THE FIRST STEP TO BEING SPIRITUAL

It has been said in the Dhammapada, “Abstain from all
unwholesome deeds, perform wholesome ones, purify your mind - this is the
teaching of enlightened persons.”

What are unwholesome deeds and what are the wholesome
ones?

Any action that harms others, that disturbs their
peace and harmony is a sinful action, an unwholesome action. Any action that
helps others, that contributes to their peace and harmony, is a pious action, a
wholesome action.

There are three types of Wrong Conduct a human being
is capable of - Wrong Conduct with Words, Wrong Conduct with Body and Wrong
Conduct with Mind.

WRONG CONDUCT WITH WORDS

There are four sub divisions of Wrong Conduct with
Words – false speech, slanderous speech, harsh speech and idle chatter.

Abstaining from false speech:
Herein someone avoids false speech and abstains from it. One speaks the truth,
is devoted to truth, reliable, worthy of confidence, not a deceiver of people.

Abstaining from slanderous speech:
One avoids slanderous speech and abstains from it. What one has heard here one
does not repeat there, so as to cause dissension there; and what one has heard
there one does not repeat here, so as to cause dissension here.

Abstaining from harsh speech:
One avoids harsh language and abstains from it. One speaks such words as are
gentle, loving, soothing to the ear; such words as go to the heart, and are
courteous, friendly, and agreeable to many.

Abstaining from idle chatter:
One avoids idle chatter and abstains from it. One speaks at the right time, in
accordance with facts, speaks what is useful, one’s speech is like a treasure,
uttered at the right moment, accompanied by reason, moderate and full of sense.

WRONG CONDUCT WITH BODY

There are three sub divisions of Wrong Conduct with
Body – taking life, taking what is not given and sexual misconduct.

Abstaining from the taking of life:
Herein someone avoids the taking of life and abstains from it. Without stick or
sword, conscientious, full of sympathy, one is desirous of the welfare of all
sentient beings.

Abstaining from taking what is not given:
One avoids taking what is not given and abstains from it; what another person
possesses of goods and property, that he does not take away with thievish
intent.

Abstaining from sexual misconduct:
One avoids sexual misconduct and abstains from it.

WRONG CONDUCT WITH MIND

There are three sub divisions of Wrong Conduct with
Mind – covetousness, ill will and wrong view.

Abstaining from covetousness:
Here someone avoids being covetous: one is not a coveter of another's goods and
property.

Abstaining from ill-will towards others:
One avoids a mind of ill-will and hatred towards other beings.

Abstaining from wrong view:
One avoids wrong view, distorted vision.

WHOLESOME ACTIONS

There are three types of Right Conduct a human being
is capable of - Right Conduct with Words, Right Conduct with Body and Right
Conduct with Mind.

How can one “perform wholesome” deeds? One can
perform wholesome deeds by practising right speech, right action, and right
conduct with mind.

Right speech means speaking in ways that are
trustworthy, harmonious, comforting, and worth taking to heart. When you make a
practice of these positive forms of right speech, your words become a gift to others.

Right action is behaving peacefully and staying in
harmony with fellow human beings.

Right mental conduct is having goodwill for others
and cultivating the right view.

To “purify your mind”, you have to cultivate
wholesome states and abandon unwholesome states by seeking wisdom and
practising meditation.

This is the essence of the teaching of enlightened
persons.