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SN 30.4-6

Both Kinds of Deeds (2nd–4th)

Dutiyādidvayakārīsuttattika

from: 1. Phoenixes

Both Kinds of Deeds (2nd–4th)

At Sāvatthī.

Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:

“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the womb-born phoenixes …” “… moisture-born phoenixes …” “… or spontaneously-born phoenixes?”

“Mendicant, it’s when someone does both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind. And they’ve heard: ‘The spontaneously-born phoenixes are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’ They think: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born phoenixes!’ When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born phoenixes. This is the cause, this is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born phoenixes.”

Translation: German (Ayyā Sabbamittā), English (Bhikkhu Sujato). Source: SuttaCentral / Bilara (public domain, CC0).

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