Overview
This is the direct opposite of the wholesome courses. These ten behaviors, driven by greed, hatred, and delusion, constitute the “unrighteous” way of living. Engaging in these ten unwholesome courses (Akusala Kammapatha) guarantees suffering in this life and rebirth in the hell, ghost, or animal realms.
The List
Bodily Action (Kāyakamma):
- Killing living beings: Being bloody-handed and merciless.
- Taking what is not given: Stealing by force or fraud.
- Sexual misconduct: Having intercourse with those protected by parents, Dhamma, or a husband.
Verbal Action (Vacīkamma):
- False speech: Lying under oath or deceiving others for gain.
- Malicious speech: Repeating things to cause rifts and break friendships.
- Harsh speech: Using words that are angry, insulting, and painful to others.
- Frivolous chatter: Gossiping about kings, wars, and worldly nonsense.
Mental Action (Manokamma):
- Covetousness (Abhijjhā): Obsessively wanting what belongs to others.
- Ill-will (Byāpāda): Wishing for others to be killed, destroyed, or to suffer.
- Wrong View (Micchādiṭṭhi): Believing there is no kamma, no afterlife, and no spiritual truth.
Textual References
- Canonical: Sāleyyaka Sutta (MN 41) – The Buddha explicitly states that it is precisely because of these ten behaviors that beings are reborn in the lower realms.