Loka Sutta

(Qualities of) the World

At Savatthi. As he was sitting to one side, King Pasenadi Kosala said to the Blessed One: "How many qualities of the world that, when arising, arise for harm, stress, & discomfort?"

"Three qualities of the world, great king, when arising, arise for harm, stress, & discomfort. Which three? Greed, great king, is a quality of the world that, when arising, arises for harm, stress, & discomfort. Aversion...Delusion is a quality of the world that, when arising, arises for harm, stress, & discomfort. These are the three qualities of the world, great king, that when arising, arise for harm, stress, & discomfort."

That is what the Blessed One said. Having said that, the One Well-Gone, the Teacher, said further:

"Greed, aversion, & delusion
-- born from oneself --
destroy
the person of evil awareness,
as its own fruit, the reed."

Source: ATI - For Free Distribution Only, as a Gift of Dhamma.

Dhamma Essay:
From Views to Vision by Bhikkhu Bodhi