"What was the result of giving a small gift?"
The Axle
Peta Vatthu 4.12 | Ambarukkha Sutta
When a trader’s cart axle broke, a man made a new axle from wood and gave it to him. The man was then reborn as an earth deva as a result of this gift. The earth deva goes to the trader’s house and praises giving.
Earth Deva:
The result of giving will not always equal the gift itself. The result that is experienced will always be multiplied. Therefore, one should give gifts frequently. Having practiced generosity, one can get rid of suffering in this life and in the next. As a result of giving, beings are born as humans and gods. Therefore, you should be enthusiastic about doing good deeds. Do not miss this opportunity.
"Ghosts discuss their past about not practicing generosity."
Wealthy Sons of Wealthy Merchants
Peta Vatthu 4.15 | Seṭṭhiputta Sutta
A group of ghosts were feeling guilty for their bad deeds and cried out these verses.
First Ghost:
Sixty thousand years have passed while we have been boiling in hell. When will this suffering end?
Second Ghost:
Dear friends, our suffering seems to last forever. This is the result of evil deeds done by us.
Third Ghost:
We were very evil in the human world. Even though we had lots of money, we did not practice generosity, we did not collect merit.
Fourth Ghost:
Once I escape from this ghost world and am reborn in the human world, I hope that I will be generous and virtuous. I must do many wholesome deeds.
"What happens when you earn money in bad ways?"
Accumulation of Wealth
Peta Vatthu 4.14 | Bhogasaṃharaṇa Sutta
Women traders who made money cheating people were reborn as ghosts. This is how they cried.
Ghosts:
We earned money in good ways and in bad ways. Now our wealth is enjoyed by others. What we have here is only misery.
"Arahant Moggallana asks a ghost about his past evil actions."
Hit by Sixty Thousand Hammers
Peta Vatthu 4.16 | Saṭṭhikūṭasahassa Sutta
Moggallana Bhante:
Why do you look like a crazy person? Why are you running around like a scared animal? You must have done lots of evil deeds in the past. Why do you make that screeching noise?
Ghost:
Bhante, I am a ghost. As a result of my evil deeds, I am experiencing much suffering. From all directions sixty thousand hammers fly towards me and split my head.
Moggallana Bhante:
What kind of evil deed did you do by body, speech, and mind to have sixty thousand hammers fly towards you from all directions and split your head?
Ghost:
When I was in the human world, I saw a Pacceka Buddha named Sunetta. That fearless Buddha was meditating under a tree. I punched him with my fist and split his head. It is as a result of that deed that I have to suffer like this. From all directions, sixty thousand hammers fly towards me and split my head.
Moggallana Bhante:
You deserve to have sixty thousand hammers fly towards you from all directions and split your head. Evil doer, this is happening according to your evil deed.
"Seeing the results of being a cattle butcher."
The Skeleton
Saṁyutta Nikāya 19.1 | Atṭhisaṁkhalika Sutta
This is how I heard. At one time, the Blessed One was living at the city of Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Park, the Squirrel Garden. During those days, Bhante Lakkhaṇa and Bhante Mahāmoggallāna were living on the Gijjhakūṭa Mountain. One day, in the morning, Bhante Mahāmoggallāna dressed in his robes, took his bowl and double-layered robe and went to Bhante Lakkhaṇa and said to him,
“Come, friend Lakkhaṇa, let us go to the city of Rājagaha for alms.”
“Alright, friend,” Bhante Lakkhaṇa replied.
Then, as he was coming down from Gijjhakūṭa Mountain, Bhante Mahāmoggallāna smiled at a certain place. Bhante Lakkhaṇa asked him,
“Why, friend Moggallāna, did you smile?”
“Friend Lakkhaṇa, this is not the suitable time for that question. Ask me that question when we meet the Blessed One.”
Then, Bhante Lakkhaṇa and Bhante Mahāmoggallāna walked for alms in the city of Rājagaha. After they returned from their alms round, they had their meal. Then, they went to the Blessed One, worshipped him respectfully and sat down to one side. Bhante Lakkhaṇa asked Bhante Mahāmoggallāna,
“This morning, while you were coming down from the Gijjhakūṭa Mountain, Bhante Mahāmoggallāna smiled. Why, friend Moggallāna, did you smile?”
