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Meditation J Krishnamurti Tao Te Ching Dhammapada Buddhist Classics A Call To Practice! One Buddha Per Universe A Lesson From A Ghost Karma Tales A Scripture That Protects Kings The Realms of Rebirth
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Buddhist Classics
The Realms of Rebirth
...Continued from Part Two
Human Being Section
Among devas, asuras and men, man is short-lived because of injuries [done by him] or long-lived because of injuries not [done] - therefore one should avoid causing injury.
Leprosy, wasting, fever, madness and other ills of human beings exist here on earth among men because of killing, flogging and fettering.
Whoever is a thief of others' goods and offers nothing whatsoever does not acquire wealth, however great his effort.
Whoever takes wealth ungiven and gives gifts is reborn after death [first] wealthy then penniless.
Any man who is neither thief nor giver nor exceedingly miserly surely obtains, with great difficulty, lasting wealth.
That man who is never a thief of others' goods, generous and free from avarice, obtains many rich possessions which cannot be stolen.
Whoever gives food here on earth is always reborn to comfort, given long life, beauty and strength, is wise and avoids disease.
Whoever would offer garments is reborn modest, beautiful, splendid, dear to people and receives garments.
Whoever gives houses here on earth with joyful heart, for that creature there will arise palaces rich in all pleasures of the senses.
Whatsoever men offer bridges, sandals and so on are always comfortable [in the next life]; they obtain the best of carriages.
Those who build watering-places - wells, tanks, ponds - are [reborn] comfortable, free from heat and free from thirst.
Whoever offers a garden, the refuge of all creatures, would be reborn worshipped with flowers, be always rich and glorious.
Erudition is obtained by giving knowledge, and wisdom by means of analysis; by giving medicine and safety, one is reborn free from illness.
By giving lamps one becomes clear-sighted, by giving the sound of music one becomes sweet-voiced, by giving bed and seat a man obtains ease.
Whoever here on earth gives a cow and so on, and edibles along with milk and the like becomes strong, beautiful, wealthy and long-lived.
By giving a maiden one obtains sensual pleasures and a retinue; and by giving land one is reborn prosperous in money and grain.
Whichever return is desired [of one] - leaf, flower, fruit, water and also a pleasing conveyance - should be given to whoever wants it.
Here on earth he who gives, spoiling [his gift] for the sake of heaven or on account of fear, for fame or for comfort, reaps spoiled fruit.
Whoever gives something for the good of others, with heart full of sympathy, not heeding his own good, reaps unspoiled fruit.
Anything whatever that is given to another at the proper time in the proper way - [in the next life] all that is present in just that [same] way.
Not oppressing others, at the proper time [and] according to what is desired, without spoiling [the gift], one should oneself give that [giving] indeed not contrary to the dhamma.
There is indeed yielding of fruit from gift[s] being given in this way - giving is thought to be the most important cause of all the comforts [that can accrue from deeds].
Whoever keeps away from another's wife indeed obtains a comely wife; whoever even with his own wife avoids the wrong place and time becomes a man.
[But] that man who does not stop his lecherous intentions towards the wives of others and takes pleasure in amours becomes a woman.
That woman who loathes her womanhood, is moral, is little affected by passion and always longs for manhood would obtain manhood.
And whoever properly enters upon a religious life which is free of disquiet becomes splendid, very virtuous, wealthy and venerated even by devas.
An abstainer from the drinking of intoxicating liquors [is reborn] with sure memory, not bewildered; a truthful person is reborn glorious, and provided with comfort.
Whoever causes no division, even between people [already] of divided views, is reborn strong-minded and with faithful retinue.
Whoever always carries out gurus' commands with joyful mind and teaches what is beneficial and non-beneficial becomes one whose words are welcome.
Humbled by their disrespect of others, elevated by the opposite, people have comfort having given comfort, and suffering having given suffering.
Those who indulge in contempt for others, are treacherous and untruthful, and take pride in their beauty become hunchbacks and dwarves.
Avaricious for skills, one would become stupid; and unpleasant to the pleasant, become dumb. Whoever is indignant at friendly words is reborn deaf and bewildered.
Suffering is the fruit of evil, comfort of meritorious action, a mixture of a mixture - one should know that every fruit corresponds to the deeds.
Human beings - the fourth section [is concluded]
...Excerpt from Buddhist Scriptures
Continues in Part Four
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