Numbered Discourses 4.238

24. Deeds

Awakening Factors

“Bhikkhus, I declare these four kinds of deeds, having realized them with my own insight….

And what are dark deeds with dark results? It’s when someone creates hurtful habitual functioning patterns of the body, speech, and mind. These are called dark deeds with dark results.

And what are bright deeds with bright results? It’s when someone creates pleasing habitual functioning patterns of the body, speech, and mind. These are called bright deeds with bright results.

And what are dark and bright deeds with dark and bright results? It’s when someone creates both hurtful and pleasing habitual functioning patterns of the body, speech, and mind. These are called dark and bright deeds with dark and bright results.

And what are neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, (mental) joy, tranquility, samādhi, and equanimity. These are called neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds.

These are the four kinds of deeds that I declare, having realized them with my own insight.”