The Buddha shares the consequences of holding on to wrong views and acting upon them based on his direct knowledge.
The Buddha shares the consequences of holding on to wrong views and acting upon them based on his direct knowledge.
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, thus I have heard:
"Bhikkhus, I have seen beings who are endowed with bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, and mental misconduct, who slander the Noble Ones, who hold wrong views, and who undertake actions based on wrong views. After the breaking up of the body, after death, they are reborn in a state of loss, in a bad destination, in a state of suffering, in a state of misfortune.
But, bhikkhus, I do not say this having heard it from another ascetic or brahmin. Bhikkhus, I have seen beings who are endowed with bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, and mental misconduct, who slander the Noble Ones, who hold wrong views, and who undertake actions based on wrong views. After the breaking up of the body, after death, they are reborn in a state of loss, in a bad destination, in a state of suffering, in a state of misfortune. Moreover, bhikkhus, what I have known for myself, seen for myself, and realized for myself, that is what I declare.
Bhikkhus, I have seen beings who are endowed with bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, and mental misconduct, who slander the Noble Ones, who hold wrong views, and who undertake actions based on wrong views. After the breaking up of the body, after death, they are reborn in a state of loss, in a bad destination, in a state of suffering, in a state of misfortune."
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. Therefore, it is said thus:
"With a mind set on wrong intentions,
and having spoken wrong speech;
Having undertaken wrong actions with the body,
a person here -
Unlearned and without having made merit,
with a little life left here;
After the body's break-up,
that undiscerning one is reborn in a state of misfortune."
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus I have heard.
Wrong views are false beliefs, misperceptions, incorrect understanding of how things have come to be. It is with mindfulness and by applying wise attention (carefully attending to the four noble truths), and by not letting attention be scattered to external objects that one can examine the wrong views that one may have.
Picture: Fissures and Ribbons, John Baldessari, 2004
Related Teachings:
On Wise Attention | A Trainee - First (ITI 16) - The Buddha shares on the importance of wise attention for a trainee bhikkhu.
Teachings on the harmful and beneficial qualities (AN) ↗️ - In this teaching on contrasting pairs, the Buddha shares that harmful qualities when pursued, lead to one's decline in morality, generosity, faith, concentration, and wisdom. In contrast, the beneficial qualities when pursued, cultivated, and developed, lead to one's growth in morality, generosity, faith, concentration and wisdom.
What is the stream and who is a stream-enterer (SN 55.5) - A dialogue between the Buddha and Sāriputta on the four factors for stream-entry: 1.) association with good people, 2.) hearing the true teaching, 3.) wise attention, and 4.) practice in accordance with the teaching. Sāriputta also defines the "stream" and the "stream-enterer" and the Buddha approves of his answer.
