Chapter 2: What three types of thoughts can harm oneself when they arise in the mind?

Once, King Prasenajit of Kosala came to visit Buddha and paid his respects. After sitting down beside Buddha, he asked him, "World Honored One, what kind of thoughts arising in one's mind will cause harm and suffering to oneself?"

Buddha replied, "Great King, there are three types of thoughts that will cause harm and suffering to oneself when they arise in the mind. They are greed, anger and ignorance. When one has greedy thoughts in their mind, it will cause harm and suffering to themselves; when one has angry thoughts in their mind, it will also cause harm and suffering to themselves; when one is ignorant about the truth of this world without wisdom or understanding of karma causality principles , it will also lead them into harmful situations causing pain and preventing peace.

Therefore Great King! When these three kinds of negative emotions - greediness，anger，and ignorance - arise within a person's heart/mind，they bring only trouble upon themselves by creating pain & discomfort instead happiness & joy. It is like a fruit tree with too many fruits on its branches attracting people who compete for picking up those fruits which eventually break off some branches from the tree itself."

Then Buddha recited:

"Greedy desires along with anger,

And delusion as well,

These three evil states

Harm oneself like breaking off a branch."

Pali original scripture

SN.3.2/(2). Purisasuttaṃ

　　 113. Sāvatthinidānaṃ. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. Ekamantaṃ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṃ etadavoca– “kati nu kho, bhante, purisassa dhammā ajjhattaṃ uppajjamānā uppajjanti ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāyā”ti?

　　 “Tayo kho, mahārāja, purisassa dhammā ajjhattaṃ uppajjamānā uppajjanti ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāya. Katame tayo? Lobho kho, mahārāja, purisassa dhammo ajjhattaṃ uppajjamāno uppajjati ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāya. Doso kho, mahārāja, purisassa dhammo ajjhattaṃ uppajjamāno uppajjati ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāya. Moho kho, mahārāja, purisassa dhammo ajjhattaṃ uppajjamāno uppajjati ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāya Ime kho, mahārāja, tayo purisassa dhammā ajjhattaṃ uppajjamānā uppajjanti ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāyā”ti. Idamavoca …pe…

　　 “Lobho doso ca moho ca, purisaṃ pāpacetasaṃ;

　　 Hiṃsanti attasambhūtā, tacasāraṃva samphalan”ti.