"What could happen if we don't give and are greedy?"
Sāriputta Bhante Helps a Ghost
Peta Vatthu 2.1 | Saṃsāramocaka Sutta
Sāriputta Bhante sees a female ghost and asks,
Sāriputta Bhante:
You are naked and very ugly, your veins are popping out. You thin person, with your ribs sticking out, who are you?
Ghost:
I am a ghost, sir. I am suffering in the world of Yama. I have done an evil deed as a human and have been reborn in the world of ghosts.
Sāriputta Bhante:
Now what evil deed have you done by body, speech, or mind for you to have been born in the world of ghosts?
Ghost:
Nobody had sympathy for me. Neither my father, mother, nor relatives encouraged me to give alms to monks. Therefore, I did not give alms. I must wander around the world naked and always hungry for five hundred years. This is the result of my evil deed.
I pay respect to you good sir with a very happy mind. Please have compassion towards me, oh noble monk. Please offer something and share the merits with me. Please release me from this state of misery.
Sāriputta Bhante:
Very well.
Out of kindness Sāriputta Bhante offered a handful of rice, a piece of cloth and a bowl of water to monks. He then shared the merits with the female ghost. The result of that merit was received by the female ghost immediately in the form of food, drink, and clothing. She became clean and fresh with the cleanest and finest clothes. She approached Sāriputta Bhante.
Sāriputta Bhante:
Who are you, with heavenly beauty, shining in all directions like a star? Why are you so beautiful? What merit have you collected when you were a human?
Ghost:
Sāriputta Bhante, you were very compassionate when you saw me in a miserable state: thin, starved, and naked with rough skin. You offered the monks a handful of rice, a piece of cloth, and a bowl of water then dedicated the merit to me.
Now look at the result of offering a handful of rice. For a thousand years I will eat delicious food whenever I want.
Look at the result of offering a piece of cloth. I have as many clothes as King Nanda. Still I have more clothes than that, made from silk, wool, linen, and cotton. There are lots of expensive clothes, so many they even hang from the sky. I can wear whatever I want.
Look at the result of offering a bowl of water. I have gained a beautiful pond with clear and cool water. It is surrounded by fine sand and there are fragrant lotuses and lilies with flower petals floating in the water. I am very happy playing in the water. I am not afraid of anything. You were very compassionate to me Bhante. I have come to worship you.
"How can we reduce our past relatives' suffering?"
Sāriputta Bhante’s Mother
Peta Vatthu 2.2 | Sāriputtatherassa Mātu Sutta
Sāriputta Bhante sees a female ghost and asks,
Sāriputta Bhante:
You are naked and very ugly. Your veins are popping out. You thin person, with your ribs sticking out, who are you?
Ghost:
I was your mother in a previous life. Now I am living in the ghost world suffering from hunger and thirst. My food is saliva, mucus, phlegm, the fat of burning bodies, the blood of women giving birth, blood of wounds, pus, and the blood from shaving wounds. I can only feed on the pus and blood of humans and animals. I do not have a house of my own, therefore I stay in the cemetery. Oh my son, please offer alms to monks and dedicate that merit to me. Then I will be free from eating pus and blood.
Having heard what his mother said, the compassionate Sāriputta Bhante called Moggallāna Bhante, Nārada Bhante, and Kappina Bhante. Sāriputta Bhante built four huts and offered those huts along with food and drink to the whole community of monks and dedicated the merit to his mother.
The result of this donation immediately took effect in the form of food, drink, and clothing for the ghost. She became pure, wearing the cleanest and finest clothes with jewelry. Then she approached Sāriputta Bhante.
Sāriputta Bhante:
Who are you, with heavenly beauty, shining in all directions like a star? Why are you so beautiful? What merit have you collected when you were a human?
Ghost:
I was your mother in a previous life. I was reborn in the ghost world suffering from hunger and thirst. My food was saliva, mucus, phlegm, the fat of burning bodies, the blood of women giving birth, the blood of wounds, pus, and the blood from shaving wounds. I could only feed on the pus and blood of humans and animals. I did not have a house of my own, therefore I stayed in the cemetery.
I am very happy now, rejoicing in Sāriputta Bhante’s gift. I do not fear anything. I have come here to worship the compassionate Sāriputta Bhante.
"Even minor evil actions can result in immense suffering."
The Ghost Mattā
Peta Vatthu 2.3 | Mattā Sutta
A housewife named Tissā sees a female ghost and questions,
Tissā:
You are naked and very ugly, your veins are popping out. You thin person, with your ribs sticking out, who are you?
Mattā (ghost):
My name is Mattā, and you are Tissā. Don’t you remember? I was your husband’s other wife. I did lots of evil actions and was born in the ghost world.
