"Harsh speech against those who do good result in suffering."
Uttara’s Mother
Peta Vatthu 2.10 | Uttaramātu Sutta
A female ghost who was very ugly and scary approached a monk who was resting on the bank of the Ganges River. Her hair was extremely long and touched the ground. Covered by her hair, she spoke to the monk.
Ghost:
Bhante, it has been 55 years since I died in the human world. I have not eaten anything or drunk water since then. Please give me some water, I am very thirsty.
Monk:
There is this cool water in the Gaṅges River flowing down from the Himalayan Mountains. You can take some from here and drink. Why do you ask me for water?
Ghost:
Oh Bhante, if I take water from the river, it turns into blood. That is why I am asking you for water.
Monk:
Now what evil deed did you do by body, speech, or mind so that the water of rivers now becomes blood for you?
Ghost:
I had a son named Uttara who was a disciple of the Supreme Buddha. He donated robes, alms food, shelters, and other supplies to monks. I did not approve of what he did, so I got angry and cursed him by saying, “Hey Uttara, may the food and everything you give be received as blood in your next life!” Because of this action, the water of rivers becomes blood when I take it.
"Even a small action can bring immense merit."
The Thread Offering
Peta Vatthu 2.11 | Sutta Sutta
A ghost, in disguise as a human, causes his former fiancé to give string to a monk. He then takes her from the human world to his peta mansion to live for seven hundred years.
Young Woman:
One day a monk came to me needing some string. As a result of offering string to him, I now have beautiful clothes. There are beautiful flowers around this mansion. There are many devas and deities who watch over me. I wear beautiful and divine clothes. I am very comfortable living here; my comforts do not end.
I have received all these pleasures because of that offering of string. Please, noble man, take me back to the human world so I can collect more merit.
Ghost:
It has been seven hundred years since you left the human world. If you go there now, you will appear in the form of a very old woman. All your relatives will have already passed away. What will you gain by going there?
Young Woman:
I have enjoyed these heavenly pleasures for seven hundred years. Please take me to the human world. I want to collect more merit.
The ghost took her by the arm and led her back to the village where she was living and said to her:
Ghost:
You should tell other people that if they want happiness, they need to do meritorious deeds.
Young Woman:
I have seen with my own eyes what happens to those who do not do meritorious deeds. They are sad when they are in the human world and also when they are in the ghost world. But those who do meritorious deeds are happy when they are in the human world and in the heavenly world as well.
"A ghost explains the severity of sexual misconduct."
The Dog with the Torn Ears
Peta Vatthu 2.12 | Kaṇṇamuṇḍa Sutta
A king sees a female ghost and says,
King:
In your wonderful garden there are golden stairs. Golden colored sand is spread all over the garden. There are lovely, sweet smelling white water lilies in the pond. There are various kinds of trees in the garden. The garden is covered by the sweet smell of flowers. Swans, herons, geese, and various other birds sing throughout the garden. The trees are full of sweet fruits.
A garden as beautiful as this could not be found anywhere in the human world. These beautiful mansions are made of gold and silver which shines in all directions. There are five hundred divine servants for you. They wear golden bracelets and bangles. There are many beds made of silver and gold covered with comfortable mattresses. You enjoy happiness resting on them.
But surprisingly, you wake up in the middle of the night and go to the garden pond. You are sitting on the bank. Oh, sadly, a dog with torn ears comes to you and eats your flesh until you become a skeleton. Then you go into the pond and your body returns back to normal.
With your body back to normal, you put on beautiful clothes and come to me. What evil deed did you do by body, speech, or mind that a dog to eats your flesh every night?
Ghost:
In the city of Kimbila there was a male lay disciple of the Buddha; I was his wife. I was very evil and unvirtuous. I committed sexual misconduct. Having seen my bad character, my husband said to me, “You cheated on me. It is not good for you.” When he said this to me, I lied and swore an oath saying, “Oh no! I have not been disloyal to you in body or thought. If I have done bad things, may a dog with torn ears eat my flesh.” As a result of my bad action and lie, I have been eaten by a dog with torn ears for seven hundred years.
Great king, by having come here, you have helped me very much. I am freed from the dog and have no fear or sorrow. Great king, I pay respect to you, putting my hands together, I beg you to come here to enjoy divine sensual pleasures with me.
King:
My dear, I have already enjoyed divine pleasures with you, now please take me back to my city quickly.
"An ascetic consoles Queen Ubbari and extinguishes her grief."
The Queen Ubbarī
Peta Vatthu 2.13 | Ubbarī Sutta
There was a wealthy king named Brahmadatta in the city inhabited by the Pañcāla people. The king had lived a long life and soon died. The king had a wife named Ubbarī who often went to his grave and wept saying, “Where are you, Brahmadatta?”
