Rebirth and Realization: The Fate of Buddha's Disciples

Rebirth and Realization: The Fate of Buddha's Disciples - Linked Discourses 55.8

So I have heard. 

At one time the Buddha was staying at Natika in the brick house. Then Venerable Ananda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to Buddha:

“Sir, the monk named Salha has passed away. Where has he been born in his next life? 

Then, The nun named Nanda, the layman named Sudatta, and the laywoman named Sujata have passed away. Where have they been born in the next life?”

(Buddha replied:)

“Ananda, the monk Saḷha passed away having realized the undefiled freedom of mind and freedom by wisdom in this very life, having realized it with his own insight due to the ending of defilements.

The nun Nanda passed away having ended the five lower fetters. She’s been born spontaneously, and will be extinguished there, not liable to return from that world.

The layman Sudatta passed away having ended three fetters, and weakened greed, hate, and delusion. He’s a once-returner; he will come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering.

The laywoman Sujata passed away having ended three fetters. She’s a stream-enterer, not liable to be born in the underworld, bound for awakening.

It’s no wonder that a human being should pass away. But if you should come and ask me about it each and every time someone dies that would be a bother for me. 

So, Ananda, I will teach you the explanation of the Dhamma called ‘the mirror of the teaching or (own experience)’. 

A noble disciple who has this may declare of themselves: 

‘I’ve finished with birth in hell, the animal realm, and the ghost realm. I’ve finished with all places of loss, bad places, the underworld. I am a stream-enterer! I’m not liable to be born in the underworld, and am bound for awakening.’”

And what is that mirror of the teaching or (own experience)?

It’s when a a noble disciple has unshakable faith in the Buddha:

In this way, the Blessed One, Who has broken the bonds, A fully transformed awakened Buddha, Who fully understood behaviors and living according to the knowledge, Who has become good, Knower of the worlds, Supreme guide for those who wish to train, Teacher of gods and humans, Awakened, Blessed.’

The noble disciple has unshakable faith in the Buddha's teaching, Dhamma:

The teaching is clearly explained by the Buddha, can be experienced right now, independent of time, inviting to come and verified personally, leading to insight, so wise people can personally know it for themselves.

The noble disciple has unshakable faith in the Sangha or a Community of Buddha's Disciples:

The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path well, 

The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path straightforwardly, 

The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path step by step, 

The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path in their daily life, 

That is, the four true pairs, Consist of the eight true persons,

This is one of the Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples.

That is worthy of gifts, Worthy of hospitality, Worthy of offering dedicated to the gods, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’  

The noble disciple has the ethical conduct that is loved by the noble ones, unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unblemished, liberating, praised by wise people, untarnished, and leading to samadhi.

A noble disciple who has this may declare of themselves: 

‘I’ve finished with birth in hell, the animal realm, and the ghost realm. I’ve finished with all places of loss, bad places, the underworld. I am a stream-enterer! I’m not liable to be born in the underworld, and am bound for awakening.’”

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