At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Then Mahāli the Licchavi went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: Atha kho mahāli licchavi yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahāli licchavi bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“What is the cause, sir, what is the reason for doing bad deeds, for performing bad deeds?” “ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā”ti?

“Greed is a cause, Mahāli, greed is a reason for doing bad deeds, for performing bad deeds. “Lobho kho, mahāli, hetu, lobho paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā. Hate is a cause of bad deeds … Doso kho, mahāli, hetu, doso paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā. Delusion is a cause of bad deeds … Moho kho, mahāli, hetu, moho paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā. Irrational application of mind gives rise to bad deeds … Ayoniso manasikāro kho, mahāli, hetu, ayoniso manasikāro paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā. A wrongly directed mind is a cause of bad deeds … Micchāpaṇihitaṁ kho, mahāli, cittaṁ hetu, micchāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyāti. This is the cause, Mahāli, this is the reason for doing bad deeds, for performing bad deeds.” Ayaṁ kho, mahāli, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo pāpassa kammassa kiriyāya pāpassa kammassa pavattiyā”ti.

“What is the cause, sir, what is the reason for doing good deeds, for performing good deeds?” “Ko pana, bhante, hetu ko paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā”ti?

“Contentment is a cause, Mahāli, contentment is a reason for doing good deeds, for performing good deeds. “Alobho kho, mahāli, hetu, alobho paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā. Love is a cause of good deeds … Adoso kho, mahāli, hetu, adoso paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā. Understanding is a cause of good deeds … Amoho kho, mahāli, hetu, amoho paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā. Rational application of mind gives rise to good deeds … Yoniso manasikāro kho, mahāli, hetu, yoniso manasikāro paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā. A rightly directed mind is a cause of good deeds … Sammāpaṇihitaṁ kho, mahāli, cittaṁ hetu, sammāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā. This is the cause, Mahāli, this is the reason for doing good deeds, for performing good deeds. Ayaṁ kho, mahāli, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo kalyāṇassa kammassa kiriyāya kalyāṇassa kammassa pavattiyā. If these ten things were not found in the world, we wouldn’t see either unprincipled and immoral conduct, or principled and moral conduct. Ime ca, mahāli, dasa dhammā loke na saṁvijjeyyuṁ, nayidha paññāyetha adhammacariyāvisamacariyāti vā dhammacariyāsamacariyāti vā. But since these ten things are found in the world, we see both unprincipled and immoral conduct, and principled and moral conduct.” Yasmā ca kho, mahāli, ime dasa dhammā loke saṁvijjanti, tasmā paññāyati adhammacariyāvisamacariyāti vā dhammacariyāsamacariyāti vā”ti.

Sattamaṁ.