Aṅguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
XI. Sambodhi Vagga

III. The Book of the Threes

XI. Enlightenment

Sutta 110

Catuttha Nidāna Suttaṃ

Three Causes (d)

[243]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī.

There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied,
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, there are these three causes (which prevent the arising) of actions.

What three?

Desire for things
which in the past
were based on desire,
is not generated.

Desire for things
which in the future
will be based on desire,
is not generated.

Desire for things
which in the present time
are based on desire,
is not generated.

2. And how, monks, is desire for things
which in the past
were based on desire,
not generated?

One fully understands
the future result
of things which in the past
were based on desire.

Foreseeing this result
one turns away from it,¹
and so doing,
conceiving no desire² for it in the heart,
one penetrates it by insight
and sees it plain.

That is how desire for things
which in the past
were based on desire,
is not generated.

■

3. And how, monks, is desire
which in the future
will be based on desire,
is not generated?

One fully understands
the future result
of things yet to come
which are based on desire.

Foreseeing this result
one turns away from it,
and so doing,
conceiving no desire for it in the heart,
one penetrates it by insight
and sees it plain.

That is how desire for things
which in the future
will be based on desire,
is not generated.

■

4. And how, monks, is desire
for things present,
which are based on desire,
not generated?

One fully understands
the future result
of present things,
based on desire.

Foreseeing this result
one turns away from it,
and so doing,
conceiving no desire for it in the heart,
one penetrates it by insight
and sees it plain.

That is how desire
for things present
which are based on desire
is not generated.

These are the three causes
(which prevent the arising) of actions."

¹ Text abhinivaddheti. Comy. abhinivaṭṭeti. Neither word is in Ang. Index or Pāli Dict.; apparently equal to abhinivajjeti. Comy. gives also a common reading, abhinibbajjeti.