{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn42.6/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn42.6","id":"suttacentral_sn42.6","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn42.6/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was staying near N\u0101\u1e37and\u0101 in P\u0101v\u0101rika\u2019s Mango Grove. Then Asibandhaka\u2019s son the chief went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: \u201cSir, there are western brahmins garlanded with aquatic flowers who carry pitchers, immerse themselves in water, and serve the sacred flame. When someone has passed away, oh! they lift them up, send them well, and convey them to heaven. But what about the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha: is he able to ensure that the whole world will be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm when their body breaks up, after death?\u201d \u201cWell then, chief, I\u2019ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like. What do you think, chief? Take a person who kills living creatures, steals, and commits sexual misconduct. They use speech that\u2019s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. And they\u2019re covetous, malicious, and have wrong view. A large crowd were to come together to offer up supplication and entreaty, circumambulating them with cupped palms and saying: \u2018When this person\u2019s body breaks up, after death, may they be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm!\u2019 What do you think, chief? Would that person be reborn in heaven because of their supplications?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cChief, suppose a person were to throw a broad rock into a deep lake. And a large crowd were to come together to offer up supplication and entreaty, circumambulating it with cupped palms, and saying: \u2018Rise, good rock! Float, good rock! Float to shore, good rock!\u2019 What do you think, chief? Would that broad rock rise up or float because of their supplications?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, take a person who kills living creatures, steals, and commits sexual misconduct. They use speech that\u2019s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. And they\u2019re covetous, malicious, and have wrong view. Even though a large crowd were to come together to offer up supplication and entreaty \u2026 when their body breaks up, after death, they\u2019re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. What do you think, chief? Take a person who doesn\u2019t kill living creatures, steal, or commit sexual misconduct. They don\u2019t use speech that\u2019s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. And they\u2019re contented, kind-hearted, with right view. And a large crowd were to come together to offer up supplication and entreaty, circumambulating them with cupped palms and saying: \u2018When this person\u2019s body breaks up, after death, may they be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell!\u2019 What do you think, chief? Would that person be reborn in hell because of their supplications?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cChief, suppose a person were to sink a pot of ghee or oil into a deep lake and break it open. Its shards and chips would sink down, while the ghee or oil in it would rise up. And a large crowd were to come together to offer up supplication and entreaty, circumambulating it with cupped palms and saying: \u2018Sink, good ghee or oil! Descend, good ghee or oil! Go down, good ghee or oil!\u2019 What do you think, chief? Would that ghee or oil sink and descend because of their supplications?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, take a person who doesn\u2019t kill living creatures, steal, or commit sexual misconduct. They don\u2019t use speech that\u2019s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. And they\u2019re contented, kind-hearted, with right view. Even though a large crowd were to come together to offer up supplication and entreaty \u2026 when their body breaks up, after death, they\u2019re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.\u201d When he said this, Asibandhaka\u2019s son the chief said to the Buddha, \u201cExcellent, sir! \u2026 From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u201d","title":"With Asibandhaka\u2019s Son","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":645}