Bhante Moggallāna replied,
“This morning, friend, as I was coming down from the Gijjhakūṭa Mountain, I saw a skeleton moving through the air. Vultures, crows, and hawks were chasing after it. They were pecking at it between the ribs, stabbing it, and tearing it apart. The skeleton was crying out in pain. I thought then, ‘It is unusual, indeed! It is amazing, indeed! That there exists such a being, that there exists such a non-human, that there exists such a life.”
Then, the Blessed One said to the monks,
“Monks, there are disciples who have gained the divine eye and special knowledge. They can know, see, and witness such a non-human. Monks, in the past, I, too, saw that being, but I did not speak of it. If I had spoken about it, there might have been some people who wouldn’t believe my words. If they had not believed my words, it would have led them to their harm and suffering for a long time.”
The Blessed One continued, “Monks, that non-human being used to be a cattle butcher in this same city of Rājagaha. As a result of that bad kamma, he was boiled in hell for many years, for many hundreds of years, for many thousands of years, for many hundreds of thousands of years. As a remaining result of that same kamma, he has been reborn as a ghost and is experiencing such terrible pain.”
"Seeing the results of being a cattle butcher."
The Piece of Meat
Saṁyutta Nikāya 19.2 | Mansapesi Sutta
This sutta begins in the same way as in the previous sutta.
Bhante Moggallāna said,
“This morning, friend, as I was coming down from the Gijjhakūṭa Mountain, I saw a piece of meat moving through the air. Vultures, crows, and hawks were chasing after it. They were stabbing it and tearing it apart. The piece of meat was crying out in pain. I thought then, ‘It is unusual, indeed! It is amazing, indeed! That there exists such a being, that there exists such a non-human, that there exists such a life.”
Then, the Blessed One said to the monks,
“Monks, there are disciples who have gained the divine eye and special knowledge. They can know, see, and witness such a non-human. Monks, in the past, I, too, saw that being, but I did not speak of it. If I had spoken about it, there might have been some people who wouldn’t believe my words. If they had not believed my words, it would have led them to their harm and suffering for a long time.”
The Blessed One continued, “Monks, that non-human being used to be a cattle butcher in this same city of Rājagaha. As a result of that bad kamma, he was boiled in hell for many years, for many hundreds of years, for many thousands of years, for many hundreds of thousands of years. As a remaining result of that same kamma, he has been reborn as a ghost and is experiencing such terrible pain.”
"Seeing the results of being a poultry butcher"
The Lump of Meat
Saṁyutta Nikāya 19.3 | Mansapinda Sutta
This sutta begins in the same way as in the previous sutta.
Bhante Moggallāna said,
“This morning, friend, as I was coming down from the Gijjhakūṭa Mountain, I saw a lump of meat moving through the air. Vultures, crows, and hawks were chasing after it. They were stabbing it and tearing it apart. The lump of meat was crying out in pain. I thought then, ‘It is unusual, indeed! It is amazing, indeed! That there exists such a being, that there exists such a non-human, that there exists such a life.”
Then, the Blessed One said to the monks,
“Monks, there are disciples who have gained the divine eye and special knowledge. They can know, see, and witness such a non-human. Monks, in the past, I, too, saw that being, but I did not speak of it. If I had spoken about it, there might have been some people who wouldn’t believe my words. If they had not believed my words, it would have led them to their harm and suffering for a long time.”
The Blessed One continued,
“Monks, that non-human being used to be a poultry butcher in this same city of Rājagaha. As a result of that bad kamma, he was boiled in hell for many years, for many hundreds of years, for many thousands of years, for many hundreds of thousands of years. As a remaining result of that same kamma, he has been reborn as a ghost and is experiencing such terrible pain.”
"Seeing the results of being a sheep butcher."
The Skinless Ghost
Saṁyutta Nikāya 19.4 | Nicchavi Sutta
This sutta begins in the same way as in the previous sutta.
Bhante Moggallāna said,
“This morning, friend, as I was coming down from the Gijjhakūṭa Mountain, I saw a skinless ghost moving through the air. Vultures, crows, and hawks were chasing after him. They were stabbing it and tearing it apart. The skinless ghost was crying out in pain. I thought then, ‘It is unusual, indeed! It is amazing, indeed! That there exists such a being, that there exists such a non-human, that there exists such a life.”
