A Discourse on Paticcasamuppada

by Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw | 62,614 words

The Paticcasamuppada refers to “The Doctrine of Dependent Origination”. This is the English translation done by U Aye Maung Published by U Min Swe Buddhasasana Nuggaha Organization Rangoon, Burma....

Chapter 14 - Story Of Subrahma Deva

Subrahma deva was having a good time when his attendants, the goddesses who were singing and plucking flowers on the tree died suddenly and landed in hell. Subrahma deva saw them suffering in hell and at the same time he foresaw that he too would die in a few days and share the fate of his attendants. Being much frightened, he came to the Buddha and asked the Lord to show him the place where he could live without fear. The Lord then says that he sees no way to salvation for every living being other than the practice of //bojjhanga// dhamma (links of enlightenment such as mindfulness), the //dhutanga// (ascetic practices) and //sammappadhana// (right exertion), that serve to put an end to defilements, the control of senses (indriyasamvarasile), the control that helps to keep off the defilements and Nibbana which means renunciation of everything.

On hearing this, the deva and his attendants attained the first stage on the holy path. What we should note here is the sudden death of the goddesses. The fate of those who thus die suddenly while engaged in the pursuit of pleasure is indeed terrible for they are likely to land in hell as a result of unwholesome kammic impulses. If there is any sign that heralds the approach of death, it creates fear and adds to their suffering.

Suffering that stems from attachment to pleasure is not confined to the sensual sphere. For it is the lot, too, of the Brahmas in their immaterial or formless (arupa) world. In the Brahma world there is no pleasure of sex or any other sensual pleasure. The Brahmas only see, hear or think and the objects of their seeing, etc., have no sexual overtones. But as Visuddhimagga says, some people develop a craving for the sensual pleasures of the Brahma world because they believe either through hearsay or speculation that such pleasures are superior to those of the human and deva worlds. It is no other than their sensual craving that leads to the attainment of rupajhana, arupajhana, samapatti and finally lands them in the rupa or arupa brahma worlds.

It is not surprising that some people think or speak of the sensual pleasure in the Brahma world. Those who are well aware of the true teachings of the Buddha will reject the idea but it probably appeals to ignorant people. The Indian religious books portray Brahma with his wife and some regard even Nibbana as a heavenly abode with celestial mansions where we can dwell with our families and attendants.

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