One day, a virtuous ascetic who meditated in the forest visited the cemetery and questioned the people who were gathering there.
Ascetic:
Flowers and incense have been offered to this grave. Who is buried underneath? Why is this woman crying?
People:
Great ascetic, this grave belongs to King Brahmadatta. The woman is his wife crying over her dead husband calling, “Where are you my Brahmadatta?”
Ascetic:
Eighty-six thousand people also named Brahmadatta have been cremated on this same spot. Which one are you crying for?
Ubbarī:
Great ascetic, my husband is the son of King Cūḷani, and also the leader and king of the city Pañcāla. My husband gave me everything I wanted. I am weeping for my husband Brahmadatta.
Ascetic:
All the kings were also named Brahmadatta, and they were also the son of Cūḷani. All of them ruled over the city of Pañcāla. It was also you who were all those kings’ wife. Why do you only cry for your last husband and forget the previous ones?
Ubbarī:
Great ascetic, was I born only as a woman for such a long time in this journey of Samsara?
Ascetic:
No, you have been born as a woman, man, and animal. The beginning of this long journey cannot be seen.
Ubbarī:
My heart was burning with sadness over the death of my husband like when ghee is poured onto a fire. But now, all my sorrow has been extinguished as if I had been sprayed with water. I was struck with an arrow of grief, but you, great ascetic, have removed it from me. Having heard your advice, I have become tranquil and cool with the arrow of sorrow removed. I no longer grieve or weep.
She listened very closely to the words of the ascetic. Taking a bowl and robes, she became a nun. She practiced the meditation of loving kindness in order to be born in the brahma world.
She travelled between villages, towns, and cities and finally passed away in the village called Uruvelā. Having practiced thoughts of loving kindness and removed all desires to become a woman, she was reborn in the brahma world.
"Generosity will lead to happiness and good results."
Without Rippling
Peta Vatthu 3.1 | Abhijjamāna Sutta
A minister named Koliya saw a ghost while travelling in a ship and questioned,
Koliya:
Hey ghost, you move through the river Ganges without creating any ripples in the water. Even though you are naked you are wearing flowers and garlands on the upper part of your body unlike a ghost. Where do you live, and where are you going?
Ghost:
I am going to the village of Cundatthika, located between the city of Vasabha and the province of Benares.
With the intention to help the ghost, the famous minister Koliya donated some food and clothes to a barber who was on the ship, and shared the merit with the ghost. Immediately after the donation was given, the ghost received fine clothes and jewelry.
The ghost appeared wearing beautiful clothes, flowers, and garlands. Since the ghost was fortunate enough to be able to receive the merit, he benefited from it. Therefore, people should share merits with their departed relatives repeatedly.
Some ghosts cover their bodies with ragged clothing and some are covered by their hair. They travel in all directions in search of food. Some ghosts will travel for a very long distance only to come back without gaining anything. They are starving and exhausted, so much so that they would collapse on the ground from their suffering. They suffer as though they are being burned by fire because they did not do good deeds when they were in the human world.
Ghosts:
We were evil housewives and mothers in the human world. We had plenty of wealth that we could have used to do good deeds, but we were foolish and did not protect ourselves from dangers in our future lives. We had lots of food and drink but we hid it and did not give anything to good monks. We were very lazy and did not have any desire to collect merit. We spent all our time eating and only desired the enjoyment of luxuries. Even when we did give a very small amount of food, we would insult the receiver while we gave it.
Now the houses, servants, and jewelry we had are no longer with us. They belong to somebody else now. The only thing we have now is suffering.
Even if we are born in the human world again, we will be born in very poor, low class families, struggling with great hardship.
In the human world people like us will be poor basket makers and chariot makers doing inferior, low-paying jobs.
Those who are unselfish and generous will be reborn in heaven, in Nandana Park, where they will shine in all the directions and enjoy themselves with all the divine pleasures in Vejayanta Palace. After passing away from there, they will be reborn as humans in very rich, high-class families.
They will be born in families who have all the world’s comforts and live in multi-story mansions. They will be cooled by fans made of peacock feathers while sitting on a very comfortable couch. As babies they will be treated very well by many nurses. People decorate the babies with flowers and never let them go from their hands.
This type of life is only for those who were generous in their previous lives. These good-doers rejoice in Nandana Park in the Tavatimsa Heaven without any sorrow.
For those who are selfish, there is no happiness now or in the future, while those who are generous will gain happiness now and in their future lives.
Therefore, those who would like to join these gods should collect lots of merit. Truly they are reborn in heaven and will enjoy happiness there for a very long time.
"A ghost reveals how to share merit with his past relatives."
The Monk from Mount Sanuvasi
Peta Vatthu 3.2 | Sānuvāsī Sutta
There was once an arahant named Potthapada living in the city of Kundi, on Mount Sanuvasi. He possessed many good qualities.
