SA 1042（一〇四二） 鞞闻摩

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Kosala, staying in the forest of Sineru to the north of the village of Vairambha.

The brahmins and elders of Vairambha heard that the World-Honored One was staying in the forest of Sineru to the north of the village, and upon hearing this, they gathered together and went to where the Buddha was. They bowed their heads at the Buddha's feet, withdrew and sat to one side, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! What causes and conditions lead to sentient beings, after their bodies perish and lives end, being reborn in hell?"

The Buddha told the brahmins and elders, "It is because of engaging in unwholesome practices and dangerous practices that, after the body perishes and life ends, one is reborn in hell." The brahmins and elders said to the Buddha, "What unwholesome practices and dangerous practices lead to being reborn in hell after the body perishes and life ends?"

The Buddha told the brahmins and elders, "It is because of killing, up to wrong views, and fully engaging in the ten unwholesome causes and conditions that, after the body perishes and life ends, one is reborn in hell. Brahmins! This is unwholesome practice and dangerous practice, leading to being reborn in hell after the body perishes and life ends."

The brahmins said to the Buddha, "What causes and conditions lead to sentient beings being reborn in heaven after the body perishes and life ends?"

The Buddha told the brahmins and elders, "It is because of practicing the Dharma and practicing the right path that, after the body perishes and life ends, one is reborn in heaven."

They asked again, "World-Honored One! What kind of Dharma practice and what kind of right practice lead to being reborn in heaven after the body perishes and life ends?"

The Buddha told the brahmins and elders, "It is because of abandoning killing, up to right view, and the ten wholesome karmic paths that, after the body perishes and life ends, one is reborn in heaven. Brahmins and elders! If one practices this Dharma practice and this right practice, and wishes to be reborn in the great families of kṣatriyas, brahmins, or householders, one will be able to be reborn there. Why is that? It is because of the causes and conditions of Dharma practice and right practice.

If one further wishes to be reborn in the Heaven of the Four Heavenly Kings, the Heaven of the Thirty-three Gods, up to the Heaven of the Delighting in Transformations, one will be able to be reborn there. Why is that? It is because of Dharma practice and right practice. Those who practice pure precepts will naturally attain whatever they wish in their minds.

If one further practices this Dharma practice and right practice, and wishes to be reborn in the Heaven of Brahmā, one will be able to be reborn there. Why is that? It is because of practicing right practice and Dharma practice. Those who uphold pure precepts, with minds free from desire, will definitely attain their wishes.

If one further wishes to be reborn in the Heaven of Sound of Light, the Heaven of Pure Abodes, up to the Heaven of No-more-striving, it is also like this. Why is that? It is because they uphold pure precepts and their minds are free from desire.

If one further wishes to be free from desire and evil and unwholesome dharmas, with initial and sustained thought, up to fully abiding in the fourth dhyāna, one will all attain accomplishment. Why is that? It is because of their Dharma practice and right practice. Those who uphold pure precepts, with minds free from desire, will definitely attain their wishes.

If one wishes to attain loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, the sphere of infinite space, the sphere of infinite consciousness, the sphere of nothingness, and the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception, one will all attain them. Why is that? It is because of their Dharma practice and right practice. Those who uphold pure precepts, with minds free from desire, will definitely attain their wishes.

If one wishes to attain the severance of the three fetters, the fruits of stream-entry, once-returning, and non-returning, immeasurable supernormal powers, the divine ear, knowledge of others' minds, knowledge of past lives, knowledge of death and rebirth, and knowledge of the exhaustion of taints, one will all attain them. Why is that? It is because of their Dharma practice and right practice. Those who uphold pure precepts, with minds free from desire, will definitely attain their wishes.

At that time, the brāhman householders, having heard the Buddha's teaching, joyfully rejoiced, paid homage, and departed.