SN2-V2-Ch8-Samyutta19

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Note : 'c' of Pali words is pronounced as 'ch' as in 'China'

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=Samyutta Nikaya:II.Nidanavagga (Book of Causation)=

202. The Skeleton (Atthi sans. Ashti)
Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Lord (Buddha) was dwelling at Rajagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary. Now on that occasion the Venerable Lakkhana and the Venerable Mahamoggallana were dwelling on Mount Vulture Peak. 343 Then, in the morning, the Venerable Mahamoggallana dressed and, taking bowl and robe, he approached the Venerable Lakkhana and said to him: "Come, friend Lakkhana, let us enter Rajagaha for alms."

"All right, friend," the Venerable Lakkhana replied. Then, as he was coming down from Mount Vulture Peak, the Venerable Mahamoggallana displayed a smile in a certain place. 344 The Venerable Lakkhana said to him: "For what reason, friend Moggallana, did you display a smile?"

"This is not the time for that question, friend Lakkhana. Ask me that question when we are in the presence of the Lord (Buddha).

"

Then, when the Venerable Lakkhana and the Venerable Mahamoggallana had walked for alms in Rajagaha and returned from their alms round, after their meal they approached the Lord (Buddha). Having paid homage to the Lord (Buddha), they sat down to one side, and the Venerable Lakkhana said to the Venerable Mahamoggallana: "Here, as he was coming down from Mount Vulture Peak, the Venerable Mahamoggallana displayed a smile in a certain place. For what reason, friend Moggallana, did you display that smile?"

"Here, friend, as I was coming down from Mount Vulture Peak, I saw a skeleton moving through the air. Vultures, crows, and hawks, following it in hot pursuit, were pecking at it between the ribs, stabbing it, and tearing it apart while it uttered cries of pain. 345 It occurred to me: 'It is wonderful, indeed! It is amazing, indeed! That there could be such a being, that there could be such a spirit, that there could be such a form of individual existence!'" 346

Then the Lord (Buddha) addressed the bhikkhus thus:

"Bhikkhus, there are disciples who dwell having become vision, having become knowledge, in that a disciple can know, see, and witness such a sight. In the past, bhikkhus, I too saw that being, but I did not speak about it. For if I had spoken about it, others would not have believed me, and if they had not believed me that would have led to their harm and suffering for a long time.

"That being, bhikkhus, used to be a cattle butcher in this same Rajagaha. Having been tormented in hell for many years, for many hundreds of years, for many thousands of years, for many hundreds of thousands of years as a result of that kamma, as a residual result of that same kamma he is experiencing such a form of individual existence." 347

(The remaining suttas of this subchapter follow the same pattern as the first. As in the Pali text, so in translation here only the phrases that differ are given.)

203. The Piece of Meat (Pesi sans. Peshi)
... "Here, friend, as I was coming down from Mount Vulture Peak, I saw a piece of meat moving through the air. Vultures, crows, and hawks, following it in hot pursuit, were stabbing at it and tearing it apart as it uttered cries of pain."...(as in 202)

"That being, bhikkhus, was a cattle butcher in this same Rajagaha..(as in 202).." 348

204. The Lump of Meat (Pinda)
(as in 202)... "I saw a lump of meat...."

"That being was a poultry butcher in this same Rajagaha...."

205. The Man with Sores (Nicchavi)
(as in 202)... "I saw a man with sores...."

"That being was a sheep butcher in this same Rajagaha...."

206. Sword Hairs (Asiloma)
(as in 202)... "I saw a man with body-hairs of swords moving through the air. Those swords kept on rising up and striking his body while he uttered cries of pain...."

"That being was a hog butcher in this same Rajagaha...."

207. Spear Hairs (Satti)
(as in 202)... "I saw a man with body-hairs of spears moving through the air. Those spears kept on rising up and striking his body while he uttered cries of pain...."

"That being was a deer hunter in this same Rajagaha...."

208. Arrow Hairs (Usuloma)
(as in 202)... "I saw a man with body-hairs of arrows moving through the air. Those arrows kept on rising up and striking his body while he uttered cries of pain...."

"That being was a torturer in this same Rajagaha...." 349

209. Needle Hairs (l) 350 (Suciloma)
(as in 202)... "I saw a man with body-hairs of needles moving through the air. Those needles kept on rising up and striking his body while he uttered cries of pain...."

"That being was a horse trainer in this same Rajagaha...."

210. Needle Hairs (2) (Suciloma2)
(as in 202)... "I saw a man with body-hairs of needles moving through the air. Those needles entered his head and came out from his mouth; they entered his mouth and came out from his chest; they entered his chest and came out from his belly; they entered his belly and came out from his thighs; they entered his thighs and came out from his calves; they entered his calves and came out from his feet, while he uttered cries of pain..

