Ud 3.1 — Kamma Sutta: Former Action

Thus have I heard. At one time the Lord was staying near Savatthi in the Jeta Wood at Anathapindika's monastery. On that occasion a certain bhikkhu was sitting cross-legged not far from the Lord, holding his body erect, mindful and clearly comprehending, enduring without complaint feelings that were painful, acute, sharp and severe, the ripening of former action.

The Lord saw that bhikkhu sitting cross-legged not far away... enduring without complaint feelings that were painful, acute, sharp and severe, the ripening of former action.

Then, on realizing its significance, the Lord uttered on that occasion this inspired utterance:

A bhikkhu who has left behind all action, Shaking off the dust of former deeds. The stable one, unselfish, steady, Has no need to address people.

Copyright © 1997 Buddhist Publication Society. The text of this page (“Kamma Sutta: Former Action”, by John D. Ireland) is licensed under a Buddhist Publication Society free-distribution licence. From Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 30 November 2013. You may copy, reformat, reprint, republish, and redistribute this work in any medium whatsoever, provided that: (1) you only make such copies, etc. available free of charge and, in the case of reprinting, only in quantities of no more than 50 copies; (2) you clearly indicate that any derivatives of this work (including translations) are derived from this source document; and (3) you include the full text of this license in any copies or derivatives of this work. Otherwise, all rights reserved. This presentation is a derivative of that source document: it has been restyled and its links rewritten. The translation itself is unaltered.