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daśa-kuśala-karmapatha

A Dictionary of Buddhism | 2004 | 700+ words | Copyright

daśa-kuśala-karmapatha (Skt.). The ‘Ten Good Paths of Action’ or ‘Ten Good Deeds’, a formulation of moral precepts, especially important in the Mahāyāna, governing actions by way of the body, speech, mind. The ten are (1) not to kill; (2) not to steal; (3) to avoid sexual misconduct; (4) not to lie; (5) abstention from slanderous speech; (6) abstention from harsh speech; (7) abstention from idle talk; (8) non-greed; (9) non-hatred; (10) right views. In Mahāyāna sources, this moral code is said to be ‘mundane’ (laukika) when adopted by ordinary beings intent on avoiding rebirth in any of the miserable states of existence, since in that case it does not lead to liberation from saṃsāra. When accompained by skilful means (upāya-kauśalya) and insight (prajñā) and adopted by Bodhisattvas, however, it is said to be supermundane (lokottara) as it then leads to liberation.

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