Then, the Blessed One said to the monks,
“Monks, there are disciples who have gained the divine eye and special knowledge. They can know, see, and witness such a non-human. Monks, in the past, I, too, saw that being, but I did not speak of it. If I had spoken about it, there might have been some people who wouldn’t believe my words. If they had not believed my words, it would have led them to their harm and suffering for a long time.”
The Blessed One continued,
“Monks, that non-human being used to be a sheep butcher in this same city of Rājagaha. As a result of that bad kamma, he was boiled in hell for many years, for many hundreds of years, for many thousands of years, for many hundreds of thousands of years. As a remaining result of that same kamma, he has been reborn as a ghost and is experiencing such terrible pain.”
"Seeing the results of being a pig butcher"
The Sword-like Body Haired Ghost
Saṁyutta Nikāya 19.5 | Asiloma Sutta
This sutta begins in the same way as in the previous sutta.
Bhante Moggallāna said,
“This morning, friend, as I was coming down from the Gijjhakūṭa Mountain, I saw a ghost with sword-like body hairs, moving through the air. Those swords kept coming out and continued stabbing his body. The ghost was crying out in pain. I thought then, ‘It is unusual, indeed! It is amazing, indeed! That there exists such a being, that there exists such a non-human, that there exists such a life.”
Then, the Blessed One said to the monks,
“Monks, that non-human being used to be a pig butcher in this same city of Rājagaha. As a result of that bad kamma, he was boiled in hell for many years, for many hundreds of years, for many thousands of years, for many hundreds of thousands of years. As a remaining result of that same kamma, he has been reborn as a ghost and is experiencing such terrible pain.”
"Seeing the results of being a deer butcher."
The Curved Knife-like Body Haired Ghost
Saṁyutta Nikāya 19.6 | Sattiloma Sutta
This sutta begins in the same way as in the previous sutta.
Bhante Moggallāna said,
“This morning, friend, as I was coming down from the Gijjhakūṭa Mountain, I saw a ghost with curved knife-like body hairs moving through the air. Those knives kept coming out and continued stabbing his body. The ghost was crying out in pain. I thought then, ‘It is unusual, indeed! It is amazing, indeed! That there exists such a being, that there exists such a non-human, that there exists such a life.”
Then, the Blessed One said to the monks,
“Monks, that non-human being used to be a deer hunter in this same city of Rājagaha. As a result of that bad kamma, he was boiled in hell for many years, for many hundreds of years, for many thousands of years, for many hundreds of thousands of years. As a remaining result of that same kamma, he has been reborn as a ghost and is experiencing such terrible pain.”
"Seeing the results of being a torturer."
The Arrow-like Body Haired Ghost
Saṁyutta Nikāya 19.7 | Usuloma Sutta
This sutta begins in the same way as in the previous sutta.
Bhante Moggallāna said,
“This morning, friend, as I was coming down from the Gijjhakūṭa Mountain, I saw a ghost with arrow-like body hairs, moving through the air. Those arrows kept coming out and continued stabbing his body. The ghost was crying out in pain. I thought then, ‘It is unusual, indeed! It is amazing, indeed! That there exists such a being, that there exists such a non-human, that there exists such a life.”
Then, the Blessed One said to the monks,
“Monks, that non-human being used to be a torturer in this same city of Rājagaha. As a result of that bad kamma, he was boiled in hell for many years, for many hundreds of years, for many thousands of years, for many hundreds of thousands of years. As a remaining result of that same kamma, he has been reborn as a ghost and is experiencing such terrible pain.”
"Seeing the results of being an evil charioteer."
The Needle-like Body Haired Ghost 1
Saṁyutta Nikāya 19.8 | Suciloma Sutta
This sutta begins in the same way as in the previous sutta.
Bhante Moggallāna said,
“This morning, friend, as I was coming down from the Gijjhakūṭa Mountain, I saw a ghost with needle-like body hairs moving through the air. Those needles kept coming out and continued stabbing his body. The ghost was crying out in pain. I thought then, ‘It is unusual, indeed! It is amazing, indeed! That there exists such a being, that there exists such a non-human, that there exists such a life.”
Then, the Blessed One said to the monks,
“Monks, that non-human being used to be a evil charioteer in this same city of Rājagaha. As a result of that bad kamma, he was boiled in hell for many years, for many hundreds of years, for many thousands of years, for many hundreds of thousands of years. As a remaining result of that same kamma, he has been reborn as a ghost and is experiencing such terrible pain.”