Here is another point to think about.
Stacy wrote: “Waharaka Thero redefined anicca not merely as “impermanence” but as the inability to maintain things to one’s liking, directly tied to taṇhā and the illusion of control.”
- One engages in immoral deeds (via the body, speech, and the mind) because one believes such actions can lead to happiness. That is believing in an “icca nature” instead of an “anicca (na icca) nature.” (Remember the adopted convention to write anichcha as anicca, i.e., to pronounce “c” as “ch” in writing Pali words. Many people in Sri Lanka do not realize this.)
- Those immoral deeds are done due to (abhi)sankhara.
- As I mentioned above, (abhi)sankhara arise in the mind due to avijja, i.e., not realizing that one will be unable to maintain things to one’s liking.
- Of course, there are things that “work out well in the short term.” For example, one selling drugs to make money may even live well until dying, but the consequences will be realized as rebirths as an animal or worse. Thus, in the long term, those efforts involving (abhi)sankhara (with raga, dosa, and moha) can only lead to suffering.
