Three Causes for the Origination of Unwholesome & Wholesome Kamma (Another Discourse)

Monks, there are these three causes for the origination of (unwholesome) Kamma.

What three?

1. Craving (Desire/Greed/Attachment) arises with reference to things in the past that are the basis for craving and desire.

2. Craving (Desire/Greed/Attachment) arises with reference to things in the future that are the basis for craving and desire.

3. Craving (Desire/Greed/Attachment) arises with reference to things presently existing that are the basis for craving and desire.

And how, Monks, does craving arise with reference to things in the past that are the basis for craving and desire? One thinks about and mentally examines things in the past that are the basis for craving and desire. As one does so, craving arises. When craving springs up, one is fettered by those things. The mental obsession is what I call the fetter. It is in this way that craving arises with reference to things in the past that are the basis for craving and desire.

And how does craving arise with reference to things in the future that are the basis for craving and desire? One thinks about and mentally examines things in the future that are the basis for craving and desire. As one does so, craving arises. When craving springs up, one is fettered by those things. The mental obsession is what I call the fetter. It is in this way that craving arises with reference to things in the future that are the basis for craving and desire.

And how does craving arise with reference to things presently existing that are the basis for craving and desire? One thinks about and mentally examines things presently existing that are the basis for craving and desire. As one does so, craving arises. When craving springs up, one is fettered by those things. The mental obsession is what I call the fetter. It is in this way that craving arises with reference to things presently existing that are the basis for craving and desire.

These are the three causes for the origination of (unwholesome) Kamma.

There are, Monks, these three causes for the origination of (wholesome) Kamma. 

What three?

1. Craving (Desire/Greed/Attachment) does not arise with reference to things in the past that are the basis for craving and desire.

2. Craving (Desire/Greed/Attachment) does not arise with reference to things in the future that are the basis for craving and desire.

3. Craving (Desire/Greed/Attachment) does not arise with reference to things presently existing that are the basis for craving and desire.

And how, Monks, does craving not arise with reference to things in the past that are the basis for craving and desire? One understands the future result of things in the past that are the basis for craving and desire. Having understood the future result, one avoids it. Having avoided it, one becomes free from strong feelings in the mind, and having pierced through with wisdom, one sees. It is in this way that craving does not arise with reference to things in the past that are the basis for craving and desire.

And how, Monks, does craving not arise with reference to things in the future that are the basis for craving and desire? One understands the future result of things in the future that are the basis for craving and desire. Having understood the future result, one avoids it. Having avoided it, one becomes free from strong feelings in the mind, and having pierced through with wisdom, one sees. It is in this way that craving does not arise with reference to things in the future that are the basis for craving and desire.

And how, Monks, does craving not arise with reference to things presently existing that are the basis for craving and desire? One understands the future result of things presently existing that are the basis for craving and desire. Having understood the future result, one avoids it. Having avoided it, one becomes free from strong feelings in the mind, and having pierced through with wisdom, one sees. It is in this way that craving does not arise with reference to things presently existing that are the basis for craving and desire.

These are the three causes for the origination of (wholesome) Kamma. 

(Reference: AN 3.112)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how craving/desire/attachment is the cause for the origination of unwholesome and wholesome Kamma in the past, future, and presently.

Craving/desire/attachment is a cause of unwholesome Kamma in the past, future, and presently.

When craving/desire/attachment does not arise in the mind, wholesome Kamma is originated in the past, future, and presently.

As the mind becomes more familiar with The Natural Law of Kamma and how craving/desire/attachment produces unwholesome Kamma, a Practitioner will make wise decisions to eliminate any decisions based in craving/desire/attachment.

A Practitioner can train the mind to make decisions through The Three Wholesome Roots rather than The Three Unwholesome Roots.