His mother, father, and brother passed away and were reborn in the ghost world because of the bad deeds they committed in the human world. They were very tired, thin, and naked. They experienced pain as if they were being pierced by needles. They were always scared and would not show themselves.
However, one day the brother revealed himself to Potthapada Bhante while standing on his hands and feet like an animal. But Potthapada Bhante just walked past the ghost without saying anything. The ghost spoke to him saying,
Ghost:
I am your brother who was reborn in the ghost world. Your mother and father are also there right now. Having done evil deeds, now we have to suffer there. They are pierced with needles and are very tired, thin, and naked. They are always scared and do not show themselves.
You are very compassionate, Bhante. Please have pity on us. Please offer alms and dedicate that merit to us. That is the only way we will be happy.
Potthapada Bhante and twelve other monks searched for alms and soon gathered at the same place with the purpose of sharing their meals.
Potthapada Bhante:
Give me the food that you have collected. I want to offer it to the community of monks out of compassion for my departed relatives.
The monks gave their food to Potthapada Bhante. The Bhante offered the food to the Sangha and dedicated the merit to his mother, father, and brother by saying, “Let this merit go to my departed relatives. May my relatives be happy.”
The merit he dedicated instantly became a well prepared, good quality curry and other food for the monk’s departed relatives. The brother then appeared in front of the monk looking healthy, fresh, and happy, saying,
Brother:
Bhante, there is lots of food for us to eat. But we are still naked. Please do something so we can have some clothes.
Potthapada Bhante then collected some scraps of cloth. Once he had collected enough, he made a robe and offered it to the Sangha by saying, “Let this merit be for my departed relatives. May my relatives be happy.”
The fruit of his donation immediately turned to clothing for his relatives. The brother appeared again in front of the monk dressed in fine clothes and said,
Brother:
There are more clothes here than there are in King Nanda’s realm, made from silk and wool, linen and cotton. There are so many that they hang down from the sky. We can wear as many clothes as we want. But we are still homeless, please find a way for us to have a home now.
Potthapada Bhante built a hut from leaves and donated it to the Sangha. When he had offered it, he dedicated the merit by saying, “Let this merit be for my departed relatives. May my relatives be happy.” Immediately the merit that he shared came into the form of a large multi-story house.
The brother appeared in front of him once again saying,
Brother:
The house that we have right now cannot be found anywhere in the human world, but it is like the houses where devas live. The house shines in all directions. But Bhante, we are still thirsty. Please find a way to get us some water to drink.
Potthapada Bhante filled a water pot and offered it to the Sangha saying, “Let this merit be for my relatives. May my relatives be happy.”
The merit he shared immediately became lotus ponds for the family. These ponds had clear water, beautiful banks, and were filled with sweet fragrance. The water was cool and covered with lotuses, water lilies, and lotus petals.
The relatives of the monk bathed, drank, and enjoyed the water. They then appeared once again in front of Potthapada Bhante saying,
Relatives:
Bhante, we have plenty of water now, but our feet are dried and cracked. We have to walk around on gravel and other sharp objects in our bare feet. Please find a way so we can get something so to ride on.
The elder monk found some sandals and offered them to the Sangha saying, “Let this merit be for my departed relatives. May my relatives be happy.” The merit immediately went to the relatives in the form of a carriage. The relatives approached the monk in their carriage and said,
Relatives:
You have shown us compassion, Bhante. You helped us to get food to eat, clothing, houses, water to drink, and vehicles to ride in. We are here now to pay homage to the compassionate Potthapada Bhante.
"A ghost explains how to direct merit towards a good destination."
The Ghost of Rathakara Lake
Peta Vatthu 3.3 | Rathakāra Sutta
A woman was born as a ghost due to previous bad actions. But the results of different good actions arose to her in the form of great luxury. However, she was very lonely. So one day she set out a very sweet fruit to lure people to come to her. A young man found the sweet fruit and went to search for the place that the fruit came from. He saw the ghost and asked her,
Young Man:
Your mansion is supported by many pillars. Countless paintings are inside. When you are in the mansion you shine like the full moon. Your body glows like gold, you are very nice to look at. You are sitting on a beautiful couch decorated with precious jewels.
But you are sitting alone, it looks like you do not have a husband.
There is a lotus pond surrounding your mansion, filled with flowers and lotuses. Golden colored sand is spread around the pond, while mud and duckweed is nowhere to be seen. Beautiful swans glide on the water all the time singing beautiful songs. You are in a ship floating around the pond. You have thick beautiful eyelashes and your face is very delightful, always smiling. You are extremely beautiful, happy, and speak very pleasantly.
This place is perfect, I wish that I could enjoy the heavenly pleasures here with you in this divine park, as beautiful as the Nandana Grove.