Tissā:
Now what evil deed have you done by body, speech, or mind for you to have been born in the world of ghosts?
Mattā:
I got angry easily and spoke harshly. I was very jealous, greedy, and cunning. Having used harsh words, I have been reborn in the world of ghosts.
Tissā:
Oh yes, I remember you. You were very violent those days. Let me ask you something else. Why are you covered in dirt?
Mattā:
Do you remember one day, you had bathed and dressed in clean clothes? I wanted to be more beautiful than you, so I wore a more beautiful dress than yours. But I saw our husband talking and paying more attention to you rather than me. I was extremely jealous and got angry. I took some dirt from the ground and threw it at you. As a result of that bad deed, now I am covered in dirt.
Tissā:
Oh yes, I remember that day you threw dirt at me. Now let me ask something else. Why are you scratching your entire body?
Mattā:
One day we both went into the forest to gather some medicinal herbs. You brought back medicinal herbs but I brought back plants that would make the body itchy. Secretly, I scattered them over your bed. As a result of that bad action, my body is always itchy.
Tissā:
Oh yes, I remember that morning when my body got very itchy. Here’s another question. Why are you naked?
Mattā:
One day, when friends and relatives gathered for a party, you and our husband were invited while I was not. I was very jealous and stole the clothes that you were going to wear to the party. This is why now I am naked.
Tissā:
Yes, yes, I remember when you stole my clothes that night. I have another question. Why do you smell of excrement?
Mattā:
You had nice perfumes, cosmetics, and necklaces made of flowers. I threw them into a pile of excrement. This is why now I am very smelly.
Tissā:
Yes, I also remember when I found my perfumes, cosmetics and flower necklaces in a pile of excrement. I would also like to ask you, why do you suffer so much?
Mattā:
The wealth in our house was equally shared among us. But I did not collect much merit, therefore I have to suffer now. You warned me saying, “You are doing evil things. Happiness will not come from evil!”
Tissā:
You mistook me for an enemy when I was trying to help. You were also very jealous of me. Now you can see the result of your evil. You had maids and servants in the house and plenty of jewelry, but now they are used by others. Wealth is not eternal.
Bhūta’s father is coming home from the market soon, maybe he will give you something. Do not go anywhere; wait until he comes.
Mattā:
I am naked and very ugly with veins popping out. It is embarrassing for a woman to be like this. Do not let Bhūta’s father see me.
Tissā:
OK then, what can I give or do for you which can make you happy and gain what you want.
Mattā:
Invite four monks as a group and four individually. Offer alms to these eight monks and dedicate the merit to me. Then I will be happy and gain what I want.
Tissā:
OK, I will.
She offered alms and robes to eight monks and dedicated the merit to Mattā. The result of this donation immediately took effect in the form of food, drink, and clothing for the ghost. She became pure, wearing the cleanest and finest clothes with jewelry and then approached Tissā.
Tissā:
Who are you, with heavenly beauty, shining in all directions like a star? Why are you so beautiful? What merit have you collected when you were a human?
Mattā:
My name is Mattā, and you are Tissā. Don’t you remember? I was your husband’s other wife. I did lots of evil actions and was born in the ghost world. But I am very happy now, rejoicing in your gift. I do not fear anything.
May you live long, my sister, happily with all your relatives!
Tissā:
Yes sister, one should practice the Dhamma and be generous by giving alms. The person who does this will be reborn in heaven where there is no sorrow.
"Harsh speech and evil actions only brings negative results."
The Ghost Nandā
Peta Vatthu 2.4 | Nandā Sutta
Nandasena sees a ghost and questions,
Nandasena:
You are very dark and ugly with red eyes and black teeth. You look very nasty. I don’t think that you are a human.
Nandā (ghost):
Oh Nandasena, I am Nandā. I was your wife in the human world. Since I did lots of evil things, I was reborn in the ghost world.
Nandasena:
What bad things did you do by body, speech, or mind in order to be reborn in the ghost world?
Nandā:
When I lived with you in the human world, I was very cruel to you by speaking harshly. I did not respect you at all. That is why I was reborn in the ghost world.
Nandasena:
Here, I will give you my cloak to wear and then we can go back home. You can have beautiful clothes, food, and drink there. Also, you can see your sons and daughters-in-law.
Nandā:
Sadly, I cannot receive anything that is given directly by your hands. But you can help me by giving alms to virtuous monks who know the Dhamma well and are free from passion. Share the merit that you gain with me, and then I will be happy with all the comforts in the world.
Nandasena agreed and offered food, drink, shelter, robes, umbrellas, flowers, and incense to virtuous monks and shared the merit he collected with the ghost Nandā. The result of this donation immediately took effect in the form of food, drink, and clothing for the ghost. She became pure, wearing the cleanest and finest clothes with jewelry and then approached Nandasena.
