{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn135/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn135","id":"suttacentral_mn135","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn135/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Majjhima Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near S\u0101vatth\u012b in Jeta\u2019s Grove, An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\u2019s monastery. Then the student Subha, Todeyya\u2019s son, approached the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha: \u201cWhat is the cause, worthy Gotama, what is the reason why even among those who are human beings some are seen to be inferior and superior? For people are seen who are short-lived and long-lived, sickly and healthy, ugly and beautiful, insignificant and illustrious, poor and rich, from low and eminent families, witless and wise. What is the reason why even among those who are human beings some are seen to be inferior and superior?\u201d \u201cStudent, sentient beings are the owners of their deeds and heir to their deeds. Deeds are their womb, their relative, and their refuge. It is deeds that divide beings into inferior and superior.\u201d \u201cI don\u2019t understand the meaning of what the worthy Gotama has said in brief, without explaining the details. Worthy Gotama, please teach me this matter in detail so I can understand the meaning.\u201d \u201cWell then, student, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.\u201d \u201cYes, worthy sir,\u201d replied Subha. The Buddha said this: \u201cTake some woman or man who kills living creatures. They\u2019re violent, bloody-handed, a hardened killer, merciless to living beings. Because of undertaking such deeds, when their body breaks up, after death, they\u2019re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. If they\u2019re not reborn in a place of loss, but return to the human realm, then wherever they\u2019re reborn they\u2019re short-lived. For killing living creatures is the path leading to a short lifespan. But take some woman or man who gives up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. They\u2019re scrupulous and kind, living full of sympathy for all living beings. Because of undertaking such deeds, when their body breaks up, after death, they\u2019re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. If they\u2019re not reborn in a heavenly realm, but return to the human realm, then wherever they\u2019re reborn they\u2019re long-lived. For not killing living creatures is the path leading to a long lifespan. Take some woman or man who habitually hurts living creatures with a fist, stone, rod, or sword. Because of undertaking such deeds, after death they\u2019re reborn in a place of loss \u2026 or if they return to the human realm, they\u2019re sickly \u2026 But take some woman or man who would never hurt living creatures with a fist, stone, rod, or sword. Because of undertaking such deeds, after death they\u2019re reborn in a heavenly realm \u2026 or if they return to the human realm, they\u2019re healthy \u2026 Take some woman or man who is irritable and bad-tempered. Even when lightly criticized they lose their temper, becoming annoyed, hostile, and hard-hearted, and displaying annoyance, hate, and bitterness. Because of undertaking such deeds, after death they\u2019re reborn in a place of loss \u2026 or if they return to the human realm, they\u2019re ugly \u2026 But take some woman or man who isn\u2019t irritable and bad-tempered. Even when heavily criticized, they don\u2019t lose their temper, become annoyed, hostile, and hard-hearted, or display annoyance, hate, and bitterness. Because of undertaking such deeds, after death they\u2019re reborn in a heavenly realm \u2026 or if they return to the human realm, they\u2019re lovely \u2026 Take some woman or man who is jealous. They envy, resent, and begrudge the possessions, honor, respect, reverence, homage, and veneration given to others. Because of undertaking such deeds, after death they\u2019re reborn in a place of loss \u2026 or if they return to the human realm, they\u2019re insignificant \u2026 But take some woman or man who is not jealous \u2026 Because of undertaking such deeds, after death they\u2019re reborn in a heavenly realm \u2026 or if they return to the human realm, they\u2019re illustrious \u2026 Take some woman or man who doesn\u2019t give to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting. Because of undertaking such deeds, after death they\u2019re reborn in a place of loss \u2026 or if they return to the human realm, they\u2019re poor \u2026 But take some woman or man who does give to ascetics or brahmins \u2026 Because of undertaking such deeds, after death they\u2019re reborn in a heavenly realm \u2026 or if they return to the human realm, they\u2019re rich \u2026 Take some woman or man who is obstinate and arrogant. They don\u2019t bow to those they should bow to. They don\u2019t rise up for them, offer them a seat, make way for them, or honor, respect, esteem, or venerate those who are worthy of such. Because of undertaking such deeds, after death they\u2019re reborn in a place of loss \u2026 or if they return to the human realm, they\u2019re reborn in a low class family \u2026 But take some woman or man who is not obstinate and arrogant \u2026 Because of undertaking such deeds, after death they\u2019re reborn in a heavenly realm \u2026 or if they return to the human realm, they\u2019re reborn in an eminent family \u2026 Take some woman or man who doesn\u2019t approach an ascetic or brahmin to ask: \u2018Sir, what is skillful and what is unskillful? What is blameworthy and what is blameless? What should be cultivated and what should not be cultivated? What kind of action will lead to my lasting harm and suffering? Or what kind of action will lead to my lasting welfare and happiness?\u2019 Because of undertaking such deeds, after death they\u2019re reborn in a place of loss \u2026 or if they return to the human realm, they\u2019re witless \u2026 But take some woman or man who does approach an ascetic or brahmin to ask: \u2018Sir, what is skillful and what is unskillful? What is blameworthy and what is blameless? What should be cultivated and what should not be cultivated? What kind of action will lead to my lasting harm and suffering? Or what kind of action will lead to my lasting welfare and happiness?\u2019 Because of undertaking such deeds, when their body breaks up, after death, they\u2019re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. If they\u2019re not reborn in a heavenly realm, but return to the human realm, then wherever they\u2019re reborn they\u2019re very wise. For asking questions of ascetics or brahmins is the path leading to wisdom. So it is the way people live that makes them how they are, whether short-lived or long-lived, sickly or healthy, ugly or lovely, insignificant or illustrious, poor or rich, in a low class or eminent family, or witless or wise. Sentient beings are the owners of their deeds and heir to their deeds. Deeds are their womb, their relative, and their refuge. It is deeds that divide beings into inferior and superior.\u201d When he had spoken, Subha said to him, \u201cExcellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what\u2019s there, worthy Gotama has made the Teaching clear in many ways. I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha. From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u201d","title":"The Shorter Analysis of Deeds","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1245}