Both Kinds of Deeds (2nd–4th)

Linked Discourses 30.4–6

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.”