Ghost:
If you want to come live with me here collect lots of merit, always keep this place in your mind and never forget it. After death, you will be reborn here and live with me.
Young Man:
Okay, I will do as you say.
The young man performed lots of meritorious deeds. He always thought about the mansion, and after death, he was reborn there and lived with the ghost.
"Greed and deceit only brings pain and suffering"
The Hay Ghost
Peta Vatthu 3.4 | Bhusa Sutta
Monk:
One ghost spreads burning hay on his head while another hits himself on the head with an iron rod. And a third ghost eats his own flesh and blood.
You are eating filthy and disgusting excrement. Why is this happening? Of what evil deeds are these the results?
Ghost:
The ghost putting burning hay on his head injured his mother in the human world, while the one hitting himself on the head with an iron rod was a dishonest and cunning trader. The ghost eating his own flesh and blood stole meat and lied about it to the seller.
For my case, in the human world I was a very bossy housewife who ordered others around in the family. Even though I was capable of giving gifts to others, I was greedy and never gave anything. When people came to my house begging for food, I hid the food and lied by swearing an oath, saying, “There is no food in my house, believe me. If there is any that I have hidden, then let it turn to excrement and I will eat it!”
It is the result of both greed and the fact that I lied. Now good rice turns into excrement when I am about to eat it.
All actions have a result; the results of bad deeds will not simply go away without ripening. Therefore because of my bad deeds I must eat and drink this filthy and disgusting excrement full of worms.
"How does one escape from their evil past?"
The Abandoned Baby
Peta Vatthu 3.5 | Kumāra Sutta
Villagers:
The great Buddha’s knowledge is wonderful. The Blessed One knows perfectly who has lots of merit and who does not.
This baby has been abandoned in the cemetery. He survives by drinking milk oozing out of his thumb. Demons and non-humans will not harm him. This is because the baby has previously done many meritorious deeds.
Dogs lick his feet to clean them, while crows and jackals protect him. Flocks of birds remove the impurities from his birth, and crows wipe of the dirt from his eyes.
There are no parents or relatives to protect him, to provide him with medicine, or to celebrate his birth.
Being in such a horrible state—abandoned, cold and shivering—his survival is uncertain.
The extremely wise Supreme Buddha, teacher of gods and humans, saw him and announced,
Supreme Buddha:
This baby will become a member of a high-cast family with great wealth.
Villagers:
What has the baby done in his previous life to get this result? Having fallen to a miserable state, how would this baby become a member of a high cast family?
Supreme Buddha:
In his previous life, he insulted a group of people who were giving alms to the monks headed by the Buddha, and he spoke harshly to the Buddha and the monks.
Afterwards, he abandoned that evil mind. Becoming a devoted disciple, he developed a happy mind towards the Supreme Buddha and monks. Furthermore, he offered rice-gruel to the Supreme Buddha for seven days.
These were his good actions. That is why even though he is miserable now, he will be very wealthy and happy in the future.
He will live in this world for one hundred years as a very wealthy and happy person and after death be reborn in the Tavatimsa Heaven with the god Sakka.
"What happens when you let greed cloud your judgement?"
The Ghost Serini
Peta Vatthu 3.6 | Seraṇī Sutta
Man:
You are naked, ugly, and very thin. Your ribs and veins are sticking out from your body. Who are you?
Female Ghost:
I am a ghost. I did evil deeds when I was in the human world. As a result, I have to suffer in the ghost world.
Man:
What evil deed have you committed by body speech or mind to make you suffer here?
Female Ghost:
In the human world, I had plenty of wealth and many opportunities to collect merit. But I was very greedy and did not give anything to anybody.
Now, as a result of my greed, if I get close to a river to drink, the river appears empty to me and full of sand. As I go towards the shade of a tree to rest, the spot becomes scorched by the sun. The wind feels like fire blowing on me, burning me. But I deserve all these sufferings because I have done lots of evil.
Please, could you go to the city of Hatthinipura, find my mother and tell her, “I have seen your daughter reborn in the miserable world of Yama because she did evil deeds.”
And also tell her that I collected four hundred thousand coins and hid them under the couch I slept on. I have not told anyone about it.
Ask her to take the money and use it for giving alms in my name. She should dedicate the merit of this gift to me. Then I will be happy and get whatever I want.
Man:
Very well.
The man went to the city of Hatthinipura, found the mother of the female ghost and spoke to her thus:
Man:
I have seen your daughter reborn in the miserable world of Yama because she did evil deeds. She told me to tell you that she has collected four hundred thousand coins and hid them under the couch she slept on. She has not told anyone about them.
She wants you to use that money for giving alms in her name. You should dedicate the merit of this gift to her. Then she will be happy and get whatever she wants.
The mother used the money to offer alms to monks and assigned the merit of the donation to her. The ghost became very happy and had a very beautiful body.
