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A Manual of the Path Factors

IV. The Exposition of Right Action

There are three kinds of Right Action:

  1. Abstention from Killing Living Beings (pānātipāta virati),
  2. Abstention from Stealing (adinnādāna virati), and
  3. Abstention from Sensual Misconduct (kāmesumicchācāra virati).

1. Abstention for Killing Living Beings

Pānātipāta means intentional killing or destroying beings by physical action or verbal incitement, ranging from causing abortion, destroying eggs of lice and bugs, to killing and destroying living beings. Abstinence from such deeds is pānātipāta virati.

2. Abstention from Stealing

Adinnādāna means taking with the intention of stealing any animate or inanimate property in the possession of the owner, such as grass, fuel, water and so forth, without the knowledge of the owner, either by physical exertion or verbal incitement. Abstinence from such deeds is adinnādāna virati.

3. Abstention from Sensual Misconduct

Kāmesumicchācāra means improper sexual intercourse of a man with a woman, such as one protected by her parents, or intercourse of a married woman whose husband is still alive, with another man. It also includes taking intoxicants, and gambling with cards, chess, dice, etc. Abstinence from such deeds is kāmesumicchācāra virati.

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