Rebirth by ChoiceSaṅkhārupapattisutta

So I have heard.Evaṁ me sutaṁ— At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “Mendicants!”“bhikkhavo”ti.

“Venerable sir,” they replied.“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. The Buddha said this:Bhagavā etadavoca:

“I shall teach you rebirth by choice.“saṅkhārupapattiṁ vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi, Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, sir,” they replied.“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. The Buddha said this:Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Take a mendicant who has faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.“Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddhāya samannāgato hoti, sīlena samannāgato hoti, sutena samannāgato hoti, cāgena samannāgato hoti, paññāya samannāgato hoti. They think:Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of well-to-do aristocrats!’‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā khattiyamahāsālānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. They settle on that thought, stabilize it, and develop it.So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti. Those choices and meditations of theirs, developed and cultivated like this, lead to rebirth there.Tassa te saṅkhārā ca vihārā ca evaṁ bhāvitā evaṁ bahulīkatā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattanti. This is the path and the practice that leads to rebirth there.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattati.

Furthermore, take a mendicant who has faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddhāya samannāgato hoti, sīlena samannāgato hoti, sutena samannāgato hoti, cāgena samannāgato hoti, paññāya samannāgato hoti. They think:Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of well-to-do brahmins …‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā brāhmaṇamahāsālānaṁ …pe… well-to-do householders!’gahapatimahāsālānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. They settle on that thought, stabilize it, and develop it.So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti. Those choices and meditations of theirs, developed and cultivated like this, lead to rebirth there.Tassa te saṅkhārā ca vihārā ca evaṁ bhāvitā evaṁ bahulīkatā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattanti. This is the path and the practice that leads to rebirth there.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattati.

Furthermore, take a mendicant who has faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddhāya samannāgato hoti, sīlena samannāgato hoti, sutena samannāgato hoti, cāgena samannāgato hoti, paññāya samannāgato hoti. And they’ve heard:Tassa sutaṁ hoti: ‘The gods of the four great kings are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’‘cātumahārājikā devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā’ti. They think:Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods of the four great kings!’‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā cātumahārājikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. They settle on that thought, stabilize it, and develop it.So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti. Those choices and meditations of theirs, developed and cultivated like this, lead to rebirth there.Tassa te saṅkhārā ca vihārā ca evaṁ bhāvitā evaṁ bahulīkatā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattanti. This is the path and the practice that leads to rebirth there.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattati.

Furthermore, take a mendicant who has faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddhāya samannāgato hoti, sīlena samannāgato hoti, sutena samannāgato hoti, cāgena samannāgato hoti, paññāya samannāgato hoti. And they’ve heard:Tassa sutaṁ hoti— ‘The gods of the thirty-three …tāvatiṁsā devā …pe… the gods of Yama …yāmā devā … the joyful gods …tusitā devā … the gods who love to create …nimmānaratī devā … the gods who control what is created by others are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’paranimmitavasavattī devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulāti. They think:Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods who control what is created by others!’‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā paranimmitavasavattīnaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. They settle on that thought, stabilize it, and develop it.So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti. Those choices and meditations of theirs, developed and cultivated like this, lead to rebirth there.Tassa te saṅkhārā ca vihārā ca evaṁ bhāvitā evaṁ bahulīkatā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattanti. This is the path and the practice that leads to rebirth there.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattati.

