THE EIGHTFOLD PATH ~FIRST STEP

RIGHT UNDERSTANDING

WHAT, now, is Right Understanding? It is understanding the Four
Truths. To understand suffering; to understand the origin of
suffering; to understand the extinction of suffering; to understand
the path that leads to the extinction of suffering: This is called
Right Understanding
Or, when the noble disciple understands what is karmically
wholesome, and the root of wholesome karma; what is karmically
unwholesome, and the root of unwholesome karma, then he has Right
Understanding.
["Karmically unwholesome" is every volitional act of body, speech,
or mind which is rooted in greed, hatred, or delusion, and produces
evil and painful results in this or any future form of existence.]
What, now, is "karmically unwholesome?"
In Bodily Action it is destruction of living beings; stealing; and
unlawful sexual intercourse. In Verbal Action it is lying;
tale-bearing; harsh language; and frivolous talk. In Mental Action
it is covetousness; ill-will; and wrong views.
And what is the root of unwholesome karma? Greed is a root of
unwholesome karma; Anger is a root of unwholesome karma; Delusion is a
root of unwholesome karma.
[The state of greed, as well as that of anger, is always accompanied
by delusion; and delusion, ignorance, is the primary root of all
evil.]
Therefore, I say, these demeritorious actions are of three kinds:
either due to greed, or due to anger, or due to delusion.
What, now, is "karmically wholesome?"
In Bodily Action it is to abstain from killing; to abstain from
stealing; and to abstain from unlawful sexual intercourse.
In Verbal Action it is to abstain from lying; to abstain from
tale-bearing; to abstain from harsh language; and to abstain from
frivolous talk.
In Mental Action it is absence of covetousness; absence of ill-will;
and right understanding.
And what is the root of wholesome karma? Absence of greed
(unselfishness) is a root of wholesome karma; absence of anger
(benevolence) is a root of wholesome karma; absence of delusion
(wisdom) is a root of wholesome karma.
Or, when one understands that corporeality, feeling, perception,
mental formation, and consciousness, are transient [subject to
suffering, and without an Ego], also in that case one possesses Right
Understanding.