Kusala

Kusala is a term from Pali and Sanskrit meaning wholesome, virtuous, or skillful. In Buddhist ethics it designates actions and mental states that are conducive to well-being, reduce suffering, and support progress on the path. It is often contrasted with akusala, the unwholesome or harmful.

Kusala encompasses both intentional states and outward conduct. Wholesome intention (cetana) is central: actions arising from generosity, moral discipline, and wise attention are considered kusala. Examples of kusala mental states include loving-kindness (mettā), compassion (karuṇā), sympathetic joy (mudita), and equanimity (upekkhā). Wholesome conduct also appears in ethical practices such as generosity (dāna) and moral observance (sīla).

In the Buddhist framework, kusala kamma (wholesome actions) generate positive karmic results and reduce future suffering, contributing to progress on the Noble Eightfold Path. Over time, sustained kusala practice supports liberation (nibbāna) by weakening craving and ignorance.

Scholarly usage distinguishes kusala as a family of wholesome mental factors and actions, or as a broader category of skillful means within various Buddhist traditions. While the specifics vary by school, the core idea remains: kusala refers to states and deeds that promote welfare, clarity, and ethical conduct, in contrast to the unwholesome effects of akusala.