Nandasena:
Who are you, with heavenly beauty, shining in all directions like a star? Why are you so beautiful? What merit have you collected when you were a human?
Nandā:
Oh Nandasena, I am Nandā. I was your wife in the human world. Since I did lots of evil things, I was reborn in the ghost world. But now through the gift given by you, I am very happy and do not fear anything.
I bless you. May you live long and happily with your relatives.
Nandasena:
Yes my dear, one should practice the Dhamma and be generous by giving alms. The person who does this will be reborn in heaven where there is no sorrow.
"What can happen if we don't give and insult those who do?"
Wealthy Dhanapāla
Peta Vatthu 2.7 | Dhanapāla Sutta
A group of merchants sees a ghost and questions him.
Merchant:
You are naked and very ugly, your veins are popping out. You thin person, with your ribs sticking out, who are you?
Dhanapāla (Ghost):
I am a ghost, sir. I am suffering in the world of Yama. I have done an evil deed as a human and have been reborn in the world of ghosts.
Merchant:
Now what evil deed have you done by body, speech, or mind for you to have been born in the world of ghosts?
Dhanapāla:
I was a wealthy merchant named Dhanapāla who lived in the city of Erakaccha, one of the Dasannās people. I possessed eighty cartloads of gold, and many others of pearls and precious stones.
Even though I was very rich, I did not give anything to anybody at all. I used to close the doors of my house when I was eating fearing that beggars would come to me. I was rude, greedy, and insulted others. I did not believe in the Supreme Buddha.
I often tried to get in the way of people when they were giving alms by saying, “There is no result from giving. Nothing good comes from following precepts.” I destroyed lotus ponds, water pots, gardens, and bridges that were meant for the public.
The only deeds I did were evil ones. After my death, I was reborn in the world of ghosts, suffering from hunger and thirst. It has been forty five years since I left the human world. I do not remember ever having eaten food or having drunk water. This is the result of being greedy.
In the past, I was very foolish. I did not give anything even though I was rich, even though there were many opportunities to give. I did not collect merits for the protection of my future lives. Now I regret my previous evil actions.
Four months from now, I will die and fall to the very scary and terrible hell. That hell has four corners and four doors. It is divided into sections, surrounded by an iron wall and covered by an iron roof. Its iron floor is glowing with heat. Flames cover the area for hundreds of miles. I will experience pain there for a very long time as the result of my evil deeds. Because of this I am very sad.
Therefore, I warn all of you, do not commit evil deeds either openly or in secret, because you cannot escape their results, even if you fly up and run away.
Be respectful to your mother, father, elders in the family, as well as monks and ascetics. In this way, you will be reborn in heaven.
"Why should we share merit with our past relatives?"
The Ghost Chullaseṭṭi
Peta Vatthu 2.8 | Cullaseṭṭhi Sutta
King Ajātasattu sees a ghost and questions him,
King:
You there who is naked and thin, where are you going in the middle of the night and why? Tell me and I will be able to give you some food and clothes.
Chullaseṭṭi (ghost):
I was a very rich and famous man living in Benares, but I was evil. I wanted to enjoy my wealth alone so I did not give anything to others. Through this evil, I was reborn in the world of ghosts.
I am very hungry. I feel like I am being pierced by needles. I go to my relatives to receive the merits they share and get some food. But unfortunately they do not give alms and do not believe that there is any good result from giving to be experienced in the next world.
Luckily my daughter always says, “I will give alms and dedicate the merit to my father and grandfathers.” Now she is going to offer alms to Brahmins and I am going to the city of Andhakavinda to receive the merit and eat something.
King:
After you have gone there to eat, come back here because I also want to help you. I believe what you say.
The ghost departed. Only Brahmins came to that alms giving. There were no noble disciples of the Supreme Buddha. Therefore the result of the merit was not powerful. The ghost came back to the city of Rājagaha and appeared in front of the king.
King:
Tell me what you need, I will give you anything that will make you happy for a long time.
Ghost:
Please offer food, drink, and robes to the Supreme Buddha and the monks who follow him, then dedicate the merit to me. That way I will live happily for a long time.
The king left the palace to meet the Buddha and offered alms. He told the story of the ghost to the Buddha and shared the merits with the ghost.
Having received the merit, the ghost became bright and very beautiful. He appeared in front of the king.
Ghost:
I am now very happy and possess many luxuries. Even humans do not have this kind of happiness. Look at the power of that merit you shared with me by giving alms to the Buddha and his disciples. Great King, you have been very helpful to me. Now I can always live happily.