"That being was a slanderer in this same Rajagaha ...." 351

211 Pot Testicles (Kumbhanda)
(as in 202)... "I saw a man whose testicles were like pots moving through the air. When he walked, he had to lift his testicles onto his shoulders, and when he sat down he sat on top of his testicles. Vultures, crows, and hawks, following him in hot pursuit, were stabbing at him and tearing him apart while he uttered cries of pain...."

"That being was a corrupt magistrate in this same Rajagaha ...." 352

212. With Head Submerged (Sasisaka)
(as in 202)... "I saw a man with head submerged in a pit of dung...."

"That being was an adulterer in this same Rajagaha ...." 353

213. The Dung Eater (Guthakhada)
(as in 202).. . "I saw a man submerged in a pit of dung, eating dung with both hands...."

"That being, bhikkhus, was a hostile brahmin in this same Rajagaha. In the time of the Buddha Kassapa's Dispensation, he invited the Bhikkhu Sangha to a meal. Having had rice pots filled with dung, he said to the bhikkhus: 'Sirs, eat as much as you want from this and take the rest away with you .'..." 354

214. The Woman With Sores (Nicchavitthi)
(as in 202)... "I saw a flayed woman moving through the air. Vultures, crows, and hawks, following her in hot pursuit, were stabbing at her and tearing her apart while she uttered cries of pain...."

"That woman was an adulteress in this same Rajagaha ...." 355

215. The Ugly Woman (Mangulitthi)
(as in 202)... "I saw a woman, foul-smelling and ugly, moving through the air. Vultures, crows, and hawks, following her in hot pursuit, were stabbing at her and tearing her apart while she uttered cries of pain...."

"That woman was a fortune-teller in this same Rajagaha...."

216. The Sweltering Woman (Okilini sans. Akulini)
(as in 202)... "I saw a woman, her body roasting, sweltering, sooty, moving through the air, while she uttered cries of pain...." 357

"That woman was the chief queen of the king of Kalihga, of a jealous character, she poured a brazier of coals over one of the king's consorts...."

217. The Headless Trunk (Asisaka sans. Ashisaka)
(as in 202).. . "I saw a headless trunk moving through the air; its eyes and mouth were on its chest. Vultures, crows, and hawks, following it in hot pursuit, were stabbing at it and tearing it apart while it uttered cries of pain...."

"That being was an executioner named Harika in this same Rajagaha...."

218. The Evil Bhikkhu (Paapbhikkhu sans. Paap-bhikshu)
(as in 202)... "I saw a bhikkhu moving through the air. His outer robe, bowl, waistband, and body were burning, blazing, and flaming while he uttered cries of pain...."

"That bhikkhu had been an evil bhikkhu in the Buddha Kassapa's Dispensation...." 358

219. The Evil Bhikkhuni (Paapbhikkhuni sans. Paapbhikshuni)
(as in 202)... "I saw a bhikkhuni moving through the air. Her outer robe, bowl, waistband, and body were burning, blazing, and flaming while she uttered cries of pain. ..."

"That bhikkhuni had been an evil bhikkhuni in the Buddha Kassapa's Dispensation...."

220. The Evil Disciple (Paapsikkhamana sans. Paap-sishyaman)
(as in 202)... "I saw a probationary bhikkhu moving through the air. His outer robe, bowl, waistband, and body were burning, blazing, and flaming while he uttered cries of pain. ..."

"That probationary bhikkhu had been an evil probationary bhikkhu [in earlier life]...."

221. The Evil Novice Bhikkhu (Paapsamanera sans. Paap-sramanera)
(as in 202)... "I saw a Novice Bhikkhu moving through the air. His outer robe, bowl, waistband, and body were burning, blazing, and flaming while he uttered cries of pain. ..."

"That novice Bhikkhu had been an evil novice Bhikkhu..."

222. The Evil Novice Nun, Etc. (Paapsamaneri sans. Paap-sramaneri)
"Here, friend, as I was coming down from Mount Vulture Peak, I saw a novice nun moving through the air. Her outer robe, bowl, waistband, and body were burning, blazing, and flaming while she uttered cries of pain. It occurred to me: 'It is wonderful, indeed! It is amazing, indeed! That there could be such a being, that there could be such a spirit, that there could be such a form of individual existence!'"

Then the Lord (Buddha) addressed the bhikkhus thus:

"Bhikkhus, there are disciples who dwell having become vision, having become knowledge, in that a disciple can know, see, and witness such a sight. In the past, bhikkhus, I too saw that novice nun, but I did not speak about it. For if I had spoken about it, others would not have believed me, and if they had not believed me that would have led to their harm and suffering for a long time.

"That novice nun had been an evil novice nun in the Buddha Kassapa's Dispensation. Having been tormented in hell for many years, for many hundreds of years, for many thousands of years, for many hundreds of thousands of years as a result of that kamma, as a residual result of that same kamma she is experiencing such a form of individual existence."