The Ten Wholesome Ways of Action

Good conduct of body, speech and mind, from the discourse to the people of Sālā

The ten wholesome ways of action are ten kinds of good conduct: three of body, four of speech and three of mind. In the discourse to the people of Sālā (MN 41), the brahmin householders of Sālā ask the Buddha why some people go to a bad destination after death and some to a good one. He answers that it is because of unprincipled or principled conduct, and spells it out in ten points. Their opposites are called the ten unwholesome ways of action.

Tividhaṁ kho, gahapatayo, kāyena dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti,
catubbidhaṁ vācāya dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti,
tividhaṁ manasā dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti.

Householders, principled and moral conduct is threefold by body, fourfold by speech, and threefold by mind.

MN 41

The ten

1. Not killing: laying down weapons, scrupulous and kind, caring for all living beings.
2. Not stealing: not taking what belongs to others and is not given, whether in a village or in the wild.
3. No sexual misconduct: not violating those under others' protection or those already committed to a partner.
4. No lying: even when called as a witness, saying what you truly know and saw, never lying for yourself, for others or for any gain.
5. No divisive speech: not carrying tales to split people, but reconciling those who are divided and speaking for harmony.
6. No harsh speech: speaking words that are gentle, pleasing, heartfelt and liked by many.
7. No idle talk: speaking at the right time, truthfully, usefully, with substance and to the point.
8. Not coveting: not thinking, 'If only what is theirs were mine.'
9. No ill will: a heart that wishes all beings well.
10. Right view: seeing that giving bears fruit, good and bad deeds have results, this world and the next exist, mother and father matter, and there are ascetics who practise rightly and have realised this world and the next for themselves.

For the ninth, the discourse uses words close to the chant of loving-kindness:

Abyāpannacitto kho pana hoti appaduṭṭhamanasaṅkappo:
ime sattā averā abyābajjhā anīghā sukhī attānaṁ pariharantū

They have a kind heart and no malicious intent: 'May these beings be free of enmity and ill will, untroubled, and may they keep themselves happy.'

MN 41

In daily life

The ten cover the five precepts and go further, taking in every kind of speech and even thought. Try training one group at a time:

• Body: beyond not harming, do what helps, such as caring for animals and people weaker than you.
• Speech: before speaking, ask: is it true, does it bring people together or apart, is it gentle, is it useful?
• Mind: when others do well, be glad for them instead of wanting what they have; when resentful, recall the words of goodwill above.

At the end of the discourse the Buddha says that one who lives by these principles may not only reach a good destination, but may also realise freedom through the ending of the defilements in this very life.

Based on: Sāleyyaka Sutta (MN 41)