Furthermore, take a mendicant who has faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddhāya samannāgato hoti, sīlena samannāgato hoti, sutena samannāgato hoti, cāgena samannāgato hoti, paññāya samannāgato hoti. And they’ve heard:Tassa sutaṁ hoti: ‘The Divinity of a thousand is long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’‘sahasso brahmā dīghāyuko vaṇṇavā sukhabahulo’ti. Now the Divinity of a thousand meditates focused on pervading a thousandfold galaxy,Sahasso, bhikkhave, brahmā sahassilokadhātuṁ pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. as well as the sentient beings reborn there.Yepi tattha sattā upapannā tepi pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. As a person with clear eyes might pick up a gallnut in their hand and examine it,Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, cakkhumā puriso ekaṁ āmaṇḍaṁ hatthe karitvā paccavekkheyya; so too the Divinity of a thousand meditates focused on pervading a thousandfold galaxy,evameva kho, bhikkhave, sahasso brahmā sahassilokadhātuṁ pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. as well as the sentient beings reborn there.Yepi tattha sattā upapannā tepi pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. They think:Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the Divinity of a thousand!’‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sahassassa brahmuno sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. They settle on that thought, stabilize it, and develop it.So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti. Those choices and meditations of theirs, developed and cultivated like this, lead to rebirth there.Tassa te saṅkhārā ca vihārā ca evaṁ bhāvitā evaṁ bahulīkatā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattanti. This is the path and the practice that leads to rebirth there.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattati.

Furthermore, take a mendicant who has faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddhāya samannāgato hoti, sīlena samannāgato hoti, sutena … And they’ve heard:Tassa sutaṁ hoti— ‘The Divinity of two thousand …dvisahasso brahmā …pe… the Divinity of three thousand …tisahasso brahmā … the Divinity of four thousand …catusahasso brahmā … the Divinity of five thousand is long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’pañcasahasso brahmā dīghāyuko vaṇṇavā sukhabahuloti. Now the Divinity of five thousand meditates focused on pervading a five-thousandfold galaxy,Pañcasahasso, bhikkhave, brahmā pañcasahassilokadhātuṁ pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. as well as the sentient beings reborn there.Yepi tattha sattā upapannā tepi pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. As a person with clear eyes might pick up five gallnuts in their hand and examine them,Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, cakkhumā puriso pañca āmaṇḍāni hatthe karitvā paccavekkheyya; so too the Divinity of five thousand meditates focused on pervading a five-thousandfold galaxy,evameva kho, bhikkhave, pañcasahasso brahmā pañcasahassilokadhātuṁ pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. as well as the sentient beings reborn there.Yepi tattha sattā upapannā tepi pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. They think:Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the Divinity of five thousand!’‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā pañcasahassassa brahmuno sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. They settle on that thought, stabilize it, and develop it.So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti. Those choices and meditations of theirs, developed and cultivated like this, lead to rebirth there.Tassa te saṅkhārā ca vihārā ca evaṁ bhāvitā evaṁ bahulīkatā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattanti. This is the path and the practice that leads to rebirth there.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattati.

Furthermore, take a mendicant who has faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddhāya samannāgato hoti, sīlena samannāgato hoti, sutena … And they’ve heard:Tassa sutaṁ hoti: ‘The Divinity of ten thousand is long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’‘dasasahasso brahmā dīghāyuko vaṇṇavā sukhabahulo’ti. Now the Divinity of ten thousand meditates focused on pervading a ten-thousandfold galaxy,Dasasahasso, bhikkhave, brahmā dasasahassilokadhātuṁ pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. as well as the sentient beings reborn there.Yepi tattha sattā upapannā tepi pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. Suppose there was a beryl gem that was naturally lustrous, eight-faceted, well-worked. When placed on a cream rug it would shine and glow and radiate.Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, maṇi veḷuriyo subho jātimā aṭṭhaṁso suparikammakato paṇḍukambale nikkhitto bhāsate ca tapate ca virocati ca; In the same way the Divinity of ten thousand meditates focused on pervading a ten-thousandfold galaxy,evameva kho, bhikkhave, dasasahasso brahmā dasasahassilokadhātuṁ pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. as well as the sentient beings reborn there.Yepi tattha sattā upapannā tepi pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. They think:Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the Divinity of ten thousand!’‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā dasasahassassa brahmuno sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. They settle on that thought, stabilize it, and develop it.So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti. Those choices and meditations of theirs, developed and cultivated like this, lead to rebirth there.Tassa te saṅkhārā ca vihārā ca evaṁ bhāvitā evaṁ bahulīkatā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattanti. This is the path and the practice that leads to rebirth there.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattati.

