Principles
Ten Wholesome Courses of Action
Ten forms of wholesome bodily, verbal and mental conduct: three bodily, four verbal and three mental.
- Tradition or school
- Buddhism
- Framework type
- Principles
- Authority classification
- Canonical
- Observance
- Recommended
- Research status
- Published and reviewed
- Origin period
- Early Buddhist period
- Origin region
- Indian subcontinent
- Attributed origin
- The Buddha and early Buddhist textual traditions
- Intended audience
- Lay and monastic Buddhist practitioners
- Published constituent items
- 10
- Last reviewed
- 28 June 2026
Names and terminology
Alternative names: Ten Wholesome Karmic Paths; Dasa Kusala Kammapatha
Primary texts and authority
The framework appears in early Buddhist discourses including Majjhima Nikaya 41.
Rules, principles or steps
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Abstain from Killing
Avoid intentionally killing living beings.
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Abstain from Taking What Is Not Given
Avoid taking property, labour or value without legitimate consent.
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Abstain from Sexual Misconduct
Avoid sexual conduct involving exploitation, betrayal, coercion or serious harm.
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Abstain from False Speech
Avoid deliberate lying and deception.
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Abstain from Divisive Speech
Do not use communication deliberately to create hostility and destructive division.
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Abstain from Harsh Speech
Avoid abusive, humiliating and needlessly cruel communication.
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Abstain from Idle or Irresponsible Speech
Avoid speech that is careless, misleading or devoid of constructive purpose.
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Cultivate Non-Covetousness
Do not organise thought around possessive desire for what belongs to others.
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Cultivate Goodwill
Replace intentions of cruelty or hostility with concern for others' welfare.
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Cultivate Right Understanding
Develop an accurate moral understanding of action, consequence and responsibility.
Historical development
The ten courses became influential across Buddhist ethical teaching, karma theory and Mahayana practice.
Variations
The final mental factor may be translated as right view, correct understanding or freedom from distorted view.
Traditional interpretation
Wholesome action is assessed through conduct, intention and the mental states from which action arises.
Controversies and disputes
Some formulations embed traditional karma and rebirth claims that require separate evidential assessment.
Truth By Reason analysis
The framework is unusually broad because it includes speech and motivation as well as bodily behaviour. Inner states should not, however, be punished as though they were completed harmful acts.
Ethical themes
Explanations, comparisons and discussions
Comparison
From Five Buddhist Precepts to Ten Precepts
Why the ten-precept system is a novice discipline rather than a stricter universal moral code.
Sources
- Saleyyaka Sutta: The Brahmins of Sala Primary source