholesome action, for the carrying out of unwholesome action?’

Tapassi, The Tathāgata is not accustomed to use the description ‘rod, rod’; The Tathāgata is accustomed to use the description ‘action, action’.

‘But, friend Gotama, how many kinds of action do you describe for the performance of unwholesome action, for the carrying out of unwholesome action?’

Tapassi, I describe three kinds of action for the performance of unwholesome action, for the carrying out of unwholesome action: that is, bodily action, verbal action, and mental action.

‘How then, friend Gotama, is bodily action one, verbal action another, and mental action still another?’

Bodily action is one, Tapassi, verbal action is another, and mental action is still another.

‘Of these three kinds of action, friend Gotama, thus analyzed and distinguished, which kind of action do you describe as the most reprehensible for the performance of unwholesome action, for the carrying out of unwholesome action: bodily action or verbal action or mental action?’

Of these three kinds of action, Tapassi, thus analyzed and distinguished, I describe mental action as the most reprehensible for the performance of unwholesome action, for the carrying out of unwholesome action, and not so much bodily action and verbal action.

‘Do you say mental action, friend Gotama?’

I say mental action, Tapassi.

‘Do you say mental action, friend Gotama?’

I say mental action, Tapassi.

‘Do you say mental action, friend Gotama?’

I say mental action, Tapassi.

(Thus the Nigantha Dīgha Tapassi made The Perfectly Enlightened One maintain his statement up to the third time, after which he rose from his seat and went to the Nigantha Nataputta.

Thereafter, the Householder Upali came to The Perfectly Enlightened One to ask about the conversation The Perfectly Enlightened One had with Nigantha Tapassi and discussed that the bodily action is the most reprehensible for the performance of unwholesome act for the carrying out of unwholesome action, and not so much the verbal action and the mental action. The Perfectly Enlightened One, however maintained his doctrine and spoke further.)

What do you think, Householder? Is this town of Nalanda successful and prosperous, is it populous and crowded with people?

‘Yes, Venerable Sir, it is.’

What do you think, Householder? Suppose a man came here brandishing a sword and spoke thus: In one moment, in one instant, I will make all the living beings in this town of Nalanda into one mass of flesh, into one heap of flesh: What do you think, Householder, would that man be able to do that?

‘Venerable Sir, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, or even fifty men would not be able to make all the living beings in this town of Nalanda into one mass of flesh, into one heap of flesh in one moment or instant, so what does a single trivial man count for?’

What do you think, Householder? Suppose some Ascetic or Brāhmin came here possessed of supernormal power and attained to mastery of mind, and he spoke thus: I will reduce this town of Nalanda to ashes with one mental act of hate: What do you think, Householder, would such an Ascetic or Brāhmin be able to do that?

‘Venerable Sir, such an Ascetic or Brāhmin possessed of supernormal power and attained to mastery of mind would be able to reduce ten, twenty, thirty, forty, or even fifty Nalandas to ashes with one mental act of hate, so what does a single trivial Nalanda count for?’

Householder, Householder, pay attention how you reply! What you said afterwards does not agree with what you said before, nor does what you said before agree with what you said afterwards… 

(Reference: MN 56)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares that unwholesome mental actions are the most harmful between bodily, verbal, and mental actions (i.e. conduct).

The Buddha was a Master at asking people questions and guiding them to the answer so that they could see the truth for themselves, rather than just give an answer to a specific question asked of him.

In this Teaching, we see an example where The Buddha was asked a question and answered it directly. He was asked the question three (3) times to ensure he was fully committed to the answer as being the truth.

Once confirmed, the questioner Nigantha Dīgha Tapassi leaves going away from The Buddha. Later, the Householder Upali came to The Buddha to ask about the conversation with Nigantha Dīgha Tapassi seeking clarification.

The Buddha then skillfully questions the Householder Upali leading him to discover the truth through the answers Upali gives to the questions asked.

The Householder Upali answers The Buddha that it would be impossible for one person to destroy a town in one instance through an unwholesome bodily action. But, he answers The Buddha that it would be possible for one person to destroy a town in one instance through an unwholesome mental action.

An individual would be unable to destroy a town with just one bodily action but through one mental action of hate, this then spreads throughout the town and, over time, destroys the town.

Through the Householder Upali observing this as being the truth, he can then understand that unwholesome mental actions are the worst and most reprehensible actions. Thus, this entire Path to Enlightenment is about training the mind and purification of the mind.

All bodily and verbal actions are produced by the mind, therefore, as a Practitioner chooses to purify the mind, all bodily and verbal actions will also be purified.