Three Causes for the Origination of Wholesome Kamma

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

What three?

(1) Non-Craving (Generosity) is a cause for the origination of (wholesome) Kamma;

(2) Non-Anger (Loving-kindness) is a cause for the origination of (wholesome) Kamma;

(3) Non-Ignorance (Wisdom) is a cause for the origination of (wholesome) Kamma.

Suppose, Monks, there are seeds that are intact, unspoiled, not damaged by wind and the sun’s heat, fertile, well preserved. Then a man would burn them in a fire, reduce them to ashes, and the ashes would blow in a strong wind or let them be carried away by the swift current of a river. In this way, those seeds would be cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated so that they are no more subject to future arising.

So too, any Kamma that is created through non-craving (generosity), born of non-craving, caused by non-craving, originated by non-craving, is abandoned when craving has vanished; it is cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated so that it is no more subject to future arising (of unwholesome Kamma).

So too, any Kamma that is created through non-anger (loving-kindness), born of non-anger, caused by non-anger, originated by non-anger, is abandoned when anger has vanished; it is cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated so that it is no more subject to future arising (of unwholesome Kamma).

So too, any Kamma that is created through non-ignorance (wisdom), born of non-ignorance, caused by non-ignorance, originated by non-ignorance, is abandoned when ignorance has vanished; it is cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated so that it is no more subject to future arising (of unwholesome Kamma).

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

(Reference: AN 3.34)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares three causes for wholesome Kamma. Generosity, loving-kindness, and wisdom are The Three Wholesome Roots producing wholesome Kamma.

It is when a Practitioner makes decisions based on generosity, loving-kindness, and wisdom that they will produce wholesome results (i.e. Kamma). A Practitioner needs to cultivate these mental qualities in the mind to be able to eliminate The Three Unwholesome Roots so that one can base their decisions on The Three Wholesome Roots.

Detailed explanation of The Three Wholesome Roots is available in this same book series found in Chapter 8 in the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).