Profitable Karma (Kusala Sutra)

Wisdom Quarterly inverted translation (Kusala Sutra, AN 2.9, alternative rendering) The Buddha encourages all to replace the harmful with the beneficial (Nithya Priyan/Flickr).

By oneself indeed is the unprofitable done

And by oneself is one defiled.

By oneself is the unprofitable left undone

And by oneself indeed is one purified.

Purity and impurity depends on oneself.

No one can purify another. (Dhp 165)

"Disciples, develop the profitable.* It is possible to develop it. If it were not, I would not say, 'Develop the profitable.' However, because it is possible, I say: 'Develop the profitable.'

"If developing what is profitable resulted in harm and pain, I would not say, 'Develop the profitable.' However, because developing it results in benefit and pleasure, I say, 'Develop the profitable.'

"Disciples, abandon the unprofitable.** It is possible to abandon it. If it were not, I would not say, 'Abandon the unprofitable.' However, because it is possible to abandon it, I say: 'Abandon the unprofitable.'

"If abandoning the unprofitable resulted in harm and pain, I would not say, 'Abandon the unprofitable.' However, because abandoning it results in benefit and pleasure, I say, 'Abandon the unprofitable.'"

*Profitable (kusala): karmically beneficial, wholesome, skillful, good, worthy of being undertaken; that which when it bears its result (vipaka) or fruit (phala) is welcome, wished for, and pleasant.

**What is unprofitable (akusala)? Doing harm and/or encouraging others to harm. What is harmful? (1) Taking life, (2) taking what is not given, (3) taking sexual liberties, (4) taking the truth lightly, (5) taking alcohol or drugs that lead one to do harm.