Furthermore, take a mendicant who has faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddhāya samannāgato hoti, sīlena … And they’ve heard:Tassa sutaṁ hoti: ‘The Divinity of a hundred thousand is long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’‘satasahasso brahmā dīghāyuko vaṇṇavā sukhabahulo’ti. Now the Divinity of a hundred thousand meditates focused on pervading a hundred-thousandfold galaxy,Satasahasso, bhikkhave, brahmā satasahassilokadhātuṁ pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. as well as the sentient beings reborn there.Yepi tattha sattā upapannā tepi pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. Suppose there was a pendant of Black Plum River gold, fashioned by a deft smith, well wrought in the forge. When placed on a cream rug it would shine and glow and radiate.Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, nikkhaṁ jambonadaṁ dakkhakammāraputtaukkāmukhasukusalasampahaṭṭhaṁ paṇḍukambale nikkhittaṁ bhāsate ca tapate ca virocati ca; In the same way the Divinity of a hundred thousand meditates focused on pervading a hundred-thousandfold galaxy,evameva kho, bhikkhave, satasahasso brahmā satasahassilokadhātuṁ pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. as well as the sentient beings reborn there.Yepi tattha sattā upapannā tepi pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. They think:Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the Divinity of a hundred thousand!’‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā satasahassassa brahmuno sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. They settle on that thought, stabilize it, and develop it.So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti. Those choices and meditations of theirs, developed and cultivated like this, lead to rebirth there.Tassa te saṅkhārā ca vihārā ca evaṁ bhāvitā evaṁ bahulīkatā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattanti. This is the path and the practice that leads to rebirth there.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattati.

Furthermore, take a mendicant who has faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddhāya samannāgato hoti, sīlena … And they’ve heard:Tassa sutaṁ hoti— ‘The radiant gods …ābhā devā …pe… the gods of limited radiance …parittābhā devā … the gods of limitless radiance …appamāṇābhā devā … the gods of streaming radiance …ābhassarā devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulāti. the gods of limited beauty …parittasubhā devā …pe… the gods of limitless beauty …appamāṇasubhā devā … the gods of universal beauty …subhakiṇhā devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulāti. the gods of abundant fruit …vehapphalā devā …pe… the gods of Aviha …avihā devā … the gods of Atappa …atappā devā … the gods fair to see …sudassā devā … the fair seeing gods …sudassī devā … the gods of Akaniṭṭha …akaniṭṭhā devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulāti. the gods of the dimension of infinite space …‘ākāsānañcāyatanūpagā devā dīghāyukā ciraṭṭhitikā sukhabahulā’ti. the gods of the dimension of infinite consciousness …‘viññāṇañcāyatanūpagā devā dīghāyukā ciraṭṭhitikā sukhabahulā’ti. the gods of the dimension of nothingness …ākiñcaññāyatanūpagā devā …pe… the gods of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception are long-lived, long-lasting, and very happy.’nevasaññānāsaññāyatanūpagā devā dīghāyukā ciraṭṭhitikā sukhabahulāti. They think:Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception!’‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā nevasaññānāsaññāyatanūpagānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. They settle on that thought, stabilize it, and develop it.So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti. Those choices and meditations of theirs, developed and cultivated like this, lead to rebirth there.Tassa te saṅkhārā ca vihārā ca evaṁ bhāvitā evaṁ bahulīkatā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattanti. This is the path and the practice that leads to rebirth there.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā tatrupapattiyā saṁvattati.

Furthermore, take a mendicant who has faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddhāya samannāgato hoti, sīlena … They think:Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘If only I might realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and live having realized it with my own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements!’‘aho vatāhaṁ āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyyan’ti. They realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.So āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. And, mendicants, that mendicant is not reborn anywhere.”Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na katthaci upapajjatī”ti.

That is what the Buddha said.Idamavoca bhagavā. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.