7.
The Discourse to Mahāli
47.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Pinnacled Hall.
Then Mahāli the Licchavi approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, Mahāli the Licchavi said this to the Blessed One -
"What, venerable sir, is the cause, what is the condition for the performance of evil action, for the continuation of evil action?"
"Greed, Mahāli, is the cause, greed is the condition for the performance of evil action, for the continuation of evil action.
Hate, Mahāli, is the cause, hate is the condition for the performance of evil action, for the continuation of evil action.
Delusion, Mahāli, is the cause, delusion is the condition for the performance of evil action, for the continuation of evil action.
Unwise attention, Mahāli, is the cause, unwise attention is the condition for the performance of evil action, for the continuation of evil action.
A wrongly directed mind, Mahāli, is the cause, a wrongly directed mind is the condition for the performance of evil action, for the continuation of evil action.
This, Mahāli, is the cause, this is the condition for the performance of evil action, for the continuation of evil action."
"But what, venerable sir, is the cause, what is the condition for the performance of good action, for the continuation of good action?" "Non-greed, Mahāli, is the cause, non-greed is the condition for the performance of good action, for the continuation of good action. Non-hate, Mahāli, is the cause, non-hate is the condition for the performance of good action, for the continuation of good action. Non-delusion, Mahāli, is the cause, non-delusion is the condition for the performance of good action, for the continuation of good action. Wise attention, Mahāli, is the cause, wise attention is the condition for the performance of good action, for the continuation of good action. A rightly directed mind, Mahāli, is the cause, a rightly directed mind is the condition for the performance of good action, for the continuation of good action. This, Mahāli, is the cause, this is the condition for the performance of good action, for the continuation of good action. If these ten mental states, Mahāli, were not found in the world, there would be no recognition here of unrighteous conduct and uneven conduct or of righteous conduct and even conduct. But because, Mahāli, these ten mental states are found in the world, therefore there is recognition of unrighteous conduct and uneven conduct or of righteous conduct and even conduct." The seventh.