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| Thai museum depiction of lower sensual sphere Buddhist heavens (akasha deva kama loka) |
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| Buddha mosaic (Herr_S/flickr.com) |
Once the Buddha was abiding near Nalanda in the Parileyyaka mango grove. Then Asibandhakaputta the village headman went to him, bowed, sat respectfully to one side, and said:
"Venerable sir, the Westlander Brahmins, who carry water pots, wear water plant garlands, cleanse themselves with purifying water, and worship fire -- can take [the spirit or animating principle of] a dead person, lift it out, instruct it, and send it on to a heavenly rebirth.
"But the Blessed One, worthy and perfectly enlightened, can arrange it so that all the world, at the breakup of the body, after death, reappears in a fortunate destination, on a heavenly plane!"
"Very well, headman, I will ask you about this matter; answer as you see fit. What do you think? There is a person who
- takes life,
- takes what is not given,
- takes sexual liberties,
- takes the truth in vain (by perjury,
- divisive speech,
- harsh speech, or
- idle chitchat),
- is greedy (lustful-selfish-full of craving),
- bears thoughts of ill-will, and/or
- holds to wrong views.
"Then a great crowd of people, gathering and congregating, would honor, praise, and respectfully circumambulate with folded hands (anjali mudra), saying: 'May this person, at the breakup of the body, after death, reappear in a good destination, on a heavenly plane!'
"What do you think? Would that person -- because of the honor, praise, and circumambulation of that great crowd -- at the breakup of the body, after death, reappear in a good destination, on a heavenly plane?"
"No, venerable sir."
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| Gulf of Siam, southern Thailand (traveljunket.info) |
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| Buddha at Sukhothai (Aidan McRae Thomson/flickr.com) |
"What do you think? Would that boulder -- because of the honor, praise, and circumambulation of that great crowd -- rise up, float up, or move to the shore?"
"No, venerable sir."
"So it is with anyone who takes life, takes what is not given, takes sexual liberties, takes the truth in vain (engages in perjury, divisive speech, harsh speech, or idle chitchat), is greedy, bears thoughts of ill-will, and/or holds to wrong views.
"Even though a great crowd, gathering and congregating, would honor, praise, and circumambulate with folded hands, saying, 'May this person, at the breakup of the body, after death, reappear in a good destination, on a heavenly plane!' -- nevertheless, at the breakup of the body, after death, that person would reappear destitute in an unfortunate destination, in subhuman worlds, even in hellish worlds."
"Even though a great crowd, gathering and congregating, would honor, praise, and circumambulate with folded hands, saying, 'May this person, at the breakup of the body, after death, reappear in a good destination, on a heavenly plane!' -- nevertheless, at the breakup of the body, after death, that person would reappear destitute in an unfortunate destination, in subhuman worlds, even in